Abstract
Pollen allergy is an abnormal response of the immune system to certain pollen grains and these reactions are gradually on the increase all around the world. The need for consistent and accurate data on aero-pollen density as well as the meteorological conditions under which they are prevalent is imperative for appropriate management of allergic conditions in hypersensitive persons. Therefore, to identify the ‘culprit’ pollen related to allergy cases in Lagos, two locations, Ipaja and Ikeja were sampled. Aero-samplers were harvested weekly from February 2016 to July 2016. Acetolysis was done on the samples collected and meteorological data from Nigerian Meteorological Agency and clinical data from Adefemi Medical Center, Ipaja were assessed against pollen counts. The total pollen count of 2,048 was recorded for Ipaja while Ikeja had 820 with main taxa of Amaranthaceae, Poaceae and Euphorbiaceae. Weekly pollen counts were highest in weeks 8 and 10(April) at Ipaja and Ikeja respectively and lowest in weeks 22 and 24(June) at Ipaja and Ikeja respectively. The pollen counts at Ipaja correlated positively with temperature and from the medical records, there was a positive correlation (p<0.05, r=0.166 and r=0.44) between pollen density at both locations with cold and catarrh. Fungal allergens could have caused the spike in pollinosis in the wetter weeks (12 -19). The quality of the clinical data could also be a suspect which reinforces the need for more accurate and standard recording of clinical conditions across hospitals in Nigeria. This is the first record of weekly aerobiological data in Nigeria.
Highlights
It has been established for more than a century that pollen grains are responsible for many allergic diseases, such as hay fever, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis (Knox, 1993; Agashe, 1994)
Pollen allergy is a common disease caused by a hypersensitivity reaction of the respiratory tract and eye conjunctivae to pollen grains (Singh and Mathur, 2012)
The weekly highest values of pollen grains were recovered during April for both locations (Ipaja - 257 and Ikeja - 30) (Appendices 1 and 4)
Summary
It has been established for more than a century that pollen grains are responsible for many allergic diseases, such as hay fever, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis (Knox, 1993; Agashe, 1994). Pollen allergy (hay fever, pollinosis) is a common disease caused by a hypersensitivity reaction of the respiratory tract and eye conjunctivae to pollen grains (Singh and Mathur, 2012). Friedhoff (1986) had remarked that in the last quarter of the twentieth century, there was an increase in population of hypersensitive persons as a result of air pollutants from anthropogenic activities. There is increasing attempts globally to evaluate the pollen content of the atmosphere. This is important because the useful data that will be generated are vital tools in the monitoring, diagnosis and treatment of pollinosis. The atmospheric concentration of pollen and spores vary according to climate, geography and vegetation (Claypoole et al, 1983) the need to evaluate as many
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