EARLY INTERVETIONS OF CEDAR POLLINOSIS

Abstract

In recent years, many countries have experienced an increase in the prevalence of allergic rhinitis. In Japan, Japanese cedar and cypress pollens constitute a major, unique allergen that's spread is quite large, traveling more than 100 km and causing pollinosis that is severer than observed in other countries. In addition, cedar and cypress pollen spread season lasts for more than 12 weeks in and around Tokyo. To manage allergic rhinitis, the interventions at various stages are important. The recent progress in genetic analysis revealed the presence of genes regulating IgE producing abilities. For early prevention of allergic rhinitis, the allergen avoidance is important, however it is not easy to get effective results. Drug treatment is useful to improve the symptoms, however the role in early intervention in allergic rhinitis is not known and to keep taking medicine for a long term may not be acceptable. Allergen specific immunotherapy is effective in early intervention, and has possibilities of usefulness in primary or secondary intervention. Probiotics may play some role in preventions of allergic rhinitis. Futher studies to certify and to improve the clinical benefits of these early interventions are required.