Abstract
The investigation of airborne pollen and fungalspore concentrations was carried out in Cracowbetween 1997–1999. For this study thevolumetric method has been employed (Burkard).At the same time the clinical diagnosis ofpollen allergy in 40 patients was obtained onthe basis of an interview, positive skin pricktests with pollen extracts and increasedspecific IgE level. An increase in seasonalallergy symptoms in all patients occurred fromthe middle of May to the middle of August.Eighty eight percent of the patients (35 out of40) were sensitive to Poaceae pollen and about50% of them were additionally sensitive totree and herb pollen excluding grasses. Forpatients with additional allergy to tree pollenthe seasonal symptoms started at the end ofMarch (Betula) while for patients withadditional allergy to herb pollen it wasextended to the middle of September (Artemisia).
Five people out of 40 revealed positive skinreactions to Alternaria spores and anincrease in specific IgE level. Positive skinreaction to Cladosporium spores with noincrease in specific IgE level occurred in 2patients. The increase in seasonal allergysymptoms in people sensitive to Alternariaspores noted in July and August could becaused not only by these spores but also byPoaceae pollen.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
D'Amato G. and Spieksma F.Th.M.: 1991, Allergenic pollen in Europe. Grana. 30, 67-70.
D'Amato G. and Spieksma F.Th.M.: 1995, Aerobiologia and clinical aspects of mould allergy in Europe. Allergy. 50, 870-877.
Giner M.M., Garcia J.S.C. and Selles J.G.: 1998, Incidence of Alternaria spores in the atmosphere of Murcia (SE Spain). Seasonal, monthly and intradiurnal variations. Invest. Allergol. Clin. Immunol. 8(5), 304-308.
May K.: 1990, Uczulenie na bylice (Artemisia vulgaris). Polski tygodnik lekarski. T. XLV, 42-44.
Obtułowicz K. and Myszkowska D.: 1996, Aeroplancton and symptoms of pollen allergy in Cracow in 1991-1994. Int. Rev. Allergo. Clin. Immunol. 2(4).
Obtułowicz K., Szczepanek K., Radwan J., Grzywacz M., Adamus K. and Szczeklik A.: 1991, Correlation between airborne pollen incidence, skin prick tests and serum immunoglobulins in allergic people in Cracow, Poland. Grana. 30, 136-141.
Obtułowicz K., Szczepanek K. and Szczeklik A.: 1990, The value of pollen count for diagnosis and therapy of pollen allergy in Poland. Grana. 29, 318-320.
Rapiejko P.: 1997, Alergeny pyłku roslin. Alergia Astma Immunologia. 2(1), 9-18.
Spieksma F.Th.M., Emberlin J., Hjelmroos M., Jager S. and Leuschner M.: 1995, Atmospheric birch (Betula) pollen in Europe: Trends and fluctuations in annual quantities and the starting dates of the seasons. Grana. 34, 51-57.
Spieksma F.Th.M. and Nikkels A.H.: 1998, Airborne grass pollen in Leiden, The Netherlands: annual variations and trends in quantities and season starts over 26 years. Aerobiologia. 14, 347-358.
Stepalska D., Harmata K., Kasprzyk I., Myszkowska D.and Stach A.: 1999, Occurrence of airborne Cladosporium and Alternaria spores in Southern and Central Poland in 1995-1996. Aerobiologia. 15, 39-47.
Szczepanek K.: 1994, Pollen calendar for Cracow (southern Poland), 1982-1991. Aerobiologia. 10(1), 65-70.
Tariq S.: 1996, Mould allergy in early childhood. Clinical Application of Aerobiology. The UCB Institute of Allergy, pp. 33-39.
Tariq S.M., Matthews S.M., Stevens M. and Haliun E.A.: 1996, Sensitization to Alternaria and Cladosporium by the age of four years. Clin. Exp. Allergy. 26, 794-798.
Zawisza E. and Samolinska-Zawisza U.: 1991, Airborne pollen survey of the Warsaw area. Grana. 30, 177-179.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Myszkowska, D., Stępalska, D., Obtułowicz, K. et al. The relationship between airborne pollen and fungal spore concentrations and seasonal pollen allergy symptoms in Cracow in 1997–1999. Aerobiologia 18, 153–161 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020603717191
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020603717191