2023-12-08 10:44:53
While it can bring joy this holiday season, the Christmas tree is not only associated with gifts, since it can cause symptoms similar to a cold, according to immunology experts.
Some people may experience breathing difficulties, have swollen eyes, scratch their skin due to the fir tree which can cause a worsening of symptoms in asthmatics in particular.
This “Christmas syndrome” is explained by a pathology caused by a discreet presence of several allergens in the conifer, according to a study published Tuesday in “The Conversation” by researchers Samuel J. White and Philippe B. Wilson of the University from Nottingham.
According to the two British immunologists, living trees transferred to houses can carry dozens of pollen and mold seeds present on fir trees, the specialist magazine “Geo” reported on Thursday.
The mismatch in principle between the natural environments of fir trees and hot, humid interiors does not favor the evaporation of mold, the number of spores of which multiplies sixfold in 3 or 4 days, according to academics.
If certain varieties of conifers are less allergenic than others, the two researchers recommend checking every corner of the house to avoid installing the fir tree in a humid area to alleviate the symptoms of “fir tree syndrome”.
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