Abstract: Objective To study the clinical manifestations, allergic characters and management of ragweed pollenosis in the Qingdao area. Methods The intra-dermal test and intranasal provocation test with ragweed pollen allergen, and specific serum IgE determination were given to patients with pollenosis. Results 85 patients were proved as ragweed pollensis in 502 patients with pollenosis based on the ARIA standard. They received step-treatment and specific immunotherapy(SIT). They were usually attacked from August to October in the pollen season, and 81.12% of them had complicated allergic conjunctivitis and 21.21% of them complicated bronchial asthma. In the 85patients, 54 were defined as intermitted rhinitis and 31 as persistent rhinitis. The response rate of SIT was 84.62%. Conclusions Ragweed pollen has become one of the major allergic pollens, so it should be eradicated to prevent pollenosis in the Qingdao area. SIT is useful in treating pollenosis and modulating the progression to asthma.

Key words: Ragweed, Pollenosis, Allergens