|
Turkderm 2012
The Sensitization Rates of Hymenoptera Venom in Mersin RegionKeywords: Allergy , atopy , Hymenoptera venom hypersensitivity , skin test Abstract: Background and Design: Allergic reactions to Hymenoptera venoms are significant health problems because of their serious outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the sensitization rates of Hymenoptera venoms in Mersin region, which are indirect measures of Hymenoptera venom allergy.Material and Method: By using questionnaires, total IgE determination with nephelometric method and phadiotop determinations with fluoroimmunoassay, we performed epidermal/intradermal testing with Apidae, Vespidae and Polistes venom extracts, to determine the sensitization rates among 209 volunteers (86 males, 123 females) with a mean age of 38.4 years. Sensitization rate to venoms of all three species were 21.0% among 209 subjects. Sensitization rate to more than one species simultaneously, was 52.3% among Hymenoptera sensitive subjects. With the aid of questionnanires we found that sting reactions were “normal reactions” in 80%, “large local reactions” in 11.0% and “systemic reactions” in 9% of the subjects. The rate of positive skin tests was 23.5% among the subjects who had described large local reactions and 21.5% among the subjects who had described systemic reactions. There were no significant difference between the sensitization rates of males and famales; of the stratified age groups of subjects; of the subjects with elevated and normal total IgE values; of the subjects with positive and negative phadiotop determinations; of the subjects living in urban and suburban areas; of the subjects with respect to sting number or time elapsed since the last sting or the varieties of sting reactions.Results: The sensitization rates to hymenoptera venoms are significantly elevated, although low in titer, in Mersin region. So, Hymenoptera venom allergy may contribute to health problems, significantly in this part of the country.
|