Open Access, Peer-reviewed
pISSN 2288-0402
eISSN 2288-0410
    Allergy Asthma Respir Dis. 2016 Nov;4(6):415-422. Korean.
    Published online Nov 30, 2016.
    https://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2016.4.6.415
    © 2016 The Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease; The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology
    Original Article

    Evaluation of the association between pollen count and the outbreak of allergic disease

    Ha-Na Kang,1 Hey Suk Yun,1 Young-Jin Choi,1 Jae-Won Oh,1 Ui-Young Min,2 Yoon-Sook Heo,2 Young-Seop Lee,2 Mijin Kim,3 Kyu Rang Kim,3 and Baek-Jo Kim3
      • 1Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
      • 2Department of Statistics, Dongguk University, Seoul, Korea.
      • 3Applied Meteorology Research Division, National Institute of Meteorological Research, Seogwipo, Korea.
    • Correspondence to: Jae-Won Oh. Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 153 Gyeongchun-ro, Guri 11923, Korea. Tel: +82-31-560-2254, Fax: +82-31-552-9493, Email: jaewonoh@hanyang.ac.kr
    Received May 18, 2016; Revised August 21, 2016; Accepted September 06, 2016.

    This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

    Abstract

    Purpose

    This study focused on the evaluation of the relation between pollen concentration and the outbreak of allergic disease (symptom index), and this outcome would be necessary to upgrade risk grade for the pollen forecasting system.

    Methods

    Airborne particles carrying allergens, such as pollen, were collected daily at the Seoul and Guri area by using 7-day Burkard samplers for 6 years. A total of 596 Subjects were recruited from Hanyang University Seoul Hospital (n=144 for spring, n=139 for autumn), and Hanyang University Guri Hospital (n=157 for spring, n=156 for autumn). Symptom index was evaluated and recorded by phone calling to study subjects daily or asking questionnaire when they visit outpatient clinic every week. Statistical analysis of data was performed by using correlation coefficients and regression models with time series graph.

    Results

    Two peak seasons of pollen concentration were May and September in Korea. In skin prick tests, the sensitization rate to ragweed pollen was gradually increased in children. In the same period, sensitization rates to airborne pollen, especially oak, birch for spring, and Japanese hop for autumn were increased annually. There was a significantly relationship between symptom index of allergic patients and allergic pollen concentrations in this study. Especially symptom index was significantly correlated to the concentration of oak pollen of day 1 in spring and to the concentration of Japanese hop pollen of day 0 in autumn.

    Conclusion

    Sensitization rates to pollens increased annually. There is a significant relationship between allergy symptom index and pollen concentration. There remains to confirm the Korean own risk grade of pollen allergy.

    Keywords
    Pollen; Pollen allergy; Risk grade; Symptom index

    Figures

    Fig. 1
    Sensitization rate to allergy pollen in this study (2010–2015).

    Fig. 2
    The correlation between allergic pollen count and symptom (Sx) index in Seoul (1. March to 15. November 2013). (A) Allergic pollen of tree, (B) pine pollen, (C) pollen of allergic plants except pine, and (D) allergic pollen of weeds.

    Fig. 3
    The correlation between allergic pollen count and symptom (Sx) index in Guri (1. March to 15. November 2013). (A) Allergic pollen of tree, (B) pine pollen, (C) pollen of allergic plants except pine, and (D) allergic pollen of weeds.

    Tables

    Table 1
    The contents of questionnaire to patients (symptom index)

    Table 2
    Correlation coefficient between total spring pollen and symptom index (SI)

    Table 3
    Correlation coefficient between spring pollen and symptom index (SI)

    Table 4
    Correlation coefficient between total fall pollen and symptom index (SI)

    Table 5
    Correlation coefficient between fall pollen and symptom index (SI)

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    MeSH Terms
    Allergens
    Ambrosia
    Ambulatory Care Facilities
    Asians
    Betula
    Child
    Forecasting
    Humans
    Hypersensitivity
    Korea
    Pollen*
    Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal
    Seasons
    Seoul
    Skin
    Metrics
    Share
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