What's in the grass? Current pollen calendar

According to the World Allergy Organization (WAO), 30-40% of the world's population has at least one allergic condition, and the scale of the phenomenon may be growing. The Polish Society of Allergology (PTA) estimates that allergy affects nearly half of the Polish population. Allergy can also be a direct cause of asthma.

Published by Polish Society of Allergology calendar, standardized by region, indicates the activities of specific trees and their pollens. In addition, on the society's website you can find a very useful application that will allow us to assess and control the course of symptoms in real time from our phone. Allergy Diary can be downloaded here.

Different types of allergies cause different symptoms. An allergic reaction usually affects a specific organ or set of tissues or cells. Local allergies usually manifest themselves in areas such as:

• The nose (rhinitis, mucositis),
• Eyes (tearing, conjunctivitis),
• Skin (rashes, blisters, itching),
• Respiratory tract (wheezing, shortness of breath),
• Gastrointestinal tract (nausea, diarrhea).

Very rare are systemic reactions associated with allergy and usually involve sensitization to the venom of insects such as bees, wasps or hornets. These symptoms are usually in the form of anaphylaxis and result in such serious conditions as respiratory failure and cardiovascular collapse. Failure to provide appropriate assistance in such a condition can even lead to death.

The most common symptoms for the most common allergies are listed below -

• Allergy to dust mites is often associated with a morning feeling of nasal congestion and secretions running down the back wall of the throat. If mite allergy is left untreated, asthma symptoms can develop, attacking mainly at night.
• Allergy to pollen usually manifests itself in hay fever, sneezing attacks, itching of the nose, tearing of the conjunctiva, sometimes skin eczema.
• Allergy to animal dander manifests itself most often on the day of pollen with reddening of the conjunctiva, tearing, sometimes also a runny nose and sneezing.Symptoms involve not only dander, but can also be a reaction to exfoliated skin, saliva, urine. Consequently, symptoms can also appear when the animal is not in the room where the allergist is staying.
• The symptoms of mold allergy mainly involve the respiratory tract, through which mold spores enter the body. In the case of mold allergy, laryngitis, wheezing, shortness of breath, and rhinitis may occur.
• Food allergies usually cause hives, atopic dermatitis, nausea, diarrhea.

It is worth remembering that allergy is a very dynamic disease, so even the same allergens can cause different varieties of symptoms. Sometimes allergic symptoms can be confused with other diseases or injuries, such as colds, skin irritation, food poisoning or non-allergic rhinitis. Each time, a medical consultation is necessary to determine the nature and cause of the allergy with the help of appropriate tests.

Source: Polish Society of Allergology