Association between the asthma severity and the prevalence of sensitivity to allergens in children aged 5 to 16 years after the completion of an intervention for asthma control in Puerto Rico, 2005-2009

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the association between the asthma severity and the prevalence of sensitivity to allergens in children aged 5 to 16 years, after the completion of the intervention for asthma control as part of the project “La Red de Asma Infantil de Puerto Rico (2005-2009)”. “La Red” was design based on a medical-social model aimed at prevention and self-management of asthma through education, practical environmental assistance and the removal of barriers. Of the 245 children's enrolled in two inner city public housings, 97 aged 5 to 16 years (54.6% males and 45.4% females) met the requirements of having the skin-prick test and completed a year in the study. The sensitivity tests (dust mite, cockroach, four types of pollens and fungi, mould, cat and dog) were performed by a Board Certified Allergist. The 75.3% of the sample was sensitive to at least one allergen. The two predominant allergens sensitivities were dust mite (72.2%) and cockroach (38.1%). The sample was classified into two groups based on night and day symptoms: moderate (28.9%) and moderate/severe (71.1%) asthma. Moderate/severe asthma presented a positive association with dust mite (OR=1.22; 95%CI:0.45-3.33) and cockroach (OR=1.63; 95%CI:0.67-3.97). No one of the associations was statistically significant. These findings suggest that after one year of a complete asthma intervention the gap between asthma severity and allergen sensitivity is reduced. A successful management of asthmatic children has to integrate the Guidelines for the Management of Asthma, including the control of environmental hazards and triggers.