Intense allergy season predicted amid Covid-19 pandemic
Experts have warned that the pollen counts have started to surge throughout the country.
AS we prepare to enter spring, it also typically signals the arrival of pollen season which, this year, could prove more troublesome during the Covid-19 pandemic as tree pollen counts have started to surge throughout most of the country.
The highest counts to date have been seen in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town from cypress, casuarina, poplar, rhus, oak and olive trees.
Plane trees, which are prolific in all cities, as well as buddleja.
The head of the UCT Lung Institute’s Allergy and Immunology Unit, Professor Jonny Peter, said the coronavirus could make the 17.5 million South Africans who suffer from nasal allergies hyperaware of every sneeze and sniffle as some of the symptoms overlap.
“Hay fever is activated by airborne allergens, such as pollen, which leads to a runny and itchy nose, scratchy throat, as well as allergic conjunctivitis in the eyes. While Covid-19 and hay fever share certain symptoms, there are some key differences. With Covid-19, fevers, body aches and a headache are common, but these are rarely associated with seasonal allergies. In contrast, an itchy nose or eyes and sneezing signal allergy symptoms and are not common in coronavirus infections.
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“Shared symptoms may include a runny nose or nasal congestion, an intermittent cough, sore throat and fatigue. In asthmatics, very high pollen counts may trigger exacerbations, with shortness of breath or difficulty breathing in some individuals. Fortunately, coronavirus does not commonly trigger worsening asthma. If your symptoms do worsen, it’s advisable to consult your doctor especially if you have a known sensitivity to pollen,” said Peter.
SA’s pollen seasons vary across the country’s biomes, which is why the UCT Lung Institute is trying to establish pollen monitoring stations across all nine provinces.
Peter said that as the pollen levels rise, it is important to continue managing allergies during the pandemic with antihistamines, corticosteroid nasal sprays and inhalers.
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