Monosensitization to mites in Greek children - the clinical significance and lung function.

<bold>Background:</bold> House dust mites are a significant cause of atopic sensitization and allergic illness throughout the world, depending on geographic and seasonal humidity. In particular, sensitization to major allergenic dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farina is frequently detected in early childhood and is maintained until late middle age. <bold>Objections:</bold> The aim of this study is to describe the clinical significance and lung function in children with monosensitization to house dust mites. <bold>Methods:</bold> 183 Greek children (mean age 98+42 months old, 73% male) with monosensitization to mites were evaluated retrospectively. <bold>Results:</bold> Sensitization during infancy was detected in 21% of the cases. On first visit, the reported presentation was infantile atopic dermatitis (AD) in 14.8% of the cases, asthma (A) in 63.9% and allergic rhinitis (AR) in 77.6%. Median age (25,75 quartiles) of first presentation of AD, A and AR were 3 (3,8), 30 (15,48) and 60 (36,96) months old respectively. Nine cases (4.9%) that reported food allergy and all of the cases with infantile AD later developed respiratory allergy following the atopic march. United airway disease was diagnosed in 37.2% of cases, whereas 14.8% was diagnosed only with A and 25% only with AR. Half of the cases were hospitalized at least once for asthma attack. Lung function was normal in all cases and it was not related neither to clinical presentation or specific mites values. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Clinical burden of cases with monosensitization to mites was significant. Lung function might remain normal if diagnosis is made during the early school years. More follow up studies are needed to clarify the long term impact of mites on lung volumes.