Jun 19 2022 20:11
French allergy specialists found that this year their patients experienced more frequent sneezing, itching and asthma attacks than previous years, due to weather conditions that contributed to the dispersal of high concentrations of pollen (or pollen), a trend that is expected to increase with global warming.
“In recent weeks I’ve had attacks that are much stronger than I’ve had in the same period in the past few years,” said Elodie Germain, 43, a resident of the Paris region who has had seasonal allergies since adolescence.
This made the businesswoman reluctant to spend the weekend at the country house she had recently bought in Normandy.
She explained that just being in a green space felt “as if a wave of pollen grains” was sweeping over her. She indicated that her symptoms were “a persistent runny nose and itching all over the face, neck and palate”, and the new “night asthma” that prevented her from sleeping.
Allergists confirmed that they received a large number of calls from patients, as well as relevant associations, although it is not possible to determine an accurate statistical number about the increase in this phenomenon.
It is also difficult to compare the last two years, according to Pascal Cortier, director general of the French Society for the Prevention of Allergy.
“In 2020, people were less out of their homes due to the closure measures. Last year, wearing a mask helped protect against allergies,” she explained.
Courtier confirmed that “many have felt the symptoms” this year “in a very severe way.”
Allergists prescribe treatment often based on antihistamines, eye drops or corticosteroids, and often as a long-term “desensitization” treatment.
Allergies start from a specific immune reaction to substances foreign to the human body called allergens, including pollen.
There are three seasonal periods of pollen grains during the year. The first is tree pollen (olive, maple, birch, oak…). Then the grass pollen period that corresponds to the hay fever period. The season ends with grass pollen and aromatic plants.
The spread of these pollen grains depends on weather conditions. Heat promotes pollination, while wind disperses the grains in the air.
The high temperature, early in the season this year, contributed to the spread of a very large amount of grass pollen.
According to the latest bulletin issued by the National Aerobic Biological Surveillance Network, which monitors the content of biological particles in the air, France is still on high alert regarding the dangers of allergies.
Although the bulk of allergies decline after the end of June, the coming years are expected to witness longer and possibly more severe allergic seasons due to climate warming.
A spokesman for the National Aerobic Biological Monitoring Network, Samuel Meunier, said that he had noticed “in 30 years that the quantities of birch pollen grains increased in the atmosphere by 20 percent.” As the planet warms, some plants or trees are also spreading to new areas.
Specialists expected that the number of infected people will inevitably increase in the coming years.
“Climate warming will prolong pollen seasons, while pollution will make them more severe,” warned Isabelle Bosset, president of the Syndicate of Allergists.
“This is a real public health issue. When one does not have severe allergies, they cannot understand what it is, as it has a huge impact on quality of life,” she added.
Source: AFP
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