Fungal Allergy: Pattern of sensitization over the past 11 years.
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
Although the prevalence of sensitization to fungi is not precisely known, it can reach 50% in inner cities and has been identified as a risk factor in the development of asthma. Whereas the prevalence of allergic diseases is increasing, it is unclear whether the same occurs with sensitization to fungi.


PATIENTS AND METHODS
A retrospective study was performed at the "Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez". From skin tests taken between 2004 and 2015, information was gathered about Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Cladosporium herbarum, Mucor mucedo and Penicillium notatum. The participating patients were 2-18 years old, presented some type of allergic condition, and underwent immediate hypersensitivity tests to the fungi herein examined. Descriptive analysis and chi-squared distribution were used.


RESULTS
Of the 8794 patients included in the study, 14% showed a negative result to the entire panel of environmental allergens. The remaining 7565 individuals displayed sensitization to at least one fungus, which most frequently was Aspergillus, with a rate of 16.8%. When the patients were divided into age groups, the same trend was observed. The highest percentage of sensitization (58%) toward at least one type of fungus was found in 2014, and the lowest percentage (49.8%) in 2008.


CONCLUSION
The rate of sensitization to at least one type of fungus was presently over 50%, higher than that detected in other medical centers in Mexico. This rate was constant over the 11-year study, and Aspergillus exhibited the greatest frequency of sensitization among the patients.
['Fernández-Soto|R|R|', 'Navarrete-Rodríguez|E M|EM|', 'Del-Rio-Navarro|B E|BE|', 'Sienra-Monge|J J Luis|JJL|', 'Meneses-Sánchez|N A|NA|', 'Saucedo-Ramírez|O J|OJ|']
D000293:Adolescent D000485:Allergens D000946:Antigens, Fungal D001249:Asthma D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D005260:Female D005658:Fungi D006801:Humans D006967:Hypersensitivity D007114:Immunization D008297:Male D008800:Mexico D015995:Prevalence D012189:Retrospective Studies
Fungi Skin test Alternaria Aspergillus Cladosporium Penicillium