Maize pollen is an important allergen in occupationally exposed workers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The work- or environmental-related type I sensitization to maize pollen is hardly investigated. We sought to determine the prevalence of sensitization to maize pollen among exposed workers and to identify the eliciting allergens.

Methods

In July 2010, 8 out of 11 subjects were examined who were repeatedly exposed to maize pollen by pollinating maize during their work in a biological research department. All 8 filled in a questionnaire and underwent skin prick testing (SPT) and immune-specific analyses.

Results

5 out of the 8 exposed subjects had repeatedly suffered for at least several weeks from rhinitis, 4 from conjunctivitis, 4 from urticaria, and 2 from shortness of breath upon occupational exposure to maize pollen. All symptomatic workers had specific

SUBMITTER: Oldenburg M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3269392 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature