Incidence of allergic rhinitis in general practice, 1981-92.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the epidemiology of hay fever and to consider the role of pollution.


METHODS
Examination of data on weekly incidence of allergic rhinitis and hay fever by age, sex, region, and location.


METHODS
Royal College of General Practitioners Weekly Returns Service. Practice data were based on registered populations of 220,000 in 1981, rising to 700,000 in 1992 from England and Wales.


METHODS
Numbers of new cases of hay fever and allergic rhinitis. Data on pollen counts for Darlington, Derby, and London.


RESULTS
The incidence of allergic rhinitis fluctuated greatly from year to year but showed no trend. Peaks in hay fever coincided with peak pollen counts. No important differences were found between urban and rural locations or different parts of the country with respect to both size and timing of the peaks. Incidence was highest in children (5-14 years).


CONCLUSIONS
The similarity of the results throughout England and Wales does not support an important role for local pollutants in hay fever. However, the possibility that levels of pollutants are high enough to act as an adjuvant in hay fever across the whole study area has not been excluded.
Ross
A M
AM
Birmingham Research Unit, Royal College of General Practitioners.
Fleming
D M
DM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000397:Air Pollution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011058:Pollen; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012423:Rural Health; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014504:Urban Health