[Environmental allergens and allergic diseases]. 1997

K Akiyama
Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Sagamihara Hospital.

Prevalence of allergic diseases in Japan has been increasing these 30 years. About 3%/5% of adult/ child general population are suffering from bronchial asthma these days. Housedust-mite, pollen, fungi and food have been identified as causative allergen. But recent change of life style in Japan is thought as the most important cause of increase of allergic diseases, such as change from life in wooden houses to concrete buildings. A full-day air-conditioning is comfortable not only for residents but also for microorganisms such as mite and fungi. Therefore, chance to expose to these allergens has been increasing. It is well-known that mite allergen is the most important causative allergen of bronchial asthma. Allergen analysis made us possible to measure the amount of allergen contents in our environment. It is known that 2 micrograms of Der 1 allergen of mite per 1 g of dust is enough to sensitize the host and 10 micrograms per 1 g dust can induce asthma attack. As mite allergens are rich in a sleeping mattress, asthma patients with mite allergy sometimes get asthma attack during sleeping at night. Pet dander such as cat and hamster are also popular causative allergens of asthma. About 30% of asthma patients show positive immediate skin response to these allergens. Releasing the pet from patients' home sometimes brought immediate relief from their symptoms.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006969 Hypersensitivity, Immediate Hypersensitivity reactions which occur within minutes of exposure to challenging antigen due to the release of histamine which follows the antigen-antibody reaction and causes smooth muscle contraction and increased vascular permeability. Atopic Hypersensitivity,Hypersensitivity, Atopic,Hypersensitivity, Type I,IgE-Mediated Hypersensitivity,Type I Hypersensitivity,Atopic Hypersensitivities,Hypersensitivities, Atopic,Hypersensitivities, IgE-Mediated,Hypersensitivities, Immediate,Hypersensitivities, Type I,Hypersensitivity, IgE-Mediated,IgE Mediated Hypersensitivity,IgE-Mediated Hypersensitivities,Immediate Hypersensitivities,Immediate Hypersensitivity,Type I Hypersensitivities
D007428 Intradermal Tests Skin tests in which the sensitizer is injected. Passive Transfer Test,Prausnitz-Kustner Test,Intradermal Test,Passive Transfer Tests,Prausnitz Kustner Test,Test, Intradermal,Test, Passive Transfer,Test, Prausnitz-Kustner,Tests, Intradermal,Tests, Passive Transfer
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D008925 Mites Any arthropod of the subclass ACARI except the TICKS. They are minute animals related to the spiders, usually having transparent or semitransparent bodies. They may be parasitic on humans and domestic animals, producing various irritations of the skin (MITE INFESTATIONS). Many mite species are important to human and veterinary medicine as both parasite and vector. Mites also infest plants. Acarus,Mite
D002415 Cats The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801) Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D004391 Dust Earth or other matter in fine, dry particles. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed) House Dust,Housedust,Dust, House
D005260 Female Females

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