Pollen might not be the biggest culprit behind SA’s allergy woes – Dr Levin
JOBURG – For decades hayfever sufferers have been led to believe that their condition is brought on by the amount of pollen in the air.
Pollen might not be the main culprit behind nasal allergy misery according to Dr Mike Levin, allergy advisor to Pharma Dynamics – a leading generics antihistamine medicine provider.
He said this at the height of the hayfever season, a condition which affects approximately 30 per cent of South Africans.
Dr Levin said that for decades hayfever sufferers have been led to believe that their condition is brought on by the amount of pollen in the air, but there is a host of other triggers too.
“Pollen could in many cases elicit a severe allergic reaction, but sufferers will be surprised to learn that their nasal allergies might not have anything to do with pollen spores. This is why pinpointing where and when an allergy occurs is vital.”
He explained that even though the treatment might be the same in many cases, avoiding the source is a crucial part of tackling an allergy – this could only be done if the trigger has been identified correctly with a good history and confirmatory tests.
According to Dr Levin, the most commonly inhaled allergens are:
- Different types of pollen (from trees, grass, weeds and flowers)
- House dust mites
- Cat and dog dander
- Cockroaches
- Fungal spores.
Dr Levin recommended that nasal allergy sufferers see a doctor with skills in allergy to perform a skin prick test or an immunoglobulin (IgE) antibody test, which will help to diagnose an allergy to a specific substance or substances.
Other, triggers that could worsen symptoms, include:
- Strong perfumes and cold air can trigger nasal symptoms by non-allergic mechanisms
- Red wine – alcohol is a vasodilator, which widens your blood vessels and can cause a runny or stuffy nose
- Veggie drawer – some fruits and vegetables contain proteins similar to those found in pollen, which can confuse your immune system
- Swap contact lenses for glasses on high-pollen days since dust and pollen can stick to contact lenses, trapping allergens against your already itchy and irritated eye.
- Swimming in chlorinated pools may irritate your airways, which could aggravate allergy symptoms
- A humidifier is a reservoir for mould and bacteria, so clean it regularly to get the maximum relief from this device.
Useful allergy online resources include: www.allergyfoundation.co.za and www.allergyexpert.co.za.
Dr Levin will also be available to answer any of your allergy-related concerns via the Allergy Expert portal.
