Skin prick test reactivity to common aeroallergens among allergic rhinitis patients in Jordan

Abstract

The distribution and pattern of aeroallergens are significantly different between different countries and even in the different parts of the same country. The present study aims to evaluate the most common aeroallergens among allergic rhinitis patients in the city of Al-Karak, Jordan. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mutah University, from March 2016-April 2018. Patients with a clinical diagnosis of allergic rhinitis were enrolled and Skin Prick Test (SPT) was performed using 11 common aeroallergens including, grass, weed, tree, mite, and mould in 140 patients. The results showed that the overall rate of sensitization to any allergen was 85.7%. It was shown that 69.3% of patients were poly-sensitized; while, 16.4% were sensitized to only one allergen. The majority of the common allergens were Olive tree pollen (51.4%), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (37.9%), respectively. Mould (Alternaria) was the least prevalent allergen (17.1%). The present study has shown the importance of Olive tree pollen which, is widely cultivated in Al-Karak, Jordan. The diagnosis of pollen allergen can be simplified by using a combination of a few common allergens.