Common allergens causes allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma among hypersensitive patients in kirkuk province

Background: Type I hypersensitivity can express itself for example, as allergic rhinitis; bronchial asthma . The prevalence of allergy is affected by age, sex, race and seasonal variation. The aim: The present study was under taken to identify the most common allergen in which patients are sensitive to, and to find the relationship between age, sex and allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma. Methodology: Retrospective study was conducted at Allergy and Asthma Centre in Kirkuk. Information from dossiers has been taken as sex, age, diagnosis state (allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma) and types of allergens in which the patients were sensitive to them. Results: The prevalence of type I hypersensitivity was (40.5%) in male and (59.5%) in females. Perennial type was higher than seasonal. The types of hypersensitivity in this research were less common among (615) years age group than age groups (16-30) and >30 years. The results showed that incidence of seasonal allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma was less common than perennial. House dust (HD) and house dust mite (HDM) most common causative allergens in perennial allergic rhinitis while in the seasonal allergic rhinitis was house dust and grass. Conclusion: Incidence of allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma among age group (>30) is more common. Perennial type is more common than seasonal type among hypersensitive patients. Hypersensitivity to house dust is prominent in kirkuk province. Introduction Immune responses to antigens may sometimes be excessive causing harm or inconvenience to the host. This said to be hypersensitive to these responses, and the responses are referred to as hypersensitivity reactions or just hypersensitivity. Production of immunoglobulin (Ig)E is central to the pathophysiology of pediatric allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and atopic asthma (1). After IgE binds to high-affinity mast cell surface Fc I receptors and is cross-linked by antigen, mast cell activation occurs and sets in motion a cascade of events resulting in the clinical manifestations of allergic disease (2). Allergic disease is common; about 15-20% of the population experience some form of allergy and this imposes a substantial physical and economic burden on the individual and society. Some patients have an occasional mild allergic reaction, some react with severe or fatal anaphylactic shock. Multiple factors contribute to the overall risk of developing allergy, as; atopy, age (commoner in children than adults), gender (commoner in males than females), family size (less common in large families), smoking, high levels of antigen exposure and dietary factors, but the decline in family size and smoking habits partially account for the rising prevalence (3). Allergic reactions to antigens which enter the systemic circulation, through an insect bite / sting or intravenous administration of an antibiotic, can produce life threading anaphylactic reactions. More commonly antigens are inhaled or ingested, usually triggering more local reactions in the upper or lower respiratory tract (rhinitis or asthma) or in the mouth or upper gastro, intestinal tract (4). The route of allergen exposure inducing a tolerant state may be the respiratory tract. Intranasal administration of pollen allergen has been shown to be effective in controlling allergic rhinitis and is associated with elevated IL-10 levels in nasal lavage obtained during subsequent exposure to natural pollen (5). The tendency to develop type 1 hypersensitivity (atopy) is genetically inherited. Air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and car exhaust fumes appear to be responsible for an increased incidence of asthma and hay fever. Passive cigarette smoking correlates with a higher incidence of asthma in children. These air pollutants are believed to predispose to allergies by increasing the permeability of the mucosal epithelium. There by facilitating the entry of allergens in to the tissue (3). Studies have shown that allergens are very important sensitizing agents in patients with asthma. Respiratory disorders such as asthma and allergic rhinitis are common in the United Arab Emirates (6). This study aimed to identify the common type of allergens that cause bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis, in relation to age and sex in kirkuk province. Methodology This retrospective study was conducted in Allergy and Asthma Centre in Kirkuk province from the period 11-