ALLERGY AND ASTHMA: PREVALENCE AND FREQUENCY OF INHALANT ALLERGENS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases are on the rise globally. Despite advances in the diagnostic tools and treatment modalities, control of such diseases has not been possible. The etiological or allergenic factors responsible for inducing asthma and allergy in genetically predisposed or susceptible individuals are present in outdoor and indoor environment. In this review, published data for aeroallergens from countries in the Middle East and some neighboring countries are presented. The data indicated their qualitative and quantitative variations in the region. Some plant species were found to be different from those prevalent in western part of the world. In Saudi Arabia, weed pollen, including Amaranthus viridis, Chenopodium murale and Salsola imbricata, were amongst the most common outdoor allergens. As regards to indoor allergens, House Dust Mites, cat, American cockroach, German cockroach and Oriental cockroach as well as fungal spores such as Alternaria alternata, Ulocladium atrium and Cladosporium sphaerospermum were found in the region. However, not all the countries in the region have reported detailed information on aeroallergens. Therefore, there is still a lack of information from most of the countries in the region.

Further studies are required from most countries in the region in order to ascertain etiological factors and their prevalence in the region. The data presented in this review can thus be improved by further investigations and evaluating the clinical impact of dominating factors in both outdoor and indoor environment. The information can also be utilized for the implementation of environmental control in the respective region.