ABSTRACT
Introducción: Los panaderos son un grupo profesional en riesgo de desarrollar enfermedades alérgicas de origen ocupacional. Son varios los alérgenos que pueden sensibilizarlos, especialmente la harina de trigo y los ácaros, que encuentran en este ambiente laboral condiciones favorables de hábitat. Objetivo: Identificar la frecuencia de sensibilización a ácaros y alérgenos ocupacionales en un grupo de 80 trabajadores de panaderías de La Habana , y determinar la prevalencia de enfermedades alérgicas en este grupo laboral. Material y método: Se realizó un estudio analítico de corte transversal. La muestra se constituyó con 80 trabajadores de 5 panaderías de La Habana. A todos se les confeccionó una historia clínica alergológica y laboral, y se les realizaron pruebas cutáneas por punción con extractos de ácaros representantes del género Dermatophagoides y de las familias Acaridae y Echimyopodidae , y con extractos de alimentos de soya, harina de trigo y levadura, para determinar la sensibilidad a los mismos. Resultados: El 46,3 por ciento reportó alguna enfermedad alérgica y el 18,8 por ciento sintomatología actual, la mayoría de tipo respiratoria. El 86,3 por ciento de los trabajadores tuvo pruebas cutáneas positivas, mostrando al menos sensibilización a 1 o más alérgenos. La mayor positividad se encontró al ácaro D. farinae (61,3 por ciento) y el mayor tamaño del habón (media de 4,6 mm ). El 42,5 por ciento del total de trabajadores mostró sensibilización al trigo. Se determinó una asociación significativa (p<0,05) entre la reacción cutánea al trigo, la levadura y la soya con los ácaros de almacén y del polvo doméstico. Conclusiones: Existe elevada prevalencia de enfermedades respiratorias y sensibilización a ácaros y a la harina de trigo entre los panaderos, lo cual constituye un factor de riesgo a tener en cuenta para su seguridad ocupacional(AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Flour , Occupational Exposure , Allergens , Punctures , Observational Study , Cross-Sectional StudiesABSTRACT
Las pruebas cutáneas para el diagnóstico específico en alergia requieren de extractos alergénicos de óptima calidad, que pueden ser comprobadas determinando la potencia alergénica con el empleo de distintas concentraciones de extractos de un fabricante o confrontando los de diferentes laboratorios. Con el objetivo de comparar extractos de ácaros: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, D. farinae, D. siboney y Blomia tropicalis , producidos en los laboratorios de DIATER, Argentina, ALK-Abelló, España y BIOCEN, Cuba, se realizó la prueba a 56 pacientes entre 2 y 15 años, con asma y rinitis, mediante la respuesta cutánea al Prick Test, en el Policlínico Previsora, de la ciudad de Camagüey. El 84,6% de los pacientes asociaron los síntomas alérgicos a cambios de tiempo y exposición a polvo casero. El diámetro de los habones fue aparentemente mayor para ALK-Abelló, pero sin diferencia significativa. Se apreció gráficamente una tendencia lineal entre el diámetro promedio del habón y el logaritmo de la concentración de alergeno cuando se emplearon diferentes concentraciones, en el rango de 4.000 a 100.000 UB/mL. Los Prick Test, con diámetro ³ 3 mm, mostraron una aparente mayor proporción para ALK-Abelló con D. pteronyssinus y D. farinae , en comparación con BIOCEN y DIATER, aunque tampoco de forma significativa. Los extractos de ácaros, producidos y estandarizados en DIATER, BIOCEN y ALK-Abelló, son similares en cuanto a sus potencias alergénicas(AU)
Skin tests require extracts with high quality, which can be measured by determining their allergenic potency using different concentrations of extracts from a manufacturer or comparing extracts from different manufacturers. To compare dust mite extracts produced by manufacturers from Spain, Argentina, and Cuba by using the skin response to the Prick Test. The Prick Test was performed on 26 patients aged 2 to 15 years with asthma and rhinitis at the city of Camagüey, Cuba, with extracts of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, D. farinae, D. siboney and Blomia tropicalis produced by DIATER (Argentina), ALK- Abelló (Spain) y BIOCEN (Cuba). Among the patients 84.6% attributed the symptoms to changes in weather and house dust. The diameter of the wheal was apparently greater for ALK-Abelló, but no statistical significance was found. The relationship between wheal diameter and log of allergen concentration with BIOCEN products showed a linear dependence in the concentration in the range of 4000 to 100000 UB/mL. Prick tests with diameters ³ 3 mm suggested a greater proportion for ALK than for DIATER and BIOCEN, particularly with D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae, although no statistical significance was found again. Dust mite extracts produced and standardized by DIATER, ALK-Abelló and BIOCEN are similar with respect to allergenic potency(AU)
Subject(s)
Allergens , Asthma , RhinitisABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Sensitization to allergens at the workplace is an essential factor for the development of occupational respiratory diseases. OBJETIVE: To determine the frequency of sensitization to mites and other occupational allergens in bakery workers, by skin prick test (PCP). METHODS: In this unpaired case-control study were included 17 workers, mean age 34 years (range 18-55), and the control group 14 patients, mean age 32 years (range 22-47), both predominantly male 76 % and 85 % respectively. Each subject had a history and physical examination, and underwent skin testing with allergenic extracts. RESULTS: All investigated subjects showed at least a positive response to two allergens in the SPT. The highest percentage of sensitization in bakers corresponded to Acarus siro and Dermatophagoides Siboney with 82.35% each, followed by Blomia tropicalis, D. farinae, Lepydoglyphus destructor and Tyrophagus putrescientae. The lowest positivity corresponded to D. pteronyssinus (47%), different to that found in the control group where this was the predominant mite. The highest wheal diameter values were for the storage mites A. siro and T. putrescientae in the study group and D. farinae and B. tropicalis in the control group. Sensitization was found to wheat flour in 82 % of these bakers. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high sensitization to house dust mites, and particularly to the storage mites and as to allergens from wheat flour to bakers, this represents a risk factor to be considered for occupational safety.
Subject(s)
Allergens , Immunoglobulin E , Animals , Asthma , Case-Control Studies , Cuba , Humans , Skin TestsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Skin tests for specific diagnosis of allergies require high quality extracts, which can be measured by the determination of allergenic potency, utilizing different concentrations of extracts from a manufacturer. OBJETIVE: To compare allergenic mite extracts manufactured by laboratories in Spain, Argentina, and Cuba by skin prick test response. METHODS: A cutaneous puncture was performed on 56 patients aged 2 to 15 years with asthma and allergic rhinitis with extracts of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp), Dermatophagoides farinae (Df), Dermatophagoides siboney (Ds) and Blomia tropicalis (Bt) produced by DIATER (Argentina), ALK- AbellÛ (Spain) and BIOCEN (Cuba). RESULTS: In 84.6% of patients there was an association of symptoms with seasonal changes and house dust exposure. The diameter of wheals from ALK allergen extract was larger than extracts from other sources, but without any significant difference (p > 0.05). The ratio between wheals and allergen concentration with BIOCEN products showed lineal dependence between the diameter averages and the concentration logarithm, ranging from 4000 to 100 000 UB/mL. The skin prick tests with diameters =3mm showed a larger proportion of Dp and Df from ALK in comparison to BIOCEN and DIATER. CONCLUSIONS: We found that dust mite extracts produced and standardized by DIATER, ALK-Abello and BIOCEN were similar with respect to allergenic potency.
Subject(s)
Allergens , Asthma , Animals , Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus/immunology , Humans , Pyroglyphidae/immunology , Rhinitis, Allergic , Skin TestsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: House dust mites are important airborne allergens worldwide, particularly in the tropical environment. OBJECTIVE: To assess sensitization of allergic patients to different mite species in the Cuban city of Camaguey; as well as to compare standardized allergen extracts from different sources by skin prick tests. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Skin prick tests were performed in 60 patients with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis and in 60 non-allergic volunteers, ranging from 2 to 76 years old. In both groups, Diater-Prick lancets were used, together with Valergen extracts (Biocen, Cuba) at 20,000 BU/mL and Diater extracts (Argentina) at 50,000 UBE/PNU/mL. RESULTS: The highest values of sensitization prevalence using Diater extracts were seen in Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp), Dermatophagoides farinae (Df), and Blomia tropicalis (Bt) in allergic patients and in non-allergic controls. Diagnostic sensitivity values were: Dp, 79; Df, 84; Bt, 84 and B. kulagini, 83%. Specificity varied from 72 to 85%. On the other hand, with Biocen extracts, the highest positivity was noted in Dp and D. siboney (Ds). Sensitivity values were 78% (Dp); 78% (Ds) and 82% (BT). Specificity values ranged from 79 to 82%. CONCLUSIONS: The standardized allergen extracts from the assessed laboratories induced similar values of sensitivity and specificity.
