The doctor named the main plant allergen for residents of the Moscow region

Residents of the Moscow region are increasingly experiencing symptoms of seasonal allergies in early spring, long before the trees begin to bloom. On March 12, Selma Arshba, an allergist and immunologist at the Soft Medical Center, told Izvestia about the causes of the early appearance of pollinosis.

According to her, the early symptoms may be related not only to the local vegetation. Air currents are able to carry pollen for hundreds of kilometers, so allergens can enter the region from warmer southern territories, where plants are already actively blooming.

"Sometimes allergy sufferers begin to feel symptoms before the trees near the house bloom. This is because the winds bring pollen from other regions where flowering begins earlier," the expert explained.

Wind-pollinated plants remain the main sources of allergies in the central part of Russia. Their pollen spreads easily through the air and can enter residential areas. Birch traditionally becomes the main allergen in spring, followed by alder, hazel and willow.

Separately, the doctor noted poplar, which is often considered the cause of allergies. In fact, poplar fluff itself rarely causes a reaction, but it can carry pollen from other plants and increase the spread of allergens.

According to Arshba, in the Moscow region, birch pollen is most often the cause of seasonal hay fever. Towards summer, grasses begin to actively bloom, and in the second half of summer, weeds, including wormwood, often cause allergic reactions.

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The weather also has a noticeable effect on the timing of flowering. A warm winter and early spring can delay the start of allergy season by one to two weeks earlier than usual. In addition, strong southerly winds can bring pollen to the region from plants that have not yet begun to bloom in the Moscow region.

The specialist notes that it is difficult to completely avoid contact with allergens, but it is possible to reduce their effects. In particular, it is recommended to monitor pollen concentration forecasts published by special services. On days of high allergen activity, it is better to limit walking in the morning, when the concentration of pollen in the air is highest.

It is also important to ventilate the room with care, use safety nets or filters on the windows and carry out regular wet cleaning. After returning from the street, allergy sufferers are advised to change clothes, wash or take a shower to remove pollen from their skin and hair.

It's not uncommon for people to confuse seasonal allergies with colds. However, as the expert notes, these conditions have differences. With allergies, the temperature rarely rises, the symptoms appear annually at the same time, and are also accompanied by severe itching in the nose and eyes and frequent sneezing.

"If the symptoms recur every spring, it's worth contacting an allergist. Modern diagnostic methods allow us to identify a specific allergen and choose a treatment that greatly facilitates the season," Arshba emphasized.

On February 27, Konstantin Letts-Orletsov, a doctor, said that pollen allergy, against which a vaccine is being developed in Russia, is considered one of the most common. He noted that, in addition to pollen, food products, house dust and dust mites, wool, dandruff or saliva of pets, mold spores and medicines are also common allergens.

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