The pollen season has entered an unmissable phase. A yellow layer of “dust” covered everything from windows and window sills to cars in parking lots.
However, as Petr Panzner, head of the Department of Immunology and Allergology at the University Hospital in Pilsen, explains, this pollen does not cause allergic reactions. “Pollen can be seen now, but it is conifer pollen that does not allergen because it is large and falls quickly to the ground. It may make you feel like the season is bad, but it has nothing to do with pollen allergies, “he said at the beginning of the interview for Seznam Zprávy.
What does this year’s pollen season compare to last years?
We do not purposefully monitor what the season looks like after the season. I can’t accurately assess the differences. But I feel it’s more or less the same every year. Veils and respirators were probably reflected in the allergological situation because they certainly provided some protection against pollen. However, each season is different, so variability in the number of patients is common.
This year’s pollen season seems to be standard. But there are always plenty of patients.
What pollen dominates at the moment?
Until now, they have been birch trees from alder and hazel, which begin sometime in February, to the birch that dominates in April. At this point, the grass begins. So around mid-May, it will turn around. But there are also other pollens, such as ash.
What pollen are people most often allergic to?
In our country, it is the grass and the second most common are birches. If someone is allergic to both, they may have problems from February to August.
What pollen will continue to dominate?
It depends a lot on the weather, but it will definitely be grass until July, maybe even August. The pollen season is usually long.
What is the worst weather for allergy sufferers?
The worst for them is drought and windy. In the rain, the air is cleaned, which is pleasant for allergy sufferers, but it never takes long. The rain will only help temporarily, because pollen is released from the plants continuously.
Pollen calendar
The pollen calendar of the pyly.cz website is a year-round overview of the flowering period of the most common plant allergens. The data in the calendar must be accessed with caution, because the flowering time of individual plants depends on the weather. The current situation is then mapped by so-called pollen intelligence.
What should a person do who thinks he is allergic but has not been confirmed by a doctor?
There are also over-the-counter preparations. The most common drugs are antihistamines, which are anti-allergic pills that can be bought at a pharmacy without a prescription. They often work very well, and that’s good feedback for humans. If they do, he is most likely really allergic and should see a doctor.
Regime measures are good, but they are difficult to implement for pollens, because they are everywhere and spread over long distances. It may be a runny nose or one should not go out in the worst of weather. Mainly to nature or, for example, to a flowering meadow.
How does pollen allergy manifest itself?
It is most often a cold and conjunctivitis. But it can also be worse than asthma. It is therefore important to examine lung function and do spirometry. Find out how affected the lower airways are. Sinusitis or cutaneous manifestations are less common.
What happens when allergy symptoms are ignored?
This is individual. In some cases, nothing happens except that one suffers. In other cases, especially in children and young people, untreated allergies can develop into bronchial asthma and the allergies can get worse. It would be optimal if every allergy sufferer had to be examined at least once by a doctor who would evaluate how to proceed.
But there are a huge number of allergy sufferers, so probably not everyone can see a doctor. For many of them, it is enough to take over-the-counter drugs, which are often effective today and do not cause side effects such as drowsiness. There is another series of antiallergic drugs. For example, nasal sprays or eye drops. They are relatively effective and safe.
But it doesn’t have to end there. There is allergen vaccination, which has great benefits but is not suitable for everyone. This is up to the allergist.
When is it appropriate to visit an allergist?
If a person has acute problems, it is advisable to solve them as soon as possible. If he does not have them or solves them with over-the-counter drugs, it is advisable to come out of the season to decide on the next step. If, for example, vaccination is possible.
How many people suffer from allergies?
The exact data are not, but there is about a third of the population. But we could decide who we consider to be allergy sufferers. If he is the one who has a positive examination, but has no or only minimal problems, or it is the one who has more difficult problems. But it is still a huge part of the population that has at least some predisposition to allergies.
