Pantry mites as an environmental risk factor triggering allergies in Panama

Objective: To determine the prevalence of house mites in food pantries and assess it as a possible environmental risk factor triggering allergic diseases in the provinces of Panama and Panama Oeste. Method: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional exploratory study with a quantitative approach to the composition of house mites present in home pantries over a 12-month period. Data were processed using Minitab® 17, Epi Info® 7.2.5.0, and Microsoft Excel®. Odds ratios (ORp) were calculated between food and dust contaminated with mites among allergic participants. Results: A total of 326 dust samples and 330 food samples were obtained, with 100% participation (n = 330) for the surveys. The non-economically active population was the occupational group with the highest participation rate, at 64.2%. The OR for dust was CI95%: 1.11 (0.497–2.501), p (0.7912), and for powdered foods, CI95%: 1.15 (0.704-1.8920), p (0.5676). Conclusion: As with bedrooms, pantries provide the right environmental conditions for the development and proliferation of house dust mites, constituting a significant source of allergens within homes.