Comparison of 2 skin test methods for the diagnosis of allergic diseases

: Diagnosis of allergic diseases is realized by clinical history and cutaneous tests to determine the causative allergen. As several cutaneous test exist we consider necessary evaluate sensibility and specificity of epicutaneous (EP) and intradermic (ID) test. All open, prospective transversal study was carried out. The study included 45 patients suffering asthma, allergic rhinitis or both. The patients underwent both kind of test, with 10 allergens: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Fraxinus, Ligustrum, Quereus, Schinus, Phleum, Amaranthus, Ambrosia, Artemisa. Alternaria and Hormodendrum. The mean age was 12 years. No difference was found comparing positive results for tree, grass, weed and molds allergens using both test. Instead for Dermatophagoides pt EP had 92.5% of sensibility and 100% of specificity, mean while ID has 100% of sensibility and 96.6% of specificity. We conclude that ID test have greater sensibility and EP have greater specificity, we recommend use EP for first instance.