why does the pollen season seem to last longer? – Corriere.it

by time news

Has the pollen allergy season been prolonged?
«We did not detect a lengthening of the season, but whether some allergy sufferers have had this sensation depends on the sensitization profile of the individual patients. If a person is allergic only to the olive tree, he is ill for a month and a half, if he is allergic to olive trees and grasses or some other pollen, the pollination seasons alternate, so he is “at stake” for a long time. The contingent situation usually depends on the onset of new sensitizations or on the level of sensitization reached by the patient at that moment ».

What does it mean?
“The vast majority of allergy sufferers have more than one allergy, then let’s not forget that allergic subjects in this pandemic period have been much more” locked up “in a confined environment: if mites were among the sensitization poles, it is clear that these could having caused a situation of allergic inflammation that is far greater than usual; a minimum triggering event, such as a cold, would be enough to even cause an asthma attack. A similar role, for example, could also be played by the house cat, for those who are sensitized ».

Does climate change affect the length of allergy seasons?
“Definitely! A few years ago we published a study in which it was seen that the pollen days in the air for the parietaria in Liguria had increased in 23 years by 85 days, so it is true that climate change affects, but it is not a variation that occurs. finds in one year; it can increase, but not in such a way as to make the patient feel the lengthening from one year to the next ».

What was the life of allergy sufferers like during the pandemic?
“What we have strongly supported with initiatives and documents since last March, as scientific societies of pneumology and allergology, was that patients take the prescribed therapies for respiratory allergies (asthma and rhinitis), especially in the epidemic phase, and this has had a “exceptional” result: the notable and documented increase in adherence to prescribed therapy, because people, worried about Covid, have been more loyal in taking the therapies “.

Are allergy sufferers at greater risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection?
“On the contrary, at the contagion level there are immunological demonstrations that the allergy mechanism decreases the number of receptors for coronaviruses on the respiratory mucous membranes, which are called ACE2, so theoretically the mechanism itself of the allergy should reduce the risk of meeting of the respiratory mucosa of the allergic with the coronavirus ».

Could the use of masks have helped allergy sufferers?
«Obviously the masks have a“ filter ”effect, therefore protective: not for nothing, for example, we recommend using hepa filters in the car. It was certainly a positive fact. Probably the fact that during this pandemic we have observed a notable decline in flu, may be due to the habit of people wearing masks ».

Can allergy sufferers get the vaccine safely?
«In Humanitas, compared to 4,004 employees, appropriately studied for allergy problems, only one person has not been vaccinated for real problems related to allergy. It is necessary to do a correct screening of what can be allergic reactions related to vaccine adjuvants: the RNA vaccine has a problem with PEG and the others with Polysorbate. We need to investigate carefully. Allergic rhinitis or asthma per se is not a reason for non-vaccination or vaccination concern. Instead, having reactions to drugs that contain the two substances indicated above, must make us discern which type of vaccine to use ».

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