Since the prevalence of sIgE for each of the studied allergens was greater than the SPT prevalence and the frequencies
of SPT positivity among those without sIgE was very low [fungi (0.5%), dog epithelium (1.1%) and cat epithelium (0.9%)], atopy was defined as the presence of at least one sIgE ≥0.70 kU/L irrespective of SPT results. Atopic and non-atopic asthma cases were defined by the presence of symptoms of asthma as defined above in the presence or absence, respectively, of sIgE ≥0.70 kU/L for any of the tested aeroallergens