| Onset of allergy and asthma symptoms in extra-European immigrants to Milan, Italy: possible role of environmental factors. | |
MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 12680859 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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BACKGROUND: Allergy and asthma are typical disorders of the affluent societies. Migrants from developing to industrialized countries seem to be at increased risk of allergy and asthma development. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate time of onset, spectrum of sensitization and clinical features in a population of extra-European immigrants to Milan, Italy, complaining of allergy and asthma symptoms. METHODS: Data regarding 243 extra-European immigrants checked at an allergy clinic from 1994 to 2000 were collected retrospectively. The demographic data were compared with those of the extra-European immigrants living in Milan at the end of 1999. RESULTS: The patients were complaining of asthma (63.7%), rhinoconjunctivitis (56.7%), rhinitis alone (21%) or urticaria (3%). One hundred and eighty-seven out of 222 patients (84.3%) declared they were healthy before migrating and allergy/asthma symptoms started to appear after their arrival in Italy, namely after an average period of 4 years and 7 months. The proportion of male patients was lower than the proportion of men in the extra-European immigrant population (48% vs. 55%), suggesting that in adult immigrants allergy and asthma are more common in women than in men. Furthermore, there was an over-representation of Central-South Americans attending the clinic, which seemed to be due to a genetic predisposition to allergy/asthma development. When data were analysed for single countries, a trend towards an increased risk of allergy and asthma was found in immigrants from all Central-South American countries. A skin test positivity for at least one inhalant allergen was found in 196 out of 232 patients (81%), and the spectrum of allergic sensitization was similar to that of the Italian population living in the North of Italy. CONCLUSION: Most extra-European immigrants declared that they were healthy at home and that allergy and asthma symptoms had appeared after immigration to Milan; lifestyle and environmental factors in a western industrialized city seem indeed to facilitate allergy/asthma onset in immigrants from developing countries. Allergy/asthma risk seems to be different in different ethnic groups. |
Authors:
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A Tedeschi; M Barcella; G A Dal Bo; A Miadonna |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology Volume: 33 ISSN: 0954-7894 ISO Abbreviation: Clin. Exp. Allergy Publication Date: 2003 Apr |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2003-04-08 Completed Date: 2003-07-21 Revised Date: 2004-11-17 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8906443 Medline TA: Clin Exp Allergy Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 449-54 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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First Division of Internal Medicine, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. |
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adult Asthma / ethnology, etiology Central America / ethnology Chi-Square Distribution Emigration and Immigration* Ethnic Groups* Female Genetic Predisposition to Disease Humans Hypersensitivity / ethnology, etiology* Industry* Italy Male Retrospective Studies South America / ethnology Time Factors |
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