Fungal Aeroallergen Sensitization Patterns among Airway-Allergic Patients in Zagazig, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Airway allergies such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, as well as their comorbidities, are increasing worldwide, causing significant socioeconomic health burdens to societies. It is estimated that between 3% and 10% of the population is allergic to fungi. The type of fungal sensitization varies from one geographical region to another. The present study aimed to identify the common fungal aeroallergen sensitization patterns among airway-allergic patients residing in the Zagazig locality, Egypt, in order to obtain a better understanding of fungal allergy, in addition to improving the awareness and management strategies for those patients. Methods: The present cross-sectional study included 200 allergic rhinitis and asthma patients. Sensitization to fungal aeroallergens was evaluated by skin prick testing and in vitro measurement of total and specific immunoglobulin E. Results. As determined by a skin prick test, 58% of the patients studied were allergic to mixed molds. Alternaria alternata was the predominant fungal aeroallergen among the studied patients (72.2%), which was followed by Aspergillus fumigatus (53.45%), Penicillium notatum (52.6%), Candida albicans (34.5%), and Aspergillus niger (25%). Conclusion: Mixed mold sensitization ranked fourth among the most frequent aeroallergens in airway-allergic patients, and Alternaria alternata was the most frequently encountered fungal aeroallergen in the Zagazig locality.

Sensitivity patterns to fungal allergens in the population of Vinnytsya region

“…The high levels of total immunoglobulin E (tIgE) found in the present study may be a good predictive marker of an allergic reaction in both adults (Cameron & Luo, 2023) and children (Lin et al, 2021), as the concentration of allergen-specific IgE correlates with the likelihood of symptoms (Mokhtar et al, 2023). In particular, the higher the level of tIgE, the higher the likelihood of clinical manifestations of sensitization to Alternaria (López Couso et al, 2021).…”

“…Low values of this indicator specify a low probability of developping a clinical stage of an allergic disease, while high levels have a high correlation with severe manifestations of the disease. If high levels of specific IgE are detected, it is possible to predict the development of allergies in the future and the likelihood of its symptoms (Mokhtar et al, 2023).…”