Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease  2006;16(2):114-121

The Correlation between Increased Sensitization Rate to Weeds in Children and the Annual Increase in Weed Pollen in Korea.

Jae Won OH 1 ; Im Ju KANG ; Sung Won KIM ; Myung Hee KOOK ; Bong Seong KIM ; Kyung Soo SHIN ; Youn Soo HAHN ; Ha Baik LEE ; Myung Hyun SHON ; Jee Tae CHEONG ; Hae Ran LEE ; Kyu Earn KIM

Affiliations

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Keywords

Pollen; Ragweed; Sensitization rate; Children

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

MeSH

Abstract

PURPOSE: Recently allergic diseases have gradually increased in schools and among preschool aged childhood. Pollen amount of weeds also, especially ragweed, were increased. We evaluated the increased pollen count of weed was associated with the sensitization rate to weed in childhood. METHODS: Airborne particles carrying allergens were collected daily from eight stations nationwide(Seoul, Guri, Cheongju, Daegu, Kwangju, Busan, Kangneung, and Jeju) by using 7 days-Burkard sampler(Burkard Manufacturing Co Ltd, Hertfordshire, UK), for 7 years in South Korea(July 1, 1997-June 30, 2004). They were counted and recorded along with the weather. Data was collected through pediatric patients with allergic symptoms, who visit the pediatrics allergy clinics and capable of allerfy skin test among hospitals that have pollen collecting centers. RESULTS: Airborne pollen has two peak seasons:May and September in Korea. There were the tree pollen seasons from the middle of February to late July, then followed the grasses and weed season from the middle of July to the end of October. Ragweed was one of the most common pollens of autumn in Korea. In skin prick tests, Mugwort was the highest sensitization rate(7.6 percent), followed by ragweed(7.1 percent), birch(6.1 percent), alder, grasses mix among the pollen extracts in Korean school aged children. Ragweed pollen counts have gradually increased since 2000. In the same period, sensitization rates for airborne pollen, especially weeds, in Korean children have increased annually(1999:4.4 percent, 2000:7.1 percent, 2001:7.4 percent, 2002:8.5 percent, 2003:7.7 percent). CONCLUSION: Sensitization rates for outdoor airborne pollens have increased in Korean children. These findings might result from the changes of life styles and living environments in Korea.