One-year Aerobiological Study In Wuhan City: Pollen And Fungi, Airbiological Data, And Clinical Correlations

Objective To study the genera and seasonal distribution of airborne pollen and fungi in Wuhan City. To investigate the allergen distribution of allergic diseases in Wuhan and to evaluate the effect of pollen concentration on the clinical symptom and anti-histamine treatment of allergic rhinitis.Methods From Jan 2010 to Jan 2011, an airborne pollen and fungi investigation was performed in Wuhan City using Rotorod M40 sampling technique, the genera and amount of pollen and fungi were recorded every day. Skin prick tests were performed in 1945 allergic patients from Jan 2010 to Dec 2010, the results were recorded and analyzed.30 Platanus acerifolia pollen allergic rhinitis patients were enrolled in March and 30 dust mite allergic rhinitis patients were chosen as control group. Each patient was given Loratadine 10mg per day for 28 days and recorded the symptom score every day.5 Platanus acerifolia pollen allergic rhinitis patients were observed in the whole Platanus acerifolia pollen season without treatment.Results (1)A total of 44 pollen genera were observed. The airborne pollen peak duration of each year occurred in two seasons:Spring(March and April) and Autumn(September and Octomber). The major pollens in spring were Morns L and Platanus L. The major pollens in autumn were Artemisia L, Ambrosia L and Humulus L. (2) A total of 47 fungi genera were observed. The airborne fungi peak duration of each year occurred in two seasons: Spring(March to May) and Autumn(August to Octomber). The major fungi in spring were Cladosporium, Ustilago, Alternaria, Epicoccum and Leptosphaeria SP. (3) The positive rate of skin prick test was 67.04%among 1945 allergic patients, The most common allergens were dust mite and cockroach. The skin test positive rates were 9.46%to pollen and 7.20% to fungi. The positive rates in allergic rhinitis complicated asthma patients, allergic rhinitis patients and asthma patients were 84.88%,76.69% and 73.91%, the positive rates in urticaria patients and eczema/atopic dermatitis were 39.22% and 39.60%. There was significant correlation between Platanus acerifolia pollen concentration and symptom score when the pollen concentration was below 200 grains/m3. The symptom score of Platanus acerifolia pollen allergic rhinitis patients was higher than that of dust mite allergic rhintits patients in Platanus acerifolia pollen season, however lower than dust mite group after Platanus acerifolia pollen season.Conclusion The study clarifies the genera and seasonal distribution of airborne pollen and fungi in Wuhan City and provides useful imformation to clinical prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pollen and fungi related allergic diseases. Dust mite, cockroach, pollen and fungi are the most common allergens among allergic patients in Wuhan. The skin test positive rate in allergic respiratory diseases is higher than that in allergic skin diseases. The pollen concentration has an important effect on the treatment of allergic rhinitis. The pollen concentration should be monitored when drug was evaluated to treat allergic rhinitis.