Allergic pathologies currently lead in the global incidence structure, with a stable upward trend in prevalence and severity of the course. Medical jobs are associated with a risk of developing allergies. Therefore, young people selecting a profession, especially in medicine, should consider the impact of potentially hazardous and harmful job factors and the inherited predisposition to allergies.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence of allergies, including pollinosis, in medical university students based on the questioning of the 1st-6th years students of Kuban State Medical University.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The questionnaire was developed, and medical university students aged 16 to 30 years (n=981) were questioned to assess the prevalence of allergies.

RESULTS

Allergic pathologies were detected in 291 (29.7%) of 981 respondents. Pollinosis prevailed, with 152 (52.2%) cases. In 34.2% of those detected, pollinosis was manifested as allergic rhinitis. At that, 51 (33.5%) students with pollinosis had an annual worsening of symptoms. The most pronounced manifestations were recorded in May, August, and September, which could be associated with the periods of pollen distribution by the prevailing taxa of allergenic plants in the region. A family predisposition to allergies was found in 74 (48.4%) of students with pollinosis. Only 32 (21.0%) respondents were registered at allergy-immunology specialists.

CONCLUSION

The questioning revealed the frequency of allergies in future medical professionals. The sanitary outreach on the importance of early visits to allergy-immunology specialists could timely initiate the prevention and treatment activities to reduce the risk of developing complications and the associated economic costs.