Japanese cedar/Japanese cypress pollen-dispersion information and the initial therapy

Abstract

The original initial therapy against pollinosis was introduced to the clinical setting in Japan in the 1980s, led by the launch of anti-allergic drugs that were expected to exert prophylactic effects. The purpose of the therapy was to control the typical pollinosis seen in Japan: that occurs due to Japanese cedar/Japanese cypress pollens. The original therapy included prophylactic use of anti-allergic drugs administered from before the start of the pollen season. Thanks to the launch of epinastine hydrochloride – which allows long-term use, exerts adequate effects by once-daily dosing, and seldom causes drowsiness as an adverse reaction – the initial therapy became safer and more defined. Meanwhile, precision of pollen-dispersion forecast improved, automatic counting of dispersed pollen grains became available, and real-time access to pollen-dispersion information was facilitated due to widespread Internet use. Today, the initial therapy has improved to be a scheduled, comprehensive regimen that adopts hyposensitization as a fundamental procedure and incorporates measures against aggravation factors before the pollen season and complications likely to occur after the pollen season. Every day, we are practising this therapy and achieving great results; we believe that this regimen will benefit many people who suffer from pollinosis.