Mouse allergy among asthmatic children from rural Appalachia.

BACKGROUND

Mice are a common finding in the indoor environment of many homes. In a recent study, 18% of children with asthma from an inner-city environment were reported to be allergic to mouse allergen.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of skin test reactivity among asthmatic children in a rural environment.

METHODS

We consecutively evaluated 209 (82 female, 127 male) children between the ages of 5 months and 19 years with asthma for mouse allergy. A careful environmental history was obtained on all children. Children older than 3 years of age were skin tested to mouse allergen and other indoor/outdoor inhalant allergens. Children younger than 3 years were skin tested to mouse and indoor allergens.

RESULTS

Thirty-three percent of parents reported seeing mice in their homes. Overall, 25 of 209 (12%) children with asthma were skin test-positive for mouse. For children 3 years or younger, 6 of 52 were skin test-positive for mouse (12%). There was no correlation among socioeconomic status, skin test reactivity, and the presence of mice in the home. Children with multiple skin test reactions were more likely to be reactive to mouse (P < 0.01). Mice seen in the home did not correlate with positive mouse skin tests.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of skin test reactivity to mouse allergen in asthmatic children from rural areas appears slightly less than that in children from inner-city environments. However, a frequency of 12% suggests that skin testing for this allergen provides useful information for environmental control measures in the home.