Does regional pollen load affect the prevalence of clinical allergy to those pollen groups?

Abstract

AbstractObjective:To test the association between clinical allergic sensitisation to pollens and the profile and load of those pollens, in Ankara, Turkey.Materials and methods:Forty-three patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis were included. Clinical sensitisation to various pollens was compared with 10-year counts of the same pollens. The ratios of sensitisation to various pollen groups, and the association between clinical sensitisation and pollen load, were investigated.Results:Grass pollen allergy was the leading cause of seasonal allergic rhinitis, followed by tree pollen allergy. In Ankara, the most common type of airborne tree pollen was salicacea; however, the commonest clinical tree pollen allergies were due to the betulaceae and fagaceae families.Conclusions:Higher concentrations of airborne pollens may not always result in a higher prevalence of clinical allergy to those pollens.