atopy | Acta Medica Marisiensis

Objective: To demonstrate a link between the allergy disease and birth date, starting from the hypothesis that the season of birth may affect the future development of allergy.
Methods: Our prospective study included eighty-six asthmatic children, with ages between 1 and 18 years, who were admitted to the Clinic of Pediatrics I from Tîrgu Mureș, Romania, between October 2008 and June 2010. We analyzed the age, month of birth, sensitization to a given antigen (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, milk proteins, egg, mold, dog epithelium, cat epithelium, soya, carrot, potatoes, peanuts, tomato). Specific IgE serum levels to allergens were measured. RAST equal or higher than class 1 was considered as positive. This data was combined with the presence of different types of allergens during the year. The study was extended to the intrauterine period, when the fetus is also faced with different type of antigens, and maternal antibody.
Results: We observed the appearance of three “waves”, in February, April, September and early October the incidence of allergic sensitization was higher than in other months.
Conclusions: Our results support the hypothesis that the first few months of life represent a sensitive period, during which protection from exposure to pollen allergens may be associated with decreased sensitization to pollens.

The Prevalence of Contact Dermatitis Among Occupational and Work-related Diseases. Correlation between Atopy and Allergic or Irritative Contact Dermatitis

Pitis Codruta-Dana^1*, Tataru Alexandru²

1 University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hatieganu” Cluj-Napoca, Occupational Medicine Clinic Cluj-Napoca, Romania
2 University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hatieganu” Cluj-Napoca, Clinic of dermatology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2015-0050

The prevalence of contact dermatitis (CD) in Europe varies between 6.7% and 10.6% depending on the sector of activity. Professional CD (PCD) has an important economic impact – 30% of the budget compensation for occupational disease. In Romania, the prevalence of PCD is underestimated, with an even distribution of cases with respect to the allergic or irritative mechanism. A retrospective clinical study was conducted; target population being the patients admitted in Occupational Medicine Clinic Cluj-Napoca between 2003 and 2011. Objectives of study were: specifying the prevalence range of allergic CD (ACD) / irritative CD (ICD) among occupational/work-related diseases, the distribution of allergic/irritative CD (A/ICD) for different sectors of activity and establishing the correlation between atopy and A/ICD. We have applied allergy skin tests – prick (environmental allergens) and patch (occupational allergens). Inclusion criteria were: -documented occupational exposure at skin allergens/irritants; -the atopy state; -diagnostic established at discharge. Patients with recurrent chronic urticaria, angioedema, hypereosinophilic syndrome have been excluded. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software. The study indicated a similar prevalence for A/ICD, with similar distribution. Prevalence above average has been recorded in the metallurgy sector (A/ICD), in health care sector (ACD), respectively, textile industry (ICD). The correlation atopy-ACD has proved to be lower compared to previous reports. Regarding ICD, the diagnostic was confirmed frequently to non-atopic persons. We strongly recommend the compliance with a multidisciplinary protocol for the management of A/ICD, individualized for specific activity sectors or even work stations.