Ukraine experiences three waves of plant pollination.
- In March–April, trees release catkins.
During this wave, especially in forest and forest-steppe zones, two peaks of tree pollination are observed. Alder is the first to bloom, followed by birch, supported by hornbeam and ash. Due to global warming, trees are starting to bloom earlier and finishing later.
- Second wave: June — July.
Grasses and cereal crops begin to bloom as early as May or late April, which may overlap with the end of the tree pollination season. Therefore, children sensitive to pollen may experience symptoms across several blooming waves.
Grasses bloom in forest and forest-steppe zones until mid-July. In urban areas, timothy grass and orchard grass are most common, while in rural areas it is rye, wheat, and corn.
Grasses are characterized by high cross-reactivity. Therefore, until all of the more than three hundred grass species found in Ukraine have finished blooming, people sensitive to their pollen may experience allergy symptoms.
From May to October, the highest concentrations of Alternaria fungal spores are recorded; this fungus is responsible for sensitivity in a quarter of people with seasonal allergies in the country. The peak spore release occurs in mid-July. Alternaria intensifies and prolongs allergy symptoms and is also often associated with ragweed sensitization.
- Third wave: July — October.
During this period, there is a high concentration of Alternaria spores in the air, and mugwort begins to bloom slightly earlier than ragweed. The peak blooming of weeds occurs in August, with some having several peaks within each month. Due to the duration of these processes, pollen allergy in children may be accompanied by pronounced discomfort throughout the entire warm season.
Symptoms of pollen allergy:
- itching of the eyes and nose
- sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion
- dry cough
- bouts of breathlessness
- hives
If these symptoms are ignored, the condition may eventually progress to bronchial asthma. Therefore, at the first signs indicating hay fever in children, it is necessary to consult an allergist for treatment.
The course of the disease may be aggravated by oral allergy syndrome. It manifests as swelling in the mouth and facial rashes, even when there are no causative allergens present in the air. Plants belonging to the rose family or the celery family contain allergens shared with the pollen of spring–summer plants. Therefore, people sensitive to pollen are advised to exercise caution when eating raw apples, pears, celery, nuts, carrots, and similar foods.
Prevention of pollen allergy:
- Go outside after rain, when pollen has been washed out of the air.
- Shower and wash outerwear after walks.
- Limit sun exposure; wear sunglasses and a hat.
- Monitor the allergy forecast and try to relocate, during the period of most intense pollination of causative plants, to a region where it has already ended.
- Keep car windows tightly closed and use the air conditioner.
- Do wet cleaning daily.
The most effective way to overcome the condition is allergen-specific immunotherapy. For maximum effect, AIT should only be prescribed by an allergist after examination and once the patient has reached the remission stage. The course of treatment lasts 3–5 years.
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