RESEARCH PAPER
Impacts of long-term ragweed pollen load and other potential risk factors on ragweed pollen allergy among schoolchildren in Hungary
| 1 | Doctoral School of Pathological Sciences, Semmelweis University, School of Ph.D. studies, Pathological Sciences, Budapest, Hungary |
| 2 | National Institute of Public Health, Department of Climate Change and Health Effect, Budapest, Hungary |
| 3 | Free lancer in biostatistical area, Ócsa, Hungary |
| 4 | National Institute of Public Health, Public Health Directorate, Budapest, Hungary |
| 5 | Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Institute of Mathematics, Budapest, Hungary |
| 6 | National Institute of Public Health, Department of Air Hygiene and Aerobiology, Budapest, Hungary |
| 7 | National Institute of Public Health, Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Budapest, Hungary |
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Krisztina Vörös
Doctoral School of Pathological Sciences., Semmelweis University, School of Ph.D. studies, Pathological Sciences, Üllői út 26,1085, Budapest, Hungary Phone number: +361 2667483, Sporttelep utca 13, 1046 Budapest, Hungary
Doctoral School of Pathological Sciences., Semmelweis University, School of Ph.D. studies, Pathological Sciences, Üllői út 26,1085, Budapest, Hungary Phone number: +361 2667483, Sporttelep utca 13, 1046 Budapest, Hungary
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2018;25(2):307–313
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction and objective:
Hungary is one of the areas in Europe most infected with ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) and its pollen, and is the most important cause of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in the country. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between ragweed pollen allergy and long-term ragweed pollen load, as well as analysis of the the impacts of additional potential risk factors on health outcomes.
Material and methods:
A modified version of standardized questionnaires, based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood, were completed by the parents of schoolchildren aged 8 – 9 attending 3rd grade classes throughout the country. Pollen load was calculated for each settlement from daily ragweed pollen concentrations monitored by 19 monitoring stations in the country. Descriptive and analytical statistical methods were applied.
Results:
At national level there was a significant inverse association between prevalence of ragweed allergy and its pollen load, but significance was lost after excluding data from Budapest, the capital city, due to the impact of urbanization. In the adjusted model, parental atopic disease was the strongest risk factor (either parent had atopic disease aOR=2.60; 95% CI=2.31–2.93 or both parents had atopic disease aOR=4.56; 95% CI=3.71–5.60). Further significant risk factors were male gender (aOR=1.52; 95% CI=1.36–1.71), lower respiratory infection in the first two years of life (aOR=1.91; 95% CI=1.70–2.16), and unshared children’s room (aOR=1.22; 95% CI=1.09–1.37). Allergy was significantly less common among children whose parents received social aid (aOR=0.83; 95% CI=0.72–0.97) and whose mother smoked during pregnancy (aOR=0.80; 95% CI=0.64–0.99).
Conclusions:
Higher ragweed pollen exposure was not found to be associated with higher risk of ragweed allergy.
Hungary is one of the areas in Europe most infected with ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) and its pollen, and is the most important cause of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in the country. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between ragweed pollen allergy and long-term ragweed pollen load, as well as analysis of the the impacts of additional potential risk factors on health outcomes.
Material and methods:
A modified version of standardized questionnaires, based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood, were completed by the parents of schoolchildren aged 8 – 9 attending 3rd grade classes throughout the country. Pollen load was calculated for each settlement from daily ragweed pollen concentrations monitored by 19 monitoring stations in the country. Descriptive and analytical statistical methods were applied.
Results:
At national level there was a significant inverse association between prevalence of ragweed allergy and its pollen load, but significance was lost after excluding data from Budapest, the capital city, due to the impact of urbanization. In the adjusted model, parental atopic disease was the strongest risk factor (either parent had atopic disease aOR=2.60; 95% CI=2.31–2.93 or both parents had atopic disease aOR=4.56; 95% CI=3.71–5.60). Further significant risk factors were male gender (aOR=1.52; 95% CI=1.36–1.71), lower respiratory infection in the first two years of life (aOR=1.91; 95% CI=1.70–2.16), and unshared children’s room (aOR=1.22; 95% CI=1.09–1.37). Allergy was significantly less common among children whose parents received social aid (aOR=0.83; 95% CI=0.72–0.97) and whose mother smoked during pregnancy (aOR=0.80; 95% CI=0.64–0.99).
Conclusions:
Higher ragweed pollen exposure was not found to be associated with higher risk of ragweed allergy.
REFERENCES (35)
1.
Kazinczi G, Béres I, Pathy Z, Novák R. Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.): a review with special regards to the results in Hungary: II. Importance and harmful effect, allergy, habitat, allelopathy and beneficial characteristics. Herbologia. 2008; 9(1): 93-118.
2.
Novák R, Karamán J, Kazinczi G, Somodi I, Csecserits A, Kovács A, et al. The spreading of common ragweed. In: Kazinczi G, Novák R, editors. Integrated methods for suppression of common ragweed. National Food Chain Safety Office, Directorate of Plant Protection, Soil Conservation and Agri-environment, Budapest; 2014. p. 31-48.
3.
Kadocsa E, Juhász M. Change of the allergen spectrum of hay fever patients in the South Great Plain of Hungary (1990-1998). Orvosi Hetilap. 2000; 141(29): 1617-20.
4.
Mezei G, Járainé Komlódi M, Medzihradszky Z, Cserháti E. Seasonal allergic rhinitis and pollen count. Orvosi Hetilap. 1995; 136(32): 1721-24.
5.
Emanuel MB. Hay fever, a post industrial revolution epidemic: a history of its growth during the 19th century. Clin Allergy. 1988; 18(3): 295-304.
6.
Uphoff E, Cabieses B, Pinart M, Valdés M, Antó JM, Wright J. A systematic review of socioeconomic position in relation to asthma and allergic diseases. Eur Respir J. 2015; 46(2): 364-74.
7.
Burr ML, Emberlin JC, Treu R, Cheng S, Pearce NE; ISAAC Phase One Study Group. Pollen counts in relation to the prevalence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma and atopic eczema in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Clin Exp Allergy. 2003; 33(12): 1675-80.
8.
Charpin D, Hughes B, Mallea M, Sutra JP, Balansard G, Vervloet D. Seasonal allergic symptoms and their relation to pollen exposure in south-east France. Clin Exp Allergy. 1993; 23(5): 435-9.
9.
Asher MI, Keil U, Anderson HR, Beasley R, Crane J, Martinez F, et al. International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC): rationale and methods. Eur Respir J. 1995; 8(3): 483-491.
10.
Hirst JM. An automatic volumetric spore trap. Ann App Biol. 1952; 39: 257-65.
11.
Páldy A, Bobvos J, Fazekas B, Mányoki G, Málnási T, Magyar D. Characterisation of the pollen season by using climate specific pollen indicators. Cent Eur J Occ Envir Med. 2014; 20(3-4): 199-214.
12.
Lin M, Lucas HC Jr, Shmueli G. Too big to fail: large samples and p-value problem. Inf Syst Res. 2013; 24: 906-917.
13.
Ariano R, Berra D, Chiodini E, Ortolani V, Cremonte LG, Mazzarello MG, et al. Ragweed allergy: Pollen count and sensitization and allergy prevalence in two Italian allergy centers. Allergy Rhinol (Providence). 2015; 6(3): 177-83.
14.
Thibaudon M, Hamberger C, Guilloux L, Massot R. Ragweed pollen in France: origin, diffusion, exposure. Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010; 42(6): 209-15.
15.
Ridolo E, Albertini R, Giordano D, Soliani L, Usberti I, Dall'Aglio PP. Airborne pollen concentrations and the incidence of allergic asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis in northern Italy from 1992 to 2003. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2007; 142(2): 151-57.
16.
Crockett AJ, Alpers JH. A profile of respiratory symptoms in urban and rural South Australian school children. J Paediatr Child Health. 1992; 28(1): 36-42.
17.
Majkowska-Wojciechowska B, Pełka J, Korzon L, Kozłowska A, Kaczała M, Jarzebska M, et al. Prevalence of allergy, patterns of allergic sensitization and allergy risk factors in rural and urban children. Allergy. 2007; 62(9): 1044-50.
18.
Juhász A, Nagy Cs, Páldy A, Beale L. Development of a Deprivation Index and its relation to premature mortality due to diseases of circulatory system in Hungary,1998-2004. Soc Sci Med. 2010; 70(9): 342-9.
19.
Gehring U, Pattenden S, Slachtova H, Antova T, Braun-Fahrländer C, Fabianova E, et al. Parental education and children's respiratory and allergic symptoms in the Pollution and the Young (PATY) study. Eur Respir J. 2006; 27(1): 95-107.
20.
Bråbäck L, Breborowicz A, Dreborg S, Knutsson A, Pieklik H, Björkstén B. Atopic sensitization and respiratory symptoms among Polish and Swedish school children. Clin Exp Allergy. 1994; 24(9): 826-35.
21.
von Mutius E, Fritzsch C, Weiland SK, Röll G, Magnussen H. Prevalence of asthma and allergic disorders among children in united Germany: a descriptive comparison. BMJ. 1992; 305(6866): 1395-9.
22.
Krämer U, Oppermann H, Ranft U, Schäfer T, Ring J, Behrendt H. Differences in allergy trends between East and West Germany and possible explanations. Clin Exp Allergy. 2010; 40(2): 289-98.
23.
McKeever TM, Lewis SA, Smith C, Collins J, Heatlie H, Frischer M, et al. Early exposure to infections and antibiotics and the incidence of allergic disease: a birth cohort study with the West Midlands General Practice Research Database. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002; 109(1):4 3-50.
24.
Strachan DP, Taylor EM, Carpenter RG. Family structure, neonatal infection and hay fever in adolescence. Arch Dis Child. 1996; 74: 422-26.
25.
Kuo CH, Kuo HF, Huang CH, Yang SN, Lee MS, Hung CH. Early life exposure to antibiotics and the risk of childhood allergic diseases: an update from the perspective of the hygiene hypothesis. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2013; 46(5): 320-29.
26.
Farooqi IS, Hopkin JM. Early childhood infection and atopic disorder. Thorax 1998; 53(11): 927-32.
27.
Kalliomäki M, Kirjavainen P, Eerola E, Kero P, Salminen S, Isolauri E. Distinct patterns of neonatal gut microflora in infants in whom atopy was and was not developing. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2001; 107(1): 129-34.
28.
Seo JH, Kim HY, Jung YH, Lee E, Yang SI, Yu HS, et al. Interactions between innate immunity genes and early-life risk factors in allergic rhinitis. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2015; 7(3): 241-48.
29.
Butland BK, Strachan DP, Lewis S, Bynner J, Butler N, Britton J. Investigation into the increase in hay fever and eczema at age 16 observed between the 1958 and 1970 British birth cohorts. BMJ. 1997; 315: 717-21.
30.
Pistiner M, Gold DR, Abdulkerim H, Hoffman E, Celedón JC. Birth by cesarean section, allergic rhinitis, and allergic sensitization among children with a parental history of atopy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008; 122(2): 274-79.
31.
Lewis SA, Britton JR. Consistent effects of high socioeconomic status and low birth order, and the modifying effect of maternal smoking on the risk of allergic disease during childhood. Respir Med. 1998; 92: 1237-44.
32.
Keil T, Lau S, Roll S, Grüber C, Nickel R, Niggemann B, et al. Maternal smoking increases risk of allergic sensitization and wheezing only in children with allergic predisposition: longitudinal analysis from birth to 10 years. Allergy. 2009; 64(3): 445-51.
33.
Rudnai P, Varró MJ, Mácsik A, Tüske-Szabó E, Középesy S, Rudnai T, et al. Urban-rural differences in the prevalence of respiratory symptoms of school children in Hungary. Cent Eur J Occ Envir Med. 2014; 20(1-2): 67-78.
34.
Pénard-Morand C, Raherison C, Charpin D, Kopferschmitt C, Lavaud F, Caillaud D, et al. Long-term exposure to close-proximity air pollution and asthma and allergies in urban children. Eur Respir J. 2010; 36(1): 33-40.
35.
Takizawa H. Impact of air pollution on allergic diseases. Korean J Intern Med. 2011; 26(3): 262-73.
RELATED ARTICLE
Improvement of visual identification of the journal - task financed under the agreement No. 618/P-DUN/2019 by the Minister of Science and Higher Education allocated to the activities of disseminating science.
Generation of the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) - task financed under the agreement No. 618/P-DUN/2019 by the Minister of Science and Higher
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.