[Studies of skin test on diagnosis of nasal allergy induced house dust and mites]

Abstract

Skin test, radioallergosorbent test (RAST) and nasal provocation test were carried out on 392 patients to detect house dust (HD) and mites as causative allergens. This study was undertaken to evaluate the difference between the results of skin test, RAST and nasal provocation test. The results were as follows: 1. The frequency of positive intradermal test to mites was high regardless of age. But possibility of false positive results existed and this possibility increased with the patient's age. 2. RAST to mites was significantly higher than that to HD. In diagnosing HD allergy, measuring RAST to mites was more useful than measuring that to HD. 3. In pediatric patients, it could be assumed that measuring RAST to mites was the most applicable technique for diagnosing HD and mites as causative allergens. 4. The combination of intradermal test to HD and scratch test to mites was considered to be a useful screening skin test in diagnosing HD allergy. 5. Both the end point and reaction criteria of intradermal test were significantly correlated with the results of RAST and nasal provocation test.