Cedar pollinosis in China

Objective: To confirm cedar pollinosis in China and investigation the prevalence of it. Methods: From 1995, an epidemiological survey on nasal allergy including cedar pollinosis was carried out among 1660 primary and middle school students and 1620 university students. Meanwhile, clinical observation was made to the patients of nasal allergy in the first Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University in spring of 1998. Cryptomeria fortunei (Cf) and Cryptomeria japonica (Cj) were compared morphologically. Results: 1. The total positive rate of Cj pollen was 4.2%, and 56 cases of nasal allergy were diagnosed, in which 8 cases showed positive reaction to Cj pollen and 1 case was hypersensitive to it only. 2. The first case of cedar pollinosis (a 32 year old female) had been found. 3. No significant morphological distinct and no different gene between Cf and Cj were certified. Conclusions: 1. Cedar pollinosis does exist in China. However the prevalence was low, which was related to the low quantity to cedar pollen. 2. Cf and Cj were the same family and genus. 3. There may be a tendency of increasing of cedar pollinosis in China.