Allergy history does not predict skin test reactivity in asthmatic children

We prospectively assessed how well patient report of allergy to cat, dust mite, and grass predicted the results of skin prick testing to those allergens in 95 asthmatic children. Children between 4 and 18 years old with physician-documented asthma provided a detailed standardized allergy history and then underwent skin prick testing. The children were categorized by asthma severity. The diagnostic accuracy, which was the primary outcome measure, as well as sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predicted values were calculated for allergy history with regards to skin test reactivity. The diagnostic accuracy of allergy history in identifying skin test reactivity was 65%, 50%, and 56% for cat, dust mite, and grass, respectively. Asthma severity did not affect the diagnostic accuracy. Allergy history was a poor predictor of skin test reactivity in this group of asthmatic children.