title: The seasonal variation in allergic rhinitis and its correlation with outdoor allergens in Kuwait.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergic rhinitis (AR) is the most common allergic problem in Kuwait. Most of the patients who have either AR or asthma are referred to the Al-Rashed Allergy Center.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine if there is a seasonal variation in AR in Kuwait and to correlate it with the daily pollen count.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information about the new patients referred to the center over a 5-year study period (1996-2000) was extracted from the center's records. The daily pollen count in Kuwait city was obtained from the Air Biology Laboratory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant seasonal variation with a bimodal increase in the number of patients with AR referred to the center. The main peak in the number of patients occurred in September-October, and there was a smaller peak in April-May. The mean number +/- SD of new patients per month over the 5-year period varied from 87 +/- 32 for December to 367 +/- 104 for September. Similarly, the average daily pollen count varied from 3.7 +/- 1.0 pollens per mm3 in January to 124 +/- 92 in October. There was high correlation between the number of new AR patients and the average total pollen count (Pearson correlation, r=0.77, p<0.001), as well as with Chenopodiaceae and Amaranthaceae (weed) pollens (r=0.75, p<0.001), while there was no correlation between the number of new patients and either tree or grass pollens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seasonal AR occurs during two periods in Kuwait, i.e. September-October and April-May, with September-October being the main season. The rise in AR during late summer in Kuwait is mainly associated with the pollination of Chenopodiaceae species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait. nasser_beh@hsc.kuniv.edu.kw
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Behbehani
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arifhodzic
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Mousawi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marafie
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ashkanani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moussa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Duwaisan
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D027703:Amaranthaceae / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D019663:Chenopodiaceae / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D012621:Seasons; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens