Prevalence of Sensitisation to Mites

The atopic syndrome consists of a number of diseases affecting different organs, e.g. allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and atopic eczema. A person may have one or more of these diseases that may also vary with time, depending partly on exposure to triggers. The atopic phenotype has a strong hereditary component. About 40% of children are born with this hereditary trait, but only about 25% of the population seem to develop symptoms of the atopic syndrome. Appearance and intensity of symptoms depend on length and severity of exposure to triggers, most commonly allergens that may be found in food and air, especially indoor air. Triggers of symptoms in atopic disease include: