A STUDY ON CHILDHOOD POLLINOSIS (2ND REPORT) : An Epidemiological Examination of Pollinosis Among Junior High School Students in Matsukawa Town, Nagano Prefecture

Abstract

Epidemiological examinations were carried out on 590 students at Matsukawa junior high school to reveal the actual conditions of childhood pollinosis. The results were as follows: The estimated occurrence rate of pollinosis (rate of students with both nasal or ocular allergic symptoms and positive RAST) was 9.2% for Japanese cedar pollen, 15.6% for orchard grass pollen and 2.9% for apple pollen. These rates were almost the same as those for adults living in this town. Considering the fact that the rate of students with positive RAST but without any allergic symptoms was 3.6% for Japanese cedar pollen and 9.7% for orchard grass pollen, the occurrence rate of pollinosis in this town is likely to be higher in the near future.