Srinagar, May 17: With the onset of summer, Kashmir is grappling with pollen-induced allergies, as hospitals report an increase in the number of seasonal allergy cases.
During the ongoing spring season, poplar trees produce pollen, leading to various health issues by triggering seasonal pollen allergies.
A senior doctor at CD Hospital, Srinagar, stated that they are receiving around 30-40 patients with seasonal allergies on a daily basis. “Sometimes, patients have a family history of seasonal allergies, and many cases go undiagnosed because patients consult local pharmacists. Allergies can be prevented by wearing masks and trying to avoid direct exposure to dust and pollen,” he said.
He described the symptoms, which include a runny nose, constant coughing, sneezing, and skin rashes due to sudden weather changes.
“Common symptoms of seasonal allergies include a dry cough for allergic bronchitis, a runny nose for allergic rhinitis (allergic inflammation of the nasal airways), and skin rashes for skin allergies,” he explained.
Regarding prevention, he said, “Nowadays, we try to identify the specific cause of the allergy, whether it is environmental, related to household items, food, clothing, or specific types of drugs, through skin tests. Once we identify the allergen, amino therapy is administered, and the patient is treated for life.”
Kashmir appears to be bearing the brunt of the cotton-type pollen produced by Russian poplars introduced in the 1980s under the Social Forestry Scheme, aided by the World Bank.
In 2015, this health hazard also caught the attention of the High Court, which issued directives banning the plantation and trade of pollen-producing exotic varieties of poplar trees across Kashmir, particularly the Russian poplar. Subsequently, the divisional administration also issued orders for cutting down the exotic Russian variety of poplar trees.
