title: [Characterisctics of ragweed allergy in Hungary].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the prevalence of ragweed allergy in Europe is still low, it is increasing according to recent statistics. In contrast, in Hungary ragweed is the most common allergen with very high sensitisation in the general Hungarian population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the number and clinical characteristics of ragweed allergy in the Hungarian population, as the first comprehensive study to evaluate ragweed allergy in Hungary.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand Hungarian adult subjects were screened with a questionnaire for ragweed allergy. People with ragweed allergy answered further specific questions about their disease history, symptoms and medication use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  305 subjects reported allergy from which 218 patients had symptoms during ragweed pollination suggesting ragweed allergy. 40% of these had symptoms for more than 5 years. Asthma was reported in 18.3%. Around 24% of these patients were undiagnosed; they did not take any medications or visited professionals because of their symptoms. Compared to the non-ragweed allergic patients, subjects with ragweed allergy were older and better educated, but the dominance of female gender was less prominent than in the non-ragweed group (all p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Around 22% of the Hungarian population suffers from ragweed allergy. Studies should focus on eradication strategy and improvement of patient care. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(50), 1989-1993.
authors.affiliation: Tüdőgyógyintézet Törökbálint, Munkácsy M. u. 70., 2045.
authors.forename: Zsuzsa
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Márk
authors.affiliation: Pulmonológiai Klinika, Semmelweis Egyetem, Általános Orvostudományi Kar Budapest.
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bikov
authors.affiliation: Pulmonológiai Klinika, Semmelweis Egyetem, Általános Orvostudományi Kar Budapest.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gálffy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D031164:Ambrosia / Q000276:immunology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011058:Pollen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: epidemiology; epidemiológia; kérdőíves felmérés; parlagfű-allergia; questionnaire-based data collection; ragweed allergy