House Dust Mite Awareness in the Ivorian Population from 2008 to 2021

Background: Allergies are a real public health problem not confined to high-income countries. In tropical Africa, particularly in Ivory coast, allergies play a significant role after infectious diseases, and are increasingly the subject of numerous studies.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and clinico-biological characteristics of dust mite sensitization in patients registered for allergological testing at the Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire (IPCI) Reception and Sampling Unit (URAP).

Methods: Patients were of both sexes (M or F) and aged from 1 to 82 years. Mites/blatts family identification tests (ALL CHECK) as well as mixed, respiratory and pediatric specificity panelsusing the immuno-transfer technique respectively detected serum IgE antibodies directed mainly against mites/blatts, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D. pteronyssinus or D1), Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae or D2).

Results: Our series comprised 182 men (55.3%) and 147women (44.7%). The mean age and sex ratio were 23 years and 1.2. The overall frequency of mite sensitization was 42 %, with D. pteronyssinus predominating (49 %), followed by D. farinae (37%) and the mites/blatts family (14%). The age group most affected was between 1 and 5 years. Specific IgE levels in the sensitized population increased with age, following a simple regression curve with r= 0.96 p< 0.00001. The percentage of children with detectable specific IgE against at leastone house dust mite species rises to 43.75 % in children (1 to 5 years), followed by a decrease to 30.90 % in those aged 6 to 10 years.

Conclusion: The threshold for sensitization remains low in young people. Recommendations in favor of eviction measures should be focused on the habitat and on the pediatric population.

Keywords: Mites, Ivory Coast, Awareness.