Spectrum of allergen sensitisation

One hundred and seventy patients had at least one positive sIgE (out of 223 patients tested). The mean age of patients was 27.8 (SD = 18.05 median 25 range 0–80), including 99 (44.4%) males and 124 (55.6%) females. The frequency of positive sIgE was highest in younger patients, peaking in the 16–20 year age group. Most patients were Malay (74.1%) followed by Chinese (19.3%). The rest (4.2%) were indigenous (e.g. Iban), expatriate (e.g. Philipino, Nepalese) or Indian (2.4%). The majority of samples came from Dermatology (73%), followed by Oral Maxillo-Facial Department (16%). Eleven percent came from other departments (General Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Palliative, Hematology, Pediatrics, General Surgery and General ward). The most prevalent aeroallergen was Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (d1; n = 100 positive results) followed by D. farinae (d2; n = 89) and Blomia tropicalis (d201; n = 65). Shrimp (f24; n = 67) was the most common food allergen, followed by peanut (f13; n = 45) and egg white (f1; n = 43). Total IgE significantly correlated with sIgE p < 0.001. Figure 1 illustrates sIgE titres across the top 5 aero and food allergens measured.

Levels of specific IgE titres to the top 5 aero and food allergens measured (D1 D. Pteronyssinus, D2 D. farinae, D201 B. tropicalis, E1 Cat dander, I6 German cockroach; F1 Egg White, F13 Peanut, F23 Crab, F24 Shrimp, F245 Egg) *min–max values for positive individuals