[Change in the allergen spectrum of hay fever patients in the Southern Great Plains of Hungary (1990-1998)].

On the basis of their 9-year-long allergological and aeropalinological studies the authors examined if the allergen spectrum of their hay fever patients in connection with the seasonality of the symptoms and the pollen count of these 9 years has changed or not. The results of the skin prick tests and of the case histories of patients examined in 1990/91 and 1997/98 were compared. Pollen counting was performed with a Lanzoni VPPS 2000 sampler. By the end of the examined period the ratio of severely polysensitized patients (with 4 or more positive skin prick tests) increased significantly according to the significantly increased amount of positive skin prick tests to trees, rye and plantago. As the seasonality of the patients, symptoms did not change during this period, this increase in skin prick test positivity means a latent allergy. In a few years, however it may become a manifest allergy causing symptoms in early springtime. According to the pollen count results the atmospheric pollen pollution of the region was markedly high during the possible period of these patients' sensitisation.