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Introduction: 

Children with allergies are at greater risk of becoming sensitized to al-lergenic pollens in response to environmental changes. 

This study investigated the relationship between changes in pollination associated with meteorologic changes and the sensitization rates of children to tree pollen allergens in the metropolitan area of Seoul, Korea.

Methods: 

The study population consisted of 8,295 children who visited the pediatric allergy clinics at Hanyang University Seoul and Guri Hospital for allergy symptoms between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2019.

Pollen was collected at the two hospitals during the study using a Burkard 7-day sampler. Meteorologic data were obtained from the National Weather Service.

Results: 

Among the major tree pollens, the largest increase in allergic sensitization was to oak, hazel, and alder pollens (0.28% annually). 

The pollen-sensitization rates increased  annually  within  younger  age  groups. 

The  duration  of  the  pollen  season was 98 days in 1998 and 140 days in 2019. Positive correlations were determined between the duration of the pollen season and the rates of sensitization to tree pol-lens, as well as between the pollen-sensitization rates and increasing temperature.

Conclusions: 

This study demonstrated the correlation between weather changes and the resulting changes in the pollen season with sensitization rates to allergenic pol-lens in children living in the Seoul metropolitan area.