| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 環境衛生研究所 === 91 === Abstract
Allergic rhinitis is the most common allergic disease, causing health concerns worldwide. Since the lift of marshal law in 1992, Kinmen has seen rapid expansion of the expansion of two weeds, ragweed and Parthenium, with concomitant increase in allergic rhinitis. A survey in 1997 confirmed that these weeds are the major cause of rhinitis symptoms, and since then the weeds were diminished as the result of this recognition.
This project was carried out to assess the prevalence and severity of rhinitis in Kinmen. The investigation included a questionnaire and serum IgE test. The study population included, for the questionnaire, (1) adults over 40 in the town of Kin-Cheng who were previously enrolled in a community medical survey, and (2) all the registered workers in the Kinmen winery. A total of 1614 answered the questionnaire. Serum samples from a portion of the two populations (total 597) were examined for antigen-specific IgE against ragweed and mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus).
The results showed that with regard to perennial rhinitis, the prevalence was about the same as five years ago, and the severity of symptoms remained mostly the same. On the contrary, the prevalence of seasonal rhinitis (7.1%) was lower than 5 years ago (8.6%), and among those with rhinitis, 64% reported improvement in symptoms. This may be related to the reduction in ragweed population, as 84.8% of questionnaire reported either no or little ragweed growth this year. There was significant difference in the prevalence of rhinitis among age groups, with those older than 66 having the lowest rate（P = 0.0001）. Males had higher rhinitis prevalence than females but response were no significantly associated. The positive rates of serum IgE were 22.4% to mite and 17.1% to ragweed, and the two responses were significantly associated（P＜0.0001）. There was significant difference in the positive rates of serum IgE among age groups, with those older than 66 having the lowest rate（P = 0.089）. Males had higher positive rates of serum IgE than females（P = 0.007）.
In Kinem winery the association between the positive rates of serum for ragweed and higher triglyceride is strongly significant（P = 0.004）；as well as the association between the former with lower HDL-Cholesterol（P = 0.04）.On the other hand,the significance of the positive rates of serum for ragweed associates with lower HDL/Cholesterol lies in the borderline（P = 0.064）.Regarding the gender factor, the positive rates of serum for ragweed in males is significantly associated with higher triglyceride（P = 0.013）,whereas the significance of the positive rates of serum for ragweed in males associates with lower HDL/Cholesterol lies in the borderline（P = 0.089）.The positive rates of serum for mite in females is significantly associated with lower HDL/Cholesterol.（P=0.007）
In conclusion, this investigation found that the prevalence of seasonal rhinitis was lower than 5 years ago, and most of those with symptoms reported improvement; this probably resulted from the effort to eliminate ragweed in Kinmen.
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