Pollen allergy makes life tough for residents

Islamabad

Associated mainly with spring season the residents of otherwise beautiful Islamabad are in the full grip these days of a familiar nemesis — the ever increasing pollen-cum-dust allergy.

Consequently life is difficult to live not just for those afflicted and also for public at large as air-borne diseases are at their peak.

Once few in numbers the pollen and dust allergy victims are increasing day by day while the authorities concerned are not adopting measures on emergency basis to eradicate this source of irritation.

A drive is launched jointly by National Institute of Health (NIH) and Capital Development Authority (CDA) to cope with pollen allergy and in this regard NIH has deployed doctors and paramedic staff which are dealing almost 500 allergy patients daily here at NIH laboratory, said an official of NIH.

Early season trimming of all trees, causing pollen allergy, was also launched in the federal capital to control pollen count and provide maximum respite to the allergy-hit patients, he added.

Director Pakistan Meteorological Department Dr. Muhammad Hanif said rains reduce pollen counts but as soon as the sun comes out they grow rapidly. The weather conditions foreseen during April will be relatively drier and sunny as compared to March. Informing about the types of pollens the director said paper mulberry, pine, dandelion, cannabis, acacia, alternaria, eucalyptus and grasses were common but paper mulberry was the most abundant in concentration within Islamabad touching extreme limits of even more than 40,000 per cubic meter of air at the peak of pre and post winter season.

According to the advisory issued by National Institute of Health (NIH) in the spring pollen count in air increases because of trees dandelion, grass and flowers, resulting in respiratory problems, rash in eyes and red skin problems among masses.

Spring blossoms to add colour to the nature but it becomes really difficult to live in the capital during peak days of allergy without taking preventive measures, said Bilal Aslam, a resident of Sector G-7. During the past few years allergy cases are increasing consistently especially among children. Three to four children hit by allergy are being reported on daily basis, said Dr. Talat Pervaiz, a child specialist.

The Director Met office said pollen monitoring unit of Pakistan Meteorological Department monitors pollen counts in Islamabad but in limited area. While talking about the tall claims of Capital Development Authority (CDA) he said deforestation, poor use of land in Pakistan and fake environmental assessment reports were causing climate change and allergic diseases.

Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Media Coordinator Dr. Waseem Khawaja said pollen allergy symptoms includes sneezing, runny nose, watering of eyes, coughing, improper breathing, wheezing and eventually attacks of seasonal asthma. The skin can also become itchy sometimes.

To avoid this diseases Dr. Khawaja said it is better to move to a place where the pollen emitting plants did not grow.