Present status of allergic diseases in rural area in Nagano prefecture. Statistical investigation of patients who visited department of allergy, Saku Central Hospital from 1977 to 1983 / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

A statistical investigation was carried out into about 3, 000 patients who visited our department from 1977 to 1983. The results were as follows<BR>1. Allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma were the most important allergic diseases in the rural area.<BR>2. The number of patients with allergic rhinitis especially caused by pollen (so called “pollinosis”) was markedly increased in recent years.<BR>3. Japanese cedar, orchard grass and mugwort were the most important causative agents of pollinosis in this area.<BR>4. The number of patients of each pollinosis was largely changed by climate or other unknown factors in each year.<BR>5. The number of patients of bronchial asthma caused by molds' spores gradually decreased.<BR>6. An occupational pear and apple pollinosis caused by artificial pollination was considered to be the most inportant allergic disease due to farm work. Further investigations are required on this problem.