Sensitization to food and pollen allergens and their implication for travelers with respiratory allergies

Respiratory allergies, i.e. asthma and allergic rhinitis, are typically induced by inhalant allergens such as house dust mite allergens. During travel, these persons may also be exposed to other type of allergens that potentially trigger hypersensitivity reactions. However, sensitization pattern of respiratory allergic patients to allergens associated with traveling (such as peanut, sea food, and grass pollens) is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate allergen sensitization pattern among adult patients with respiratory allergies. A cross-sectional study was done in respiratory allergic patients between September and December 2016. Adult asthmatic patients aged 19 to 60 years were invited to undergo skin prick test at the Allergy and Immunology Clinic, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta. A total of 105 cases were enrolled; 80 (76.2%) were women. Sixty-two patients (59%) had both asthma and allergic rhinitis. Sensitization to food allergens was mostly found to shrimp (36.2%), egg (33.3%), crab (30.5%), peanut (28.6%) and tuna (28.6%), while sensitization to grass pollens was found in 11.4% patients. As conclusion, about 72.4% people with a history of asthma or allergic rhinitis triggered by the house dust mites are also sensitive to at least one food allergen and 11.4% was sensitive to grass pollens. These allergens are potential inducers of allergic symptoms when traveling or holiday, especially during air-travel (peanut allergy) or spring season (pollen allergy).