The relationship of the house-dust mite to respiratory allergy.

Abstract

1. The house-dust mite is a potent and important allergen. 2. 11.2% of patients with perennial respiratory allergy are allergic to the mite allergen and not to the various dust allergens. 3. 39.6% of the patients allergic to the allergens of house-dust are allergic to the allergen of the house-dust mites. 4. 23.7% of patients allergic to the allergens of house-dust are not allergic to the allergen of the house-dust mite. 5. 25.2% of patients with perennial respiratory allergy are not allergic to either the house-dust or mite allergens. 6. Endo, Center, or both dusts were negative in 222 cases, or 36.4%. 7.house-dust mites were negative in 297 cases, or 48.9%. 8. Positive intracutaneous skin tests with house-dust mite extract correlated with only 60.5% of the patients. Negative skin tests correlated with 67.3% of the patients.