The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Cases of nasal allergies on the rise in city

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 05, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Cases of nasal allergies on the rise in city

Staff Reporter

`It is difficult to prevent allergic reactions'

BANGALORE: Rain has brought down temperature but along with it came pollen and pollution. Doctors are seeing an increase in the incidences of seasonal nasal allergies this month. At least three persons come in every day with acute allergies, they add.

N. Balakumar, an ENT specialist, says that he gets at least 10 calls every day from patients describing allergic symptoms of running nose, sore throat and in some cases, slight fever. Some persons develop blocked noses and experience difficulty in breathing.

Padma Sundaram, pulmonologist at Manipal Hospital, says the increased incidences of nasal allergies at this time of the month are because of the rain. The showers bring down the pollen that has been hovering in the air and also a lot of the suspended particulate matter, she says.

As people tend to huddle together in the cold, the viral allergy spreads easily.

"If one person in an office gets an allergy, soon you will see many persons in the office run around with red noses and a box of tissues," Dr. Padma says.

While it is difficult to prevent allergic reactions and most of them simply have to be endured, there are ways by which those prone to them can prevent themselves from having an allergic reaction.

Doctors suggest that persons who are allergic limit outdoor activities between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. when pollen is at its peak as well as to avoid fields and empty lots where parthenium grows in plenty.

Dr. Balakumar suggests that persons sleep with their windows closed so that pollen cannot get into the house. He also suggests drinking plenty of fluids if a person develops a sore throat.

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