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Allergy Relief / Allergy Symptoms / Allergy symptoms appear as pollen counts rising
Allergy symptoms appear as pollen counts rising
Shahina Maqbool
The pollen counts of paper mulberry are beginning to increase. As predicted in the March 6 update, patients with moderate allergy started showing symptoms on Thursday, while those with mild allergy may experience them by coming Tuesday or Wednesday, when the paper mulberry counts are expected to cross the 5,000 mark.
The common symptoms of pollen allergy, like all other forms of respiratory allergy, can include any or all of the following complaints: itching in the nose, eyes, throat, ears, face or neck, associated with sneezing, running nose, watery eyes, leading to coughing, difficulty in breathing with wheezing (whistling) sounds from the chest and asthmatic attacks.
For many people not diagnosed as having asthma, it is important to note that a persistent cough, especially coughing after laughing, shouting or exertion, or any form of breathing which wakes a patient up from sleep, is usually one of the initial signs of asthma.
To avoid the taboo associated with the diagnosis of asthma, many physicians prefer to use terms like ‘wheezy bronchitis,’ or ‘allergic cough’ etc., but ‘a rose, by any other name, shall still smell as sweet!’ It is better to grab the bull by the horns, establish proper diagnosis and then treat it as such. Delaying the diagnosis, or avoiding proper treatment only makes things worse in the future.
Unfortunately, asthma has always been associated with being ‘incurable.’ However, latest research and treatment methodologies are changing all that. Asthmatics do not need to change their life patterns any more. With proper and adequate treatment, an asthmatic, no matter how severe, can lead a normal life. There is now even talk of a cure for asthma.
Talking to ‘The News,’ leading allergist Dr. Osman Yusuf said, there are hundreds of allergic asthma and respiratory allergy patients in Pakistan, who have been treated successfully, and no longer need any medication. However, he said that the degree and duration of cure varies amongst individuals, families, seasons of illness and place of residence and work or study, and may not usually be life-long. He said that the World Health Organisation’s latest report on Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA), which will be published next month, highlights these latest advances. The draft copy of the report can be downloaded from the WHO-ARIA website (http://www.whiar.org/docs/ARIA_WR_wm.pdf).
Dr. Osman Yusuf, who is one of the authors of the report, says that there have been major changes in the management of asthma. The latest guidelines on the management of asthma published by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) also highlight changes in asthma management. These are available on the GINA website.
Pulmonologists (chest specialists), however, differ from this opinion. Since pulmonologists are not trained in the treatment of allergy, and also since there are less than half a dozen properly qualified allergists in entire Pakistan, this field is not practiced or promoted adequately.
Another reason for the lack of awareness amongst the medical community is that since, unfortunately, there is no system of Continuing Medical Education (CME) in Pakistan, therefore many physicians are unaware of these updates, and their knowledge dates to the time of their graduation or specialization. Since ‘academic’ activities are usually driven by pharmaceutical companies, most of the pharma industry promotes treatment according to their vested interests. Quoting an example, Dr. Osman said, certain long-acting inhaled bronchodilators are not indicated in severe asthma, and can even cause the death of a patient in an asthma emergency; however, these are been regularly prescribed by most chest specialists in Pakistan since the concerned pharmaceutical companies takes doctors abroad for conferences, trips, meetings, etc.
Another reason for lack of knowledge is that the pollen asthma in Islamabad is one of the severest forms of this illness seen anywhere in the world. It is unprecedented, and therefore, undocumented. Doctors tend to prescribe medication in doses much less than required simply because they have been informed according to pollen counts in developing countries. It is interesting to note that tree pollen counts of more than 5,000 pollen grains per cubic metre are considered ‘very high’ in the west. In Islamabad, these counts cross 50,000 pollens per cubic metre.
Fortunately, several plans have been put in place by various institutions in Islamabad, of which the most effective and comprehensive are those implemented by the chief commissioner and district health officer, Islamabad. A free pollen allergy camp has been held every year since the last several years. For 2008, a planning meeting is being held on March 11, following which doctors at the camp will be provided special training in the management of pollen allergy.
From http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=100611
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DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this site is for educational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for personal care by a licensed physician. Please see your physician for diagnosis and treatment of any concerning symptoms or medical condition.
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