May 6, 2004

It is certainly a spectacular season, but also a difficult time for those who suffer from pollen allergies. The Islamabad district government has finally set up a society that offerS free treatment and advice, writes Mohammad Saleem Shahid

Spring in Islamabad is without a doubt the most beautiful season of the year, as flowers bloom and shrubs and plants sprout. The red and golden shades of trees and flowers are all around the city. The lush green leaves, whether fallen on the ground or still hanging on the wispy branches, are a wonderful mix of pink and deep red, yellow, mustard and orange. Even the tiny blades of grass appear fresh, depicting the departure of winter.

Indeed, there has been an increased interest among Islamabad residents in gardening, as is evident from the blossoming flowers and well maintained gardens and manicured lawns. The pretty gardens outside homes are particularly eye-catching. As one looks up, the majestic Margalla Hills provide a stunning background.

But at the same time, spring in the capital is a very disturbing season for those who suffer allergies as it is also the peak pollen season. And, for such people, life in the capital can become very difficult. Those who suffer allergies to pollen, both children and adults, suffer various irritations like frequent sneezing to those who have to be hospitalized on account of breathing problems. Some are advised to stay indoors, while the more serious patients are asked to move out of the capital during the pollen season. Pollen allergies increase tremendously in spring and in late summer in Islamabad.

Abdul Hameed, who is one such person, says he gets severe headaches during the pollen season, besides an itchy nose and a burning sensation in the eyes. Hajra Bibi, another patient who was waiting for a check up at the allergy department of The National Institute of Health (NIH) said that breathing becomes difficult with the start of the pollen season. She also complained of body aches and rashes on the skin.

Manzar Ashraf’s mother said the pollen season brings with it a lot of stress as she has to take extraordinary care of her son. Sometimes, she feels her son has a fever, but when she checks his temperature it turns out to be normal. Similarly, she said, her son’s affliction has affected his moods as he has become unbelievably irritable. She also spoke of a loss of memory and difficulty in concentrating as other side effects.

Raja Jalil said he had to remain indoors during the pollen season as a precautionary measure. The windows and doors are kept closed as fresh air contains millions of pollen grains. “I have to wear a mask and gloves when I go outside,” he said. Another patient, Babar Hussain, said that “For safety, we replace the air conditioning system filters every year.” Nadir, another allergy patient, said that he becomes breathless with just a little exercise. “I also feel pain and swelling in the joints along with irritation and rashes on the skin,” he added.

Dr Farida Ahmad, incharge of the allergy centre at the NIH, said that allergy patients from all over the country and Afghanistan visit the centre every year after being referred by the hospitals for modern treatment to fight allergies. During peak pollen season, 250-350 patients visit the centre daily, she said. Similarly, from end-February to end-April, around 5,000 to 6,000 patients with allergies to pollen, dust and drugs visit the centre, she added.

Dr Ahmad, who is also a skin specialist said pollen allergy can be controlled through necessary precautions and medical measures, but added that in certain cases, it could prove to be fatal. She advised patients to use masks, keep away from dust and fragrance, take medicines and inhale steam regularly.

Pollen allergy develops into asthma among the elderly and in severe cases can lead to death. Complaints of a headache, running nose, pain in the stomach and itchy eyes are common symptoms of the pollen allergy. She also added that children are more likely to develop allergies than adults.

People with pollen allergies, she said, often develop sensitivities to other troublemakers that are present all year round. There are three general approaches to the treatment of pollen allergy: avoidance of the allergen, medication to relieve symptoms and immuno-therapy or injection treatments. Nasal sprays should be used with caution because their overuse may make symptoms worse.

The main cause of respiratory allergy in the spring season in Islamabad is due to the pollen found in the paper mulberry tree (Broussenetia Papyrifera) and also pollen of the white mulberry tree (Morus Alba). In the late summer, from end-June to early-September, the pollens of Cannabis Sativa (Bhang) are responsible for allergies.

Leaves of the paper mulberry trees are distinctive in that they have a very rough, sandpaper-like upper surface and a soft under-surface. The tree does well in cities as it is tolerant to dust, smoke and heat, and grows in poor soil. In fact, it does so well, spreading with ease, that in some areas it has become more of a pest than a blessing.

This tree is native to China and Japan where the inner bark has been used in making paper, hence the common name of paper mulberry tree. In parts of the South Pacific and in Hawaii people have made cloth from the bark. In the US, landscapers use the paper mulberry as an ornamental tree. In many areas it has become naturalized and grows wild.

Islamabad’s residents have been facing the problem for a long time, but no concrete steps have been taken so far by the concerned authorities to provide them with an allergy-free atmosphere. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is not willing to eradicate those trees responsible for the problem in the light of a report, prepared by a joint committee of NIH and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) last year.

The main purpose of the report was to get expert advice on whether the eradication of paper mulberry trees would help in reducing the pollen allergy in the capital. But, the report did not specifically suggest the mass eradication of those trees nor did it encourage further plantation of the trees. However, the Environment Protection Agency last year concluded that mass eradication of paper mulberry trees was not possible because it would spoil the beauty of the capital.

However, the CDA’s environment directorate has gone ahead and is removing the trees whereas the environmentalists say the solution does not lie in chopping down mulberry trees and plants causing pollen allergy. They argue that the paper mulberry is not the only source of pollen allergy as pollen from other trees, coupled with dust and fragrance, also contributes in spreading the allergy. Paper mulberry trees constitute almost 30 per cent of the total greenery of the federal capital, environmentalists say.

Meanwhile, CDA officials said only a small percentage of the total trees were removed to maintain the environmental beauty of the capital. They admitted that many times campaigns have begun for the mass eradication of the trees keeping in view the pollen allergy problem among the people, but are halted when environmentalists pressurize the CDA to abort its campaigns.

Recognizing pollen allergy as a health problem in the capital, the Islamabad district administration finally formed a Pollen Allergy Relief Management Society to tackle it. The society set up a pollen allergy camp from March 22-27 at Aabpara Community Centre where doctors and paramedical staff from the city’s major health institutions, as well as homoeopaths and hakims, were on hand to provide free treatment and advice to the people. Hundreds of allergy patients were reported to have visited the camp.

With such measures by the district administration, one can hope that those suffering from pollen allergies in the federal capital will no longer be deprived of the modern treatment at all levels so that they can stay healthy.

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