Chironomid potent allergens causing respiratory allergy in children.

Abstract

Generally speaking, chironomids contain potent inhalant allergens. The skin prick tests with chironomid crude extract (Chironomus (C.) calipterus) were positive in 20 out of 25 children with respiratory allergy. The skin prick tests with house dust mite crude extract (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) were positive in 3 of these 20 chironomoid positive skin tests. Chironomid-specific IgE-ELISA were demonstrated in the sera of 17 (85%) of the chironomid skin positive patients. These 17 patients gave negative skin prick test to house dust mite crude extract. It is concluded that chironomid allergens should be considered when dealing with human respiratory allergy caused by arthropods.