EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE REACTION OF INTRADERMAL SKIN TESTS BY THE EXTRACTS OF RUSH AND DUSTS IN THE WORKING ROOM / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

In the previous study, relatively high prevalence of asthma-like attacks associated with handling rushes was observed. In this connection, mass survey of the intradermal skin test (×10000, 0.02ml) by the extracts of rush (Juncus effusus L. var decipiens Buch. forma utilis Makino) and the dusts in the weaving room containing rushes, dyeing materials (sendo) and other house dusts was conducted for the rush farmers (65 males, 143 females), other farmers (21 males, 91 females) and women without farming (28 females). The results were summerized as follows.<BR>1) The positive rates in skin test were estimated to be 7.7% for males and 2.1% for females of the rush farmers by the extracts of rush, and 23.1% for males, 10.5% for females by the extracts of dusts in the weaving room. On the centrally, 4.8% for males, 1.1% for females of the controlled farmers by the former extracts, and 19.0% for males, 8.8% for females by the latter extracts. And among females without farmiing, 0% and 3.6%, were positive respectively.<BR>2) The positive rates were not associated with age, respiratory symptoms and past history of asthmalike anfall. The rush farmers were observed relatively higher percentages of positive reaction than the controlled groups, but not signifficantlly.<BR>3) The results do not clarify the causative agent of antigen-antibody reaction to the asthmatic anfall among the rush farmers, but suggest that peoples, whether farmer or not farmer, may be sensitized by the rush antigen through the farm works and or using tatami mat and other rush products in daily life.