An immunologist warned about the dangers for allergy sufferers in August

July and August are a particularly difficult period due to the active pollination of weeds - wormwood and ragweed, which is now found not only in the southern regions, but also in central Russia. Natalia Tataurshchikova, MD, Head of the Department of Clinical Immunology, Allergology and Adaptology at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, told Izvestia about this on July 22.

According to the expert, in dry, windy weather, the main danger is plant pollen, on which toxic substances settle in urban conditions. During rains, the concentration of fungal microspores increases, which also provokes allergic reactions.

"About 40% of patients with atopy suffer from pollinosis, and modern forms of the disease are more severe — now they combine respiratory symptoms (rhinitis, asthma) with skin manifestations (urticaria, dermatoses)," explained the Doctor of Medical Sciences.

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According to her, modern methods are used for accurate diagnosis, including the Allergy Explorer (Alex-2) test, which detects specific allergenic molecules. This allows you to predict the course of the disease — from mild oral syndrome to dangerous conditions like anaphylaxis. The main provocateurs in the middle zone are major allergens of wormwood (Art v1) and ambrosia (Amb a1).

A key element of therapy is an elimination diet that eliminates cross—reactivity foods. To compile it, a comprehensive examination is used, including the Fox test to assess inflammatory markers. In severe cases, allergen-specific immunotherapy is used under medical supervision.

"Modern methods allow not only to stop the symptoms, but also to influence the mechanisms of the disease development. The main thing is timely diagnosis and an individual approach," Tataurshchikova said.

On July 15, allergist and immunologist Nadezhda Logina said that birch pollen is the most powerful allergen. With such an allergy, intolerance to all stone fruits can develop: apricot, avocado, kiwi, cherry, and so on.