Role of cockroaches in allergy to house dust in Calcutta, India.

Abstract

Prick skin tests on 200 patients with a history of sensitivity to dust were done against house dust, cockroach, D. pteronyssinus, and D. farinae antigenic extracts. The frequency of positive reaction was 35% to cockroach, 59% to house dust, 84.7% to D. farinae, and 54% to D. pteronyssinus. Distinctively different prevalence of the three antigens, cockroach, house dust, and mites suggest that cockroach antigen is a specific antigen independent from house dust and mite antigens.