ISLAMABAD: Pollen allergy must not be taken lightly because even mild symptoms may suddenly worsen and cause death within 10 minutes.

This was stated by ENT surgeon Dr S. M. Qaisar Sajjad while talking to Dawn on Thursday. He advised pollen allergy patients to take precautionary measures.

For the next two to three weeks, the allergy patients will face problems because of the high pollen count.

Data released by the Met Office on Thursday showed the seriousness of the issue as the total pollen concentration in the capital reached the very high level of 72,743 grains per cubic metre in the air, mainly due to the blooming of the paper mulberry trees.

The pollen count had reached 36,695 grains per cubic metres on Saturday but the sudden surge was caused by warm days that supported the blossoming of a variety of flora and fauna, and the soft wind spreading them.

Out of all the plants, paper mulberry shares about 97pc of the total pollen and its concentration touched the extreme limits of about 40,000 per cubic metre of air at the peak of the blossom season. Though eight sources released pollen, currently there are only three - pine trees, grasses and paper mulberry.

According to the Met Office, the pollen concentration increased gradually with the onset of the spring season and attained its peak around mid-March. But due to the mild climatic conditions, which included cool nights and the below 30 degrees daytime temperature and low humidity, the flowers are releasing high amounts of pollens and spores.

As the weather conditions are likely to remain the same for a few days, the pollen count too is expected to remain high. Due to the sharp increase in pollen concentrations, people suffering from asthma and respiratory diseases will be experiencing serious consequences.

Dr Sajjad, who is also the secretary general of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), said the association was also concerned about the health of the residents of the federal capital.

“The pollen allergy season usually begins around mid-February and ends in April. Its symptoms are a runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, itchy eyes and throat, headache, sneezing and shortness of breath which can be complicated,” he said.

“PMA suggests that citizens suffering from allergies must remember the timings of the rise and fall of the pollen count during the day. Pollen is in low concentration from 10am to around 5pm and in high concentration from 5am to 10am and again from around 5pm to midnight,” he said.

The citizens sensitive to the pollen allergy must stay indoors before 10am and after 5pm during the pollen season and if they have to go outdoors they must wear face masks. They should also take a balanced diet, plenty of water and sleep for six to eight hours daily. They should visit their physicians as soon they find any symptoms,” he said.

Dr Sajjad said the residents should close windows of their houses to ensure pollen did not enter the rooms. After washing, do not spread clothes in the air for a long time because pollens can get stick to them. After returning home from outside, the residents should also change their dress and have a shower to ensure that the pollen on the body are washed away.

During a survey conducted between 1983 and 1993, the National Institute of Health (NIH) found that almost 15pc of the population of Islamabad was suffering from allergies.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2017