BackgroundIn Monterrey there are a considerable number of Ficus benjamina trees, but the awareness-related information to this plant is scarce. The objective of this study is to determine the frequency of sensitization to Ficus benjamina in patients with rhinitis who were attended the Regional Centre of Allergy and Clinical Immunology of Monterrey, Mexico.MethodsObservational, transversal and descriptive study. We included patients over 18 years old with chronic rhinitis, which completed a questionnaire to assess exposure to Ficus benjamina. Skin prick tests (SPT) to common aeroallergens in our region with extract of Ficus benjamina (Allerstand Company) had done in all subjects.ResultsA total of 177 patients were included, mean age was 38 years, 65% (115) were female, 135 (76%) reported contact with a Ficus benjamina tree in their home or neighbor. 12 (17%) patients had a positive skin test to Ficus benjamina, but up to 15% (26) had clinical manifestations when they were close to a tree of Ficus benjamina. Most patients with positive skin test to Ficus benjamina (76.9%, 9) had positive test more than one of the aeroallergen tested. The association between Ficus benjamina and sensitization to other aeroallergens, as well as the symptoms associated to the contact with the tree was not statistically significant.ConclusionsSensitization to Ficus benjamina is common and was similar to that reported in European countries. To demonstrate the association between sensitization to Ficus benjamina and symptoms should be made studies with nasal challenge test.

BackgroundStudies have been conducted to obtain MEF (maximum expiratory flow) reference values in healthy children. Factors such as the region´s altitude, humidity, local temperature, and the characteristics of the study population cause changes in airway resistance that produce different MEF values. The objetive of this study is to establish normal reference values for MEF in healthy children from the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico and compare them with established reference values from other states of Mexico and the United States.MethodsWe carried out an observational, cross-sectional, descriptive, comparative study in healthy 6 to 8 year old children, both gender. A questionnaire that included information about age, weight, and height was applied. Flowmetry was performed with a Truzone portable peak flow meter and the highest of 3 values was recorded.ResultsWe included 2282 children (1085 boys and 1197 girls) from 19 randomly selected elementary schools. The MEF values obtained were plotted on graphs in MEF percentiles according to gender and height. When compared with MEF reference values for authors from different locations, differences were found.ConclusionsThe variation observed in MEF values in our population compared with studies performed in other populations shows the need for clinical demographic data from each region to establish and use characteristic reference values.