Tough times for allergy sufferers: birch pollen approaching

The birch trees are starting to bloom and their pollen will spoil the spring for allergy sufferers in the coming weeks. But ash pollen is also plentiful. The Swiss Allergy Center advises clearing up both allergies.

Birch pollen in particular are allergenic, the Allergy Center announced on Tuesday. With the currently rising temperatures, the flight of birch pollen is increasing by leaps and bounds, the birch blossom is several days earlier than the long-term average. However, unlike last year, 2023 is not a so-called mast year, so the total amount of birch pollen will probably be lower.

Ash pollen is currently moving along with the birch. These are also highly allergenic. As reported by the Allergy Center, ash pollen allergies are often overlooked because they are confused with birch pollen allergies.

According to the center, sensitivities to ash pollen are even more common than those to birch pollen. In terms of drug treatment, this makes no difference. Standard antihistamines and, if necessary, cortisone are used against both pollen allergies.

Still, the allergy center recommends clarification, because the ash belongs to the olive tree family. Their pollen is similar to that of olive trees, lilac, privet, forsythia and jasmine. After ash and forsythia in March to May, lilacs bloom from April to May.

The olive trees follow from May to June, the privet from May to July and the jasmine flowers from June to September. Allergy attacks due to the various pollens of the olive tree can therefore last from March to September. (saw/there)