Allergic Diseases and Aeroallergens in the Dubrovnik Area at the End of the Twentieth Century

Sa？etak The goal of this study was to compare the sensitivity to certain types of aeroallergens and morbidity of three allergic diseases (asthma, allergic dermatitis and conjunctivitis) in the period 1984-1996. The research involved 1,346 people from the wider area of Dubrovnik, 648 men and 698 women of different age groups, who showed a positive reaction to skin prick tests and provocation tests. The results revealed that the sensitivity to certain types of aeroallergens and morbidity of asthma and allergic dermatitis considerably increased in the 1990s. In the 1980s, the effect of Parietaria officinalis on asthma prevalence among men only and of Dermatophagoides farinae among both sexes was significant, while that of Juniperus sabinoides among men only was lower. However, in the 1990s, Olea europaea and Dermatophagoides farinae significantly increased the risk of asthma among both sexes, while that of Parietaria officinalis was less prevalent. In the prediction of allergic dermatitis based on sensitivity to aeroallergens, the regression model has produced fairly insignificant statistical results in both men and women (for the 1980s). The results of the study unveil the trends in the changes of sensitivity to certain aeroallergens, providing useful guidance to public health policy and prevention of allergic diseases