[Skin reactivity in allergic conjunctivitis]. / Reactividad cutánea en conjuntivitis alérgica.

Allergic conjunctivitis is a very common disease in our country. We intend to determine the most frequent ocular involvement and the specific sensitivity to common aeroallergens. A longitudinal prospective study was performed on 20 patients from the allergy/immunology and ophthalmology outpatient service, Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez, from May to July 1990. All of them had allergic conjunctivitis and were evaluated for ocular involvement and reactivity to common aeroallergens by skin prick test.

[Allergic conjunctivitis]. / Conjuntivitis alérgica.

The eye reacts to foreign substances through a variety of specific and non-specific defense mechanisms. Constantly exposed to a great variety of microorganisms, the eye is capable of protecting itself without altering its own structure and function. Its resistance relies upon anatomic and physiological properties of its external components (eyelids, tears, conjunctiva and cornea). Most of the times, the conjunctiva becomes affected, resulting in a clinical picture of conjunctivitis where allergy predominates, expressed as allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, giant papillary conjunctivitis and flictenular conjunctivitis. The physiopathology is considered to be of type I reaction (IgE mediated). Frequent complains often associated with other allergic diseases are: pruritus, tearing, photofobia and ocular redness. The diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis in done by means of a throughout clinical history, conjunctival citology and evaluation of specific IgE with immediate skin tests. Treatment is symptomatic (antihistamines, antibiotics and/or topic steroids), but prevention (environmental control and sodium cromoglycate) and specific immunotherapy must be considered.

[Skin response to the allergen of the roach in allergic patients]. / Respuesta cutánea al alergeno de la cucaracha en pacientes alérgicos.

Cockroach is an insect that is very frequent in urban areas. There are many research in the last years who shows the relationship between positive prick test to cockroach and respiratory allergy. We made a retrospective study with patient of the out patient clinic of allergy during July to December 1989, and who had a skin test to cockroach. We found a 27% positivities in the skin test, and most of the patients came from the urban area. The positivity of cockroach and dust mite were present in almost 80% of the patients.