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Pollens are small particles shed from the male species of certain plants, which travel to the female species to produce seeds. Some pollens grains, which can be seen in the center of a beautiful flower, are yellow and sticky are carried by the bodies of the insects, but some pollen grains are very light, and carried by the wind. Such small pollen grains, while flying in air, may enter the breathing passages (nose and throat) of a person, and cause an allergic reaction. These generally come from bushes and trees, whose flowers are not usually seen.
Not all pollen grains cause allergy, and not all persons are affected either. Persons who have inherited a tendency to develop allergies, or those who are exposed to large quantities pollens, are usually affected more.
In Islamabad, there is an excess of vegetation, and a lot of wild plants which produce their pollens, at different times of the year, usually from early springs till late autumn. However there is a peak of pollen allergies in spring, and in late summer.
Pollen allergies also occur in other parts of Pakistan and, in fact, all over the world, in different seasons, and with different intensities
The best way to treat allergy is to avoid the substance which cause it. However , if complete avoidance is not possible , only then is medical treatment recommended and required.
Unfortunately, this form of treatment has gained a considerably bad reputation in Pakistan, because it is either not done properly or by untrained doctors.
First of all, the exact cause of the allergy has to be ascertained. This is done by allergy tests. Allergy tests. Allergy tests often comprise of series of small skin pricks in which a very concentrated form of an extract of the pollen and other substance thought to be causing the allergy, is injected into the skin. As this is very concentrated, even skin testing itself can make the patients condition worse.
Hence
as recommended by the World Health Organization, allergy testing should NEVER be
done when the patient is suffering.
After thoroughly testing for allergy, if required, allergy vaccines may be tried for the treatment of the allergies. These have to be prepared specifically for each and every patient individually. It is only then that the vaccines are effective and safe.
Vaccines are beneficial only after 2 or 3
courses, and the seasons often over by then, hence patients should avoid
starting any new allergy vaccines for any pollen in its season.
Remember that allergy vaccines should
never be used as the first line of treatment. They will not benefit the patient
at all during an attack, in fact may even make it worse.
Seasons
Many people living in Islamabad show the symptoms of pollen allergy from the month of march. There is a difference in intensity of symptoms of allergy in different people. The symptoms start with Red and Itchy Eyes and sneezing and in severe cases there is difficulty in breathing ,or Asthma. This condition ends by the end of April.
If an allergic person leaves Islamabad and move towards Lahore the condition gets better by the time he reaches Jehlum. According to the research by Dr.Osman Yusuf the pollen allergy in Islamabad is caused by a plant named Broussontia papyrifera or Paper Mulberry. As this plant has been planted in the suburbs of Attock therefore some people are experiencing the same symptoms there. In Spring allergy is also caused by a few other plants but that allergy is much less painful.
Cannabis or Hemp sativa contains pollen. It is planted in the region starting from Abbotabad till Sargodha. It causes allergy from June till mid of September. This pollen can also cause severe allergy but the symptoms do not appear as dramatically as those of allergy caused by Mulberry appear. The reason being is that, this plant does not spread its pollen in air.
Ordinary grass causes allergy in Lahore. But due to pollution the vegetation in Lahore is decreasing day by day therefore the possibility of this grass to cause allergy can be ruled out.
American grass is responsible for causing allergy in Karachi. There could be other factors as well but research is being done to find them.
The places where wheat is cultivated, allergy is caused by the threshers used to thresh wheat. The small particles of wheat cause allergy.
House dust mites, which are the commonest cause of respiratory allergies in the world, are still the leading cause of allergy in Islamabad, and affect patients irrespective of seasons. Pollen allergies increase tremendously in spring and in late summer in Islamabad. The main symptoms are excessive sneezing, runny nose, itching in the eyes, coughing, difficulty in breathing and if severe, asthmatic attacks. According to research published in the Allergy and Clinical Immunology International Journal from Sweden (ACI International, Supplement 2, 2000) and presented at the XVII International Congress of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Sydney, Australia, by Dr Osman Yusuf, Pakistan’s leading Allergy and Asthma Specialist, the main cause of respiratory allergy in spring season in Islamabad from March till April, has been due to pollens of male plants of the Paper Mulberry tree (Broussenetia papyrifera) and also pollens of the White mulberry tree (Morus alba), whereas in the late summer, from late June till early September, the pollens of Cannabis sativa (Bhang) are the main cause.
Fungus
Fungus from common grass (Ustilago Cynodon dactylon) affects more patients but the symptoms are less severe. These findings are based on both skin allergy test results using both specially prepared extracts from USA and locally manufactured extracts, and patient provocation testing. This research was carried out by the research laboratories of the Allergy and Asthma Clinics, Pakistan, founded by Dr Osman Yusuf, founder of the former Allergy Department at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad.
info@allergypakistan.com, osman_allergy@yahoo.com