Original scientific paper
Influence of Aeroallergens on the Incidence of Conjunctivitis in Zagreb and Zagreb County
Renata Peternel
orcid.org/0000-0002-7849-7016
; Velika Gorica University of Applied Sciences, Velika Gorica, Croatia
Ivan Toth
; Velika Gorica University of Applied Sciences, Velika Gorica, Croatia
Predrag Herceg
; EKONERG, Energy and Environmental Protection Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Božo Vojniković
; »Dr. Božo Vojniković« Eye Clinic, Rijeka, Croatia
Raša Čop
; ERES, Zagreb, Croatia
Mirna Bradić-Hammoud
; Velika Gorica University of Applied Sciences, Velika Gorica, Croatia
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the temporal and spatial variations of pollen spectra in the City of Zagreb and Zagreb County according to frequency of inhalation allergy and rhino-conjunctivitis in the adult population by setting allergen/patient relationship. The study was carried out at three inland sites in Croatia during four years (2003–2006). A number of 2,192 patients have been tested for allergy skin prick tests over the same period. The majority of patients allergic to pollen allergens were sensitized to allergens from the plant pollen which belong to the botanical family of grass 46.91%, ambrosia 42.07%, birch 25.66%, hazel 15.19% (with symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis (42.5%), conjunctivitis (28.3%) and rhinitis (23.9%). Increased symptoms in patients allergic to pollen allergens in the entire study period coincided with the presence of pollen in the air. Patients sensitized to dust mites have symptoms throughout the year with a slightly increased number of cases in April and June. In patients sensitized to fungi and mold spores and animal hairs, the number of cases with worsening of symptoms is equal during the same year.
Keywords
aeroallergens; conjunctivitis; rhinitis; skin prick test
Hrčak ID:
102770
URI
Publication date:
22.4.2013.
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