Po PolskuCenter of Allergology, Poznan, Poland
Published in: R. Spiewak (Editor): "Pollens and Pollinosis: Current Problems". Institute of Agricultural Medicine, Lublin (Poland) 1995, pages 43-46.
Back to the book's Table of Contents
Pollinosis is a seasonal illness that concerns about 20% of population. During the last years an increase in the morbidity because of pollen allergy has been observed among the persons both with and without family predisposition to it, especially in the industrial regions in Poland and other countries of the world. According to that the necessity to inform every day about the current pollen fall arose. Hence, the each day measurement of pollen fall was started in Poznan in 1992.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of pollen fall on pollinosis morbidity in Wielkopolska region during 1993 and 1994.
The patients (children, youths and adults) with pollinosis who came to the Center of Allergology in Poznan in the time of the pollen fall of the plants to which they had the allergy were examined.
The diagnosis of pollen allergy was confirmed by anamnesis, clinical examination and prick skin test and, in a few patients by nasal provocation test performed with allergens produced by Allergopharma. The measurement of the pollen fall by gravitation method was performed in three points of Poznan. Daily observation were started on March 1st, and finished on October 30th each year, while from November to February they were made once a week. The quantitative and qualitative composition of the pollen fall was determined for the 16x16 mm surface on the microscopic glass coated with Gevatol adhesive substance. To estimate the frequency of the morbidity and its agreement with pollen seasons, two years of observation - 1993 and 1994 - were chosen.
First patients with symptoms of pollen allergy reported themseves sick already in February, during pollination of hazel: in 1993 - 64 patients and in 1994 - 62. The peak of alder pollination was between 10-20 March in 1993 and in this time 60 patients reported symptoms of pollinosis. Although in 1994 pollination of alder was earlier and smaller, 63 patients came. The levels of birch pollen were very high in the third decade of April 1993 and much smaller in 1994. Nevertheless, the numbers of patients during those two years were the same (85 patients each year). In the middle of May 1993 concentration of rye pollen was very high - 250 persons reported that time with symptoms of allergy. In 1994 pollination of rye took place in the same time but in smaller amount - that time 400 persons reported. The grasses pollinated in 1993 on the medium level. The peak was on June/July and 271 patients came while in 1994 the grass pollen season was from May/June to half of July with very high levels and 425 persons with symptoms came.The weeds mugwort and plantain are very important allergens which are responsible for clinical symptoms. Their pollen fall was very high in 1993, from 20 July to the half of August. As many as 135 persons had the symptoms caused by mugwort and 57 had symptoms caused by plantain. In 1994 mugwort pollination was very short and little, only a few days at the beginning of August. However, 155 persons came with allergy to mugwort and 105 with allergy to plantain.
Figure 1. Pollination of the main allergenic plants in Poznan area in the years 1992-1994
Figure 2. Cases of pollinosis in Poznan area in the year 1993
Figure 3. Cases of pollinosis in Poznan area in the year 1994
The number of patients with pollinosis increased in 1994 in comparison to that in 1993. It was caused both by the more intensive grass pollen fall in 1994 and increased knowledge among people about the pollens and the symptoms which they provoke. The different pollen fall during 1993 and 1994 confirms the necessity for regular monitoring.
Back to the book's Table of Contents
© Radoslaw Spiewak (source code). This page is part of the alergologia.org website.
Page created: 29 April 2004, last updated: 10 January 2006.