Hypersensitivity to weed pollen allergens in the region of Bygdoszcz

Case records of 8576 patients suffering from hypersensitivity symptoms within upper airways, who were treated at the Otolaryngological Section of the Allergological Outpatient Department of Medical Academy in Bydgoszcz in the years 1975-1989, were analysed. Pollinosis was diagnosed through anamnesis, physical examination and skin tests in 2561 (29.9%) individuals, i.e. 1153 women and 1408 men. Hypersensitivity to weed pollen allergens was found in 1069 (12.5% of all people examined) patients with pollinosis, i.e. 487 women and 582 men. There were 941 (88%) inhabitants of urban and 128 (12%) of rural areas among them. Positive family history of allergic diseases was proved in 616 (57.6%) persons. Mean age at the first visit to the doctor was 28 years for women and 23 years for men, while mean age of weed pollinosis onset was 22 years for women and 17 years for men. The disturbances observed in patients sensitive to weeds were provoked mainly by wormwood (86.2%), mugwort (82.9%), white goosefoot (44.3%), narrow-leaved plantain (28.8%), and sheep sorrel (19.0%). Hypersensitivity to grass, tree and/or shrub pollens coexisted in 85.5% of patients with weed pollen allergy and 64.5% of them were also hypersensitive to several non-seasonal allergens in various combinations. Bronchial asthma was recognized in 101 (9.4%) patients with weed pollinosis, while allergic skin reactions were seen in 315 (29.5%) individuals.