The severity of the allergic reaction to pollen varies from person to person according to:
- the immune system of the sensitized person which reacts in different degrees to the allergen
- the type of pollen to which the person is allergic
- the intensity of the pollen season.
What are the complications of the pollen allergy?
The pollen allergy is a benign illness.
However, in very allergic persons, certain complications can occur and can constitute a daily handicap:
- apnoea and sleeping disorders
- rhinitis and sinusitis
- asthma
- bronchial spasm and tightness of the chest
- problems of concentration in children
- problem of productivity at work.
DID YOU KNOW? Allergic rhinitis and asthma are closely linked: 10% to 30% of people who suffer from allergic rhinitis also get asthma and 80% of asthmatics suffer from allergic rhinitis.
Aggravating factors
Environmental factors related to our times and way of life may increase the risk of pollen allergies:
- global warming may change the geographical distribution of plants and may favour the appearance in the air of new allergising pollens
- pollution may weaken the walls of the pollen grains which facilitates the release of their allergising content
- exposure to passive smoking and pollution weakens the nasal mucosa and increases the sensitivity of the respiratory tract to allergens
- imported exotic plants bring new allergens to our temperate regions and these can increase the risk of allergy and trigger an allergic reaction.