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Seasonal allergic symptoms and their relation to pollen exposure in south‐east France
Author(s) -
CHARPIN D.,
HUGHES B.,
MALLEA M.,
SUTRA JP.,
BALANSARD G.,
VERVLOET D.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1993.tb00350.x
Subject(s) - hay fever , cypress , pollen , medicine , epidemiology , asthma , population , allergy , risk factor , cross sectional study , demography , immunology , environmental health , biology , pathology , botany , sociology
Summary In order to evaluate the relationship between pollen exposure and prevalence of allergic respiratory symptoms, we performed a cross‐sectional epidemiological study in 2 areas with contrasted exposure to cypress and grass pollens. The study population consisted of 5427 subjects 18 to 65‐years‐old representative of the general population. All answered an abridged version of the 1978 ATS questionnaire and a sample had a skin test evaluation including grass and cypress pollens. Prevalence of hay fever symptoms was equal to 31.5% and 14.1%, respectively, in exposed and less exposed community ( P < 0.001). Prevalence of hay fever symptoms together with a positive skin test to pollen was also significantly higher in the exposed (13.6%) vs less exposed community (5.5%, P <0.001). In contrast, overall prevalence of asthma was equal to 4.5% and 3.4%, respectively. Prevalence of asthma with positive skin tests was also not statistically significant, equal to 2.5% and 1.9%, respectively. Thus, high exposure to pollen is a risk factor for developing hay fever but not asthma.