Table 3

Diary recorded during birch pollen season (median, upper and lower quartiles).


Allergic rhinitis
Allergic asthma
p-value

Symptom score



     Nose and eyes
2.4 (1.1, 3.9)
3.8 (1.9, 4.9)
0.37
     Respiratory
1.3 (0, 4.2)
1.3 (0.4, 2.0)
0.83
     Total
3.8 (2.4, 6.7)
4.2 (3.0, 6.9)
0.67

Medication score



     Oral anti-histamine
1 (1, 1)
1 (0, 1.1)
0.67
     Topical *
1.75 (0.25, 2)
0.9 (0, 2.6)
0.83
     Beta-2-agonists
0 (0, 0)
0.6 (0.2, 1.9)
0.006*
     Total
3 (1.2, 3.5)
2.7 (0.5, 5.6)
0.79

Lung function



     Morning PEFR (L/min)
575 (550, 620)
475 (433, 551)
0.020
     Evening PEFR (L/min)
610 (555, 630)
478 (449, 551)
0.005
     ΔFEV1 **
-0.07 (-0.37, 0.2)
-0.21 (-0.43, -0.16))
0.26

* Topical medication: anti-histamines and/or cromones

** Change in FEV1 in % compared with before-season spirometry

Kämpe et al. Clinical and Molecular Allergy 2007 5:4   doi:10.1186/1476-7961-5-4