They employed allergen skin testing and spirometry, as well as the methacholine challenge, a method of measuring airway activity by an inhalation challenge test, often used to confirm the diagnosis of asthma when symptoms are present. They measured total and allergen-specific IgE, which is the antiboy that causes all allergic reactions. People with allergic diseases, including asthma, produce large amounts of IgE antibodies in response to any number of environmental factors. The researchers did not ind racial differences when testing for sensitization to major indoor allergens, including cockroaches. They did find that African-American children were more likely to be sensitized to ragweed and grass.
American children have smaller lung capacities than European-American children.
But, they noted, even after correction for racial differences, pulmonary function levels were still lower in African-Americans. American children may be predisposed to more severe asthma. Any question regarding a medical diagnosis, treatment, referral, drug availability or pricing should be directed to either a licensed physician or to the product's manufacturer. All rights reserved.