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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study shows Puerto Rican and black children with asthma may be at risk for developing severe allergies.
Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, and the University of Connecticut Health Center sampled nearly 800 asthmatic children ages 4 to 18 years living in Hartford, Conn. The groups were comprised mostly of white, Puerto Rican and black children.
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The children were administered a standard skin test and were observed for reactions to indoor allergens such as cockroach, pet dander, dust mite, and outdoor allergens that included pollen, mold and ragweed.
The results showed Puerto Rican children with asthma were three-times more likely than white asthmatic children to be allergic to cockroaches, and twice as likely to be allergic to weed mix, mugwort and sage.
Black children with asthma were also more likely than white asthmatic children to be allergic to mixed pollens, weed mix, mugwort and sage.
Results show Puerto Rican and black children are more likely to live in poor living conditions. Housing for the underprivileged in Hartford is poorly maintained and infested with cockroaches.
Researchers say there might be a correlation between their findings and the living conditions faced by children in deteriorated buildings.
Juan C. Celedn, M.D., lead author of the study, says "The high frequency of positive allergy test results in Puerto Rican and African-American children with asthma suggests that these groups should be tested for allergies more often. However, historically, these minority groups have had limited access to skin testing."
Researchers say further research on how allergens affect minorities will be key to effective asthma management and improving patient care.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: CHEST, 2004;125:85-92
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