Prevalencia de Atopia y determinación de los alérgenos inhalantes más comunes entre los adolescentes de Octavo y Noveno de Básica en Cuenca-Ecuador, durante el año lectivo 2013-2014

Abstract

The atopy constitute a health problem that can affect adolescents and adults, even be fatal in some cases. Research on this subject is scarce in our environment, which is why this study aims to determine the prevalence of atopy and common inhalant allergens among adolescents eighth and ninth basic of urban and rural areas of the canton Cuenca, by applying a "skin prick test". To this end students were evaluated eighth and ninth basic schools in the canton of Cuenca trade, including a representative random sample of 991 students. The results showed that more than half of the participants were Atopic for at least one of the allergens tested, a situation that reflects a public health problem that should be considered. The prevalence of atopy did not differ according to sex of participants; of the 20 allergens tested, the intra-household allergens and grasses were among the most prevalent, the five most common were D. pteronyssinus and B. tropicalis, cockroach epithelium, mixed grass pollens and ecynodon. A significant difference wasn’t found in the overall prevalence of atopy by geographical location of schools. However, allergen analysis revealed that cockroach epithelium atopy was higher among students attending rural schools and salix atopy was higher among adolescents in urban schools