Baker's respiratory
allergy is reported as one of the most common forms of occupational
allergy in many countries. At the first stage of a three-year study of risk factors of occupational
allergy we investigated the symptoms reported, and the results of skin prick tests (SPT) to common and flour
allergens in 461 current apprentice bakers from three different regions of Poland before starting occupational exposure. The occurrence of
cough was reported by 14 subjects (3%), dyspnoea by 4 (0.87%),
rhinitis by 18 (3.9%),
conjunctivitis by 12 (2.6%) and skin symptoms by 12 subjects (2.6%). Generally, 48 subjects (10.41%) reported at least one symptom, which might suggest the existence of allergic disease. Positive SPT to at least one
allergen was found in 99 subjects (21.5%), including 82 subjects (17.78%) with positive SPT to common
allergens, 13 subjects (2.81%) to flour
allergens and 4 subjects (0.88%) sensitised only to Dermatophagoides farinae. The statistical analysis revealed significant correlation between positive SPT to common
allergens and reported
rhinitis and
conjunctivitis, and between positive SPT to occupational
allergens and reported dyspnoea. Moreover, a significant correlation between positive SPT to D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae was found. In our opinion, the results of SPT should be very carefully examined, when diagnosing occupational
allergy, as in some apprentice bakers positive results of SPT to flour
allergens are found before vocational training. In all apprentice bakers, SPT to common and occupational
allergens should be performed before starting occupational exposure. It would ensure the exclusion of subjects already sensitised to occupational
allergens. Positive SPT to Dermatophagoides farinae has a very limited value in recognising baker's
allergy.