Allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis caused by insects Lymantria monacha L.

Piotr Rapiejko^1,2, Dariusz Jurkiewicz², Agnieszka Lipiec¹, Boleslaw Samolinski³, Agnieszka Grzelak²

1. Allergen Research Center, Warsaw, Poland
2. Department of Otolaryngology, Military Medical School of Warsaw, Poland
3. E.N.T. Allergy Clinic, Warsaw Medical School, Poland

Published in: R. Spiewak (Editor): "Pollens and Pollinosis: Current Problems". Institute of Agricultural Medicine, Lublin (Poland) 1995, page 67.

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Po Polsku

The authors present the case of acute allergic-inflammatory symptoms in upper respiratory tract and conjunctivitis developed by people staying on 20^th May 1994 in coniferous forest near Warsaw.

37 out of 46 young males, aged 20-22, staying in pine forest (with some birch and oak trees) simultaneously developed conjunctivitis with lacrimation, reddening and oedema of conjunctiva as well as symptoms from upper respiratory tract, face and hands skin. In 6 individuals cough and expiratory dyspnoea were observed.

Palynological study of the air in the area was carried out. On 20^th May, 77 pine pollen grains, 6 grass pollen grains, 5 pollen grains of other plants and 122 Cladosporium spores per 1 cubic meter of air were noted.

The presence of numerous caterpillar hairs was also recorded. Their presence in the air was due to the massive occurrence of Lymantria monacha in the observed area. These common tree pests possess venom hairs filled with blistering secretion that can be extracted after irritation, then it dries up and in the form of powder is released to the air. Venom hairs break off and rise into the air. Reaching respiratory tract epithelium or conjunctiva they cause inflammatory (also allergic) reaction.

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