Austria: Strong grass pollen season expected

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People who suffer from grass pollen allergies must be prepared for a stressful time. The peak grass pollen season is approaching. The heavy rainfall has slowed down the release so far, but has fueled the growth of the plants.

The Austrian Pollen Information Service (ÖPID) reports this. This year, the first relevant grass pollen concentrations were measured between the end of April and the beginning of May. There was even an initial peak in mid-May before the weather provided temporary relief.

The ÖPID provides free information on the current pollen situation and pollen data online.

“If the sun comes out and it stays dry for a longer period of time, we can expect a sharp increase in pollen levels. Grasses then often release their pollen suddenly,” explains Markus Berger, ENT specialist and head of ÖPID. “We are therefore expecting an above-average grass pollen season.”

Season until August
Grass pollen is one of the most important allergy triggers worldwide. In Austria, hundreds of thousands of people suffer from its bloom every year, which lasts from the beginning of May until August.

This makes the grass pollen flight the longest-lasting pollen season, which also affects the most allergy sufferers. Freshly cut grass can also cause problems: “Some allergy sufferers also react to the sap of the plants with allergic symptoms when it comes into contact with their skin,” said Berger.

Tree pollen season over
Tree pollen allergy sufferers can breathe a sigh of relief at the end of the season. Berger recommends that people with symptoms get them checked out and treated, as an allergy can also develop into asthma. “During the stress-free period, allergy sufferers whose symptoms can no longer be controlled should start therapy to prepare their immune system for the next allergy season,” recommends the doctor.

Immunotherapy recommended
According to the ÖPID, the best tool is allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), as it not only combats symptoms but also the cause of the allergy. This involves regularly administering a small amount of the allergy-triggering substance (allergen) to the body over a longer period, either as a tablet, drop, or injection. In this way, the immune system slowly becomes accustomed to the allergy trigger and reacts less sensitively to it.