PATTERN OF SKIN PRICK TEST RESPONSES TO COMMON ALLERGENS IN PATIENTS WITH ALLERGIC RHINITIS IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM.

Sara NINAN¹, Sneha E NINAN², Susalnoor SUHAILEE¹, Chee Fui CHONG³

¹Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan BA1710, Brunei Darussalam.

²School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Australia.

³Clinical Research Unit, Ministry of Health, Bandar Seri Begawan BA1710, Brunei Darussalam.

ABSTRACT

Background: Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is a prominent inflammatory disorder of the nasal mucosa caused by exposure to allergens. Skin prick testing (SPT) is a standard method for evaluating the pattern of allergen sensitivity among patients suffering from AR. The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity pattern of common allergens associated with AR in a tertiary care centre in Brunei. Materials and Methods: We prospectively recruited 98 patients with a clinical diagnosis of AR to undergo SPT in an outpatient setting. SPT was performed using 14 common allergens; house dust mites, Blomia tropicalis, German cockroach, feline dander, wheat flour, peanut, banana, egg white, milk, shrimp, chicken, fish mix, Bermuda grass and pollen with two controls (histamine and saline). Result: Mean age of the study group was 33.5±15.5 years and majority were female (73.5%). Nasal obstruction (86%) was the most common symptom reported by patients followed by rhinorrhoea (72%) and nasal itch (72%). Of the 98 patients who underwent SPT, 86.7% had positive SPTs while 13.3% were negative. The most common offending allergens were house dust mite (69.4%), Blomia tropicalis (61.2%) and shrimp (36.5%). Conclusion: The prevalence of AR is increasing in rapidly developing countries such as Brunei Darussalam. From this study, we found that the house dust mite, blomia tropicalis and shrimp were the most common allergens causing AR.  Identifying the common allergens is useful in implementing effective preventative, diagnostic and treatment plans in an effort to help decrease the health burden of this disease in the Bruneian population.

Keywords: Allergic  rhinitis, skin prick test, food allergens, mites

Correspondence: Sara Ninan, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, RIPAS Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan BA1710, Brunei Darussalam.

Tel: +673-2242424 Ext 5314

email: saralanin@gmail.com

Brunei Int Med J. 2018;14:43-49