title: Springtime pollinosis and oral allergy syndrome in Sapporo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this present study was to investigate pollinosis in the spring and oral allergy syndrome (OAS) in Sapporo to utilize it for future treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of the patients referred to our out-patient clinic during April and May in 1999. all those that were suspected to have pollinosis were asked to fill in a questionnaire. A 101 patients (30 males and 71 females) with a mean age of 33 years (range 7-74 years) answered the questionnaire. In all, the patients specific IgE tests were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common allergen was birch, affecting 54 of 87 patients (62%). In 61% of patients with birch allergy, we observed fruit and vegetable allergy. Among them, apple was the most prevalent allergen (97%), followed by peach (67%), cherry (58%), pear (40%), plum (40%) and melon (33%). The sensitivity of skin prick test with commercial extract to apple was low (11%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with birch pollen allergy had OAS much more frequently than ever reported in Japan, although OAS has not widely been known in Japan. Patients with birch pollen allergy should be informed about the possibility of hypersensitivity to certain fruits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Teine Keijinkai Hospital, Sapporo, Japan. bys14155@nifty.ne.jp
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gotoda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maguchi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawahara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Terayama
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukuda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000276:immunology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D012621:Seasons; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens