Allergies caused by Pollen
Pollen is a fine yellowish powder that is transported from one plant to another by wind, birds, insects and other animals. The spread of pollen helps to fertilize plants and causes innumerable allergies throughout the year in many people. This allergy is also known as hay fever, and experts refer to it as seasonal allergic rhinitis.
Most of the pollen that causes allergic reactions comes from trees, grasses and weeds. The allergy appears at the time of pollination, which, depending on each plant, region and climatic conditions, can be in spring, summer, autumn and even winter. Pollution negatively influences allergies, since it creates a hostile environment for the plant, causing it to react defensively, generating proteins that are highly allergenic.
The oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is an allergic reaction suffered by certain people who are allergic to pollen. It usually affects only mouth or throat when eating certain fruits, vegetables or nuts. This occurs because these foods contain proteins very similar to pollen, so the immune system reacts as if it were pollen. Many times, cooking food is enough to avoid this reaction.
The most common symptoms are runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy nose, eyes, ears and mouth, red, watery and swollen eyes, and even asthma. As a prevention, it is advisable to avoid going outside at times of highest pollen concentration (mainly at dawn and dusk, especially when there is a strong wind), install anti-pollen filters in the air conditioner and car, wear sunglasses when you go outside, shower and change your clothes when you get home, and don't hang out outside.
The diagnosis is of vital importance. It allows knowing which pollens are the ones that produce symptoms and thus be able to take measures to avoid exposure and start early treatment to better control symptoms. It is also necessary to be able to prescribe an immunological treatment.
Rekom Biotech offers a wide range of recombinant allergens for in vitro diagnosis of a wide variety of allergies caused by pollen. Take a look at our portfolio and don't hesitate to contact us! We will be happy to help you.
Below, you can find the list of allergies caused by pollen for which we offer IVD reagents. If you want to know more about a specific allergy, and/or consult the IVD reagents that we offer for it, do not hesitate to take a look.
