Intense allergy season predicted

POLLEN season has arrived, which could prove more troublesome this year, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The latter part of August typically signals the arrival of the pollen season, as tree pollen counts start to surge throughout most of the country.

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Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town have recorded the highest counts to date, from cypress, casuarina, poplar, rhus, oak and olive trees.

Plane trees, as well as buddleja, which tend to reach high numbers in Bloemfontein, are now also entering their flowering season, and therefore it’s only a matter of time before symptoms are triggered in those regions.

With some of the coronavirus symptoms overlapping with allergy symptoms, allergy sufferers need to become aware of every sneeze and sniffle.

Hay fever is activated by airborne allergens, which results in a runny and itchy nose, scratchy throat, as well as allergic conjunctivitis in the eyes, while Covid-19 sufferers get fevers, body aches and headaches.

Shared symptoms include a runny nose or nasal congestion, an intermittent cough, sore throat and fatigue.

Very high pollen counts may trigger exacerbations, with shortness of breath or difficulty breathing in asthmatic individuals.

Fortunately, coronavirus does not commonly trigger worsening asthma.

If any symptoms worsen, it is advisable to consult a doctor, especially if you have a known sensitivity to pollen.

Experts say that it is possible to have symptoms of both Covid-19 and seasonal allergies at the same time, which will affect each person differently.

Some may experience mild symptoms, while others could have more severe symptoms.

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Pollen allergy sufferers who are allergic to both trees and grasses usually have the toughest time in September and October as it’s the time of year when grass and tree pollen overlap.

The grass pollen season can last for up to nine months of the year in certain parts of the country like the highveld, which only comes to an end in May.

Experts say as pollen levels rise it’s important to continue managing allergies during the pandemic with antihistamines, corticosteroid nasal sprays and inhalers.

Tips

– Keep windows and doors closed in the morning to midday, as the lowest pollen counts are usually in the late afternoon to early evening.

– When outdoors, avoid activities such as moving the lawn or raking leaves that will stir up pollen.

– Remove clothes worn outside and wash skin and hair to remove pollen.

– Rather use a tumble dryer to dry clothes and bedding as pollen can stick to sheets and towels when hung outside.

It is important to note that air pollution is also increasing, which further aggravates allergy symptoms from pollen and fungal spores.

As Covid-19 is likely to be around for a long time, it is important to learn about the risks and how to keep allergies under control to prevent asthma episodes.

If you are among the 17.5 million South Africans that suffer from nasal allergies, visit https://pollencount.co.za/ for the latest pollen counts countrywide to help you better manage your condition during the pollen season.  

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