1Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Muzaffarnagar Medical College, Muzaffarnagar, U.P.
2Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Muzaffarnagar Medical College, Muzaffarnagar, U.P.
3Junior Resident, Department of Pediatrics, Muzaffarnagar Medical College, Muzaffarnagar, U.P.
*Corresponding author Dr. Satish C Agrawal, Department of Pediatrics, Muzaffarnagar Medical College, Muzaffarnagar 251203, (U.P); Email: satishagrawal1947@yahoo.com; Mobile: 9639883730
Online published on 14 October, 2016.
Allergy is a specific, acquired change in host reactivity mediated by an immunologic mechanism and causing an untoward physiologic response. A rise in the eosinophil count is one of the common findings observed in these allergic disorders.
The aim of the study was to note the changes occurring in the eosinophil count in the cases of children suffering from various allergic disorders. Besides this, an attempt was made to study the effect of various allergens by using skin prick test (SPT).
The study was conducted at the Department of Pediatrics, Muzaffarnagar Medical College, Muzaffarnagar between February 2015 and December, 2015. A total of 55 children, up to the age of 18 years were taken up in the study which included 38 patients of various allergic disorders & 17 children serving as control. Allergy testing was done by modified prick test method using prick test solution. Saline was used for negative control & histamine for positive control. Besides skin prick test, an absolute eosinophil count was done in each case & stool examination was also done.
A significant eosinophilia, i.e., an absolute count of above 250 cells/cmm was observed in 73.91% of the asthma cases, 66.66% of allergic rhinitis cases, 57.14% of urticaria cases and in 80% cases suffering from rhinitis with asthma. On the other hand, eosinophillia was seen only 11.76% of the control cases. To speak of the SPT, while it was positive in 61.11% cases of bronchial asthma, the same was positive in only 50% cases of urticaria. Positive SPT, interestingly, was seen in 100% in allergic rhinitis cases, while 75% cases suffering from rhinitis with asthma showed positive SPT.
While eosinophilia is seen in allergic disorders, there is no significant difference between various allergic disorders as regards the degree of eosinophilia. Regarding the use of SPT, it is a cumbersome and painful procedure and of little value either for the diagnosis or therapy.
Eosinophil count, Skin Prick Test
