The type of sensitization to pollens in allergic patients in Eskisehir (Anatolia), Turkey.
The type of pollen allergy is in partly related to regional differences. We examined the incidence of sensitivity to pollens in patients with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma living in Eskisehir region which is located at the central part of Turkey (Anatolia) in where climates (hot-dry summers, cold-winters) facilitate allergenic pollens such as Poaceae. We skin tested 125 patients which were complaining from rhinitis and/or asthma symptoms with using the extracts of Dermatophagoides, grass, weed, cereal and tree pollens. The reactivity to Dermatophagoides as an indoor allergen was 50.4% (n = 63 patients). In pollen allergic patients (n = 100) sensitivity to Poaceae was the most common (69%), among them positivity to Anthoxanthum odoratum was 45%. In weeds Artemisia vulgaris sensitivity was 24%. Among trees Oleacea family which is characteristic species for Mediterranean are had the highest sensitivity (22%) in pollen allergic patients. Another point of study is that whereas sensitivity to grass pollen almost equal between patients from city center and from rural area (72.2% versus 71.4%, p > 0.05); the patients living rural area had mode sensitive to weed and tree pollens than those from city center (60.7% versus 45.8% for weeds and 42.9% versus 26.4% for trees, p < 0.05). The results suggested that sensitization to pollens in respiratory system allergies might be related to differences in macro (ie: climate) and micro (city or rural area) environmental characteristics of an area.
Harmanci
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Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Osmangazi Universisy, Eskisehir, Turkey.
Metintas
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D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology