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

OBJECTIVE

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.