Allergy to mosquito bites and association with asthma and allergic diseases in children from Havana. Population-based study

RATIONALE: Climate change has caused an increase in global mosquitoes coupled with increased asthma and atopic diseases. Cuba has high prevalence of allergic diseases compared with the world. We hypothesized that allergy to mosquito bites is associated with the development of asthma and atopic diseases in infants from Havana.

METHODS: A sample of 691 children aged 6 year old living in Havana from the study Natural History of Wheezing in a Cohort of Cuban Infants was used. ISAAC questionnaires were applied by physicians. Data on asthma, allergic diseases, history of allergy to insect bites (HAIB) and prick test for mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti, Culex, Anopheles) were collected. A wheal size ≥ 3 mm was considered positive sensitization (PSM). Dichotomous logistic regression was used to identify associations.

RESULTS: 341 subjects have HAIB (49.3%) from them 297 (87.1%) have history of allergy to mosquito bites (HAMB). 43.0% was the prevalence of HAMB, 37.3% PSM, 15.3% PSM with HAMB, 36.5% asthma, 37.2% eczema, 29.8% rhinoconjunctivitis and 16.6% allergic rhinitis. HAMB is associated with asthma, eczema, rhinoconjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis. PSM is not associated with mentioned diseases. PSM with HAMB is associated with asthma (OR 2.02, 95% CI: 1.49-2.74), eczema (OR 2.47, 95% CI: 1.53-3.97), rhinoconjunctivitis (OR: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.55-2.86) and allergic rhinitis (OR: 2.50; 95% CI: 1.36-4.60).

CONCLUSIONS: Allergy to mosquito bites is a health problem in Havana. Allergy to mosquito bites was independently associated with asthma and atopic diseases. Vector control interventions will be necessary to reduce the development of these diseases.