Incidence of fungal spores at the homes of allergic patients in an agricultural community. II. Correlations of skin tests with mold frequency

Abstract

A mold survey in and out of the homes of 145 allergy patients was conducted over the course of a year and frequency of mold recovery was correlated with skin test reactivity in 131 of these patients. The highest percentage correlation with positive skin test and finding mold in the home was with Cladosporium. Penicillium and Alternaria, while Helminthosporium, Fusarium, Aureobasidium (Pullularia) and Mucor each had correlations of one percent or less. The 0-10 age group was the most skin test reactive to molds in general while the over-50 age group was the least reactive. The percentage of patients sensitive to Alternaria also responding to other mold antigens was the highest with Helminthosporium. Since Helminthosporium was rarely recovered in this survey the data suggest that cross reactivity and not dual reactivity between Alternaria and Helminthosporium is occurring.