Due to the abnormally warm winter in Russia, the allergy season will start at least a month earlier than usual, doctors told Izvestia. In Moscow and the Moscow Region, alder pollen is already being recorded, and in the northwest of the country - hazel pollen. Birch blossom will begin already in early March, not in the second half of April and early May, warn analysts of the service for allergy sufferers. At the same time, pharmacies in 52 regions do not yet have a preparation for allergen-specific immunotherapy "Staloral", but local authorities assure that by the end of February it will appear. How and what to prepare for allergy sufferers - in the material "Izvestia".
Pollen movement
People suffering from pollinosis (allergic reaction to plant pollen), should prepare for the early start of the allergy season, warned doctors interviewed by "Izvestia".
Birch, whose pollen is considered one of the main allergens, has not yet begun to bloom, but, as follows from the analytical service "Pollen Club", in 28-34 days we should expect the beginning of flowering. Now these trees, depending on the region of Russia, are in a state of sap movement or bud swelling.
Usually the birch tree begins to "dust" in April-May, said allergist-immunologist of the Fantasy Clinic Daria Levina.
- Comfortable temperature for her is from +5 degrees, and she blooms about a month after that, - she added.
Already registered pollen of alder in the Moscow region and pollen of hazel in the north-west of the country, records "pollen Club". But this pollen was brought to us mainly from Europe, said allergologist-immunologist Daria Zhukova.
- Because of this, people suffering from spring pollinosis can already feel the symptoms," she said.
Spring allergy, reminded allergologist-immunologist "Invitro" Julia Selikhova, can also be to certain types of mold fungi.
- Some fungi have already become active, and a number of my patients have experienced an allergic reaction to their spores," she said.
Tatyana Pozdnyakova, a leading specialist of the Meteonovosti information agency, noted that the absence of snow and abnormally warm temperatures for winter led to the beginning of the allergy season already in March.
- Even if snow falls in February or March, it will be less than normal this year anyway," she emphasized. - This will lead to the fact that the ground will begin to dry out and the growth and development of plants will begin earlier than normal.
Roman Vilfand, scientific director of the Russian Hydrometeorological Center, explained that the main reason for a warm winter in 2025 is the prolonged Atlantic cyclones, which bring moisture and mild air from the west. Such a trend, he said, has been observed since November 2024.
Despite the fact that the air temperature in the center of European Russia on February 15 will fall below the climatic norm for the first time in 2025, it will not greatly affect the expected start of the allergy season in March, Roman Vilfand is sure.
The blossoming of trees is difficult to predict in advance, as well as the weather, noted allergist Vladimir Bolibok. But, he believes, this year it will go in waves: for example, in the Moscow region in early February has already blossomed alder, but for the time of cold weather process will stop, and in March will resume again.
How the early start of the season will affect allergy sufferers
If you are allergic to tree pollen, allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) should be started in December or January. If the reaction is to grass pollen, it is worth taking medication in January-February, reminded Daria Levina.
According to Izvestia, having analyzed the data of pharmacy aggregators, at least in 52 regions there is no preparation for birch pollen "Staloral", which is used for ASIT. Among them, for example, are the Amur, Tver, Ryazan, Smolensk, Samara, Novgorod and Orenburg regions. Nizhny Novgorod Oblast Pharmacy acknowledged the shortage, but said that the drug should arrive by the end of February.
"Izvestia sent inquiries to two major drug suppliers - Protek and Katren - asking them to comment on when, where and in what volume the last shipment of the drug was made, as well as when the next shipments will be made.
According to the analytical company RNC Pharma, in January 2025, the demand for ASIT is recorded higher than in this period of previous years. Thus, in January 2023, pharmacies sold 1.8 thousand packages for ASIT, in the same month in 2024 - 39.9 thousand, and in 2025 - 41.4 thousand packages.
Doctors interviewed by Izvestia also reminded that in case of allergies one should take antihistamines to avoid severe consequences at the abrupt start of flowering plants.
- Sometimes doctors prescribe antihistamines to allergy sufferers earlier than the beginning of the blooming season, which helps to ease the course of the disease," said Daria Zhukova. - Now it is especially relevant, as the sensitivity of the body due to temperature changes may increase.
According to the analytical company DSM Group, the demand for these drugs remains at a high level. In January 2024, antihistamine drugs were sold through pharmacies in the amount of 1.5 thousand packages for Br402.8 million, while this year - 1.6 thousand packages for Br424.2 million.
Also, doctors recommend allergy sufferers to wear medical masks on the street and minimize walks in parks.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
