Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Siriraj Hospital
PAKIT VICHY ANOND, M.D.*
Affiliation : *Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol Univer
sity, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.
AbstractLike other parts of the world, prevalence of childhood allergic diseases in Thailand, parti
cularly of asthma and allergic rhinitis, has risen sharply over the past decade. Epidemiologic studies
in this country indicated that allergic sensitization (mainly to house dust mites, cockroaches and cat
dander) is the major important risk factor for the development of asthma. House dust mites are
the most important source of allergens causing sensitization among allergic Thai children. A nation
wide survey indicated that house dust mites are ubiquitous in Thai homes. Despite the authors'
earlier finding that mite allergen levels in Thailand (mean group-I allergen level of 11 mcg/g dust),
exceeded the recommended international threshold level to induce asthmatic symptoms (10 mcg/g
dust), mite allergen levels in homes within the Bangkok area are in the modest range (5 mcg/g
dust). With mattresses in Thailand being commonly laid on hardwood surfaces, the authors demon
strated that only top-covering of these mattresses with locally produced mite-impermeable mem
brane, mite allergens could be substantially reduced. Other active research in pediatric allergy in
Thailand include complete surveys of outdoor aeroallergens and research in pharmacologic manage
ments of allergic diseases. The Thailand Registry of Primary Immune Deficiency has recently been
established to collect data on patients with these disorders and to improve means for diagnosis
and treatment for these unfortunate patients. Finally, with a recent approval for board certification
in pediatric allergy and immunology, it is expected that the number of specialists in this field will
increase to a sufficient level to provide adequate care for allergic/immunologic children in Thailand.
Keywords : Children, Allergic Diseaes, Asthma, Rhinitis, Dust Mites, Cockroaches, Immune
Deficiency
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