title: Continuous 6-year follow-up study of sensitization to Japanese cedar pollen and onset in schoolchildren.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intra individual longitudinal data has been lacking for IgE-mediated seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), especially in young children. Little is known about the development and natural course of SAR in terms of prevalence and incidence rates in schoolchildren.
  
  
  METHODS
  In May or June each year from 1994 to 2007, schoolchildren were assessed for serum Japanese cedar pollen (JCP)-IgE and house dust mite (HDM)-IgE levels, and surveyed regarding nasal symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 220 children initially assessed in the first grade, 69 (31.4%) were already sensitized to JCP at first grade and 119 (54.1%) did not develop JCP sensitivity during the 6-year study at all. In the first grade children who were HDM-sensitized but JCP non-sensitized, JCP-IgE level was significantly elevated compared to the JCP and HDM non-sensitized group. This seems to indicate that HDM sensitization was very strongly associated with JCP sensitization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated serum IgE is a consequence of specific sensitization to HDM and HDM sensitization appeared to develop prior to the start of primary school which distinguishes HDM sensitization from JCP sensitization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Terada
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology for Community Health and Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ozasa
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Sawako
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hyo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Natsuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kawata
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takenaka
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D032485:Cryptomeria / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D015995:Prevalence; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E