Latest news with #pollenallergy
The Sun
22-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Thousands of hay fever sufferers will soon be prescribed a new treatment on the NHS
THOUSANDS of hay fever sufferers will soon be prescribed a new treatment on the NHS. An under-the-tongue tablet — sold under brand name Itulazax — trains the body to tolerate more pollen through exposure. And trials show it can significantly reduce the worst allergy symptoms. NHS spending watchdog Nice has now recommended it for people whose hay fever persists after basic treatment. Nice's medicines evaluations chief Helen Knight said: "This treatment will help improve people's quality of life. "Severe tree pollen allergies trap people indoors during beautiful weather and disrupt their work, education and family life. "The daily tablet offers genuine long-term relief rather than just managing symptoms." However, it only works on those with a birch pollen allergy — which is about a quarter of hay fever sufferers, estimated to be 27,000 people. The NHS in England will offer it within three months of Nice publishing its final guidance. Amena Warner, head of clinical services at Allergy UK, said: "Many people don't realise how awful it is having an itchy, runny nose, sneezing episodes or itchy, irritated eyes in the pollen season. "We frequently hear from people who avoid time outdoors, keep doors and windows shut, check pollen counts and try and minimise any exposure, which takes a significant toll on their physical and emotional wellbeing. "Nice's recommendation is so important because it provides a genuine opportunity for people to manage the root cause of their pollen allergy, offering the chance to break free from this burden and enjoy a better quality of life." hayfever recommendations from a boots pharmacist 1
Telegraph
21-07-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
New hay fever pill will retrain the immune system
A first-of-its kind hay fever pill is to be rolled out on the NHS. The immunotherapy drug aims to treat the root cause of symptoms by retraining the immune system to tolerate tree pollen over three years of daily use. Betula verrucosa, sold under the brand name Itulazax 12 SQ-Bet and made by ALK-Abello, is a tablet that contains birch pollen extract. It has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) to be an option the NHS for around 27,000 people whose hay fever symptoms persist even after taking antihistamines or using nasal sprays. About 13 million people in the UK have hay fever during the spring and summer months, and about one in four sufferers are allergic to tree pollen. Severe tree pollen allergies can cause debilitating symptoms for some people during the spring and summer months, including fatigue, breathing difficulties, inflamed sinuses, itchy, watery eyes and changes in vision. Trials show the tablet can significantly reduce the symptoms of severe hay fever by changing how the body responds to allergens. Could benefit 27,000 people The immunotherapy works by gradually increasing the body's tolerance to tree pollen through controlled daily exposure to small amounts of pollen. Before being given the tablets, patients will require a skin prick or blood tests to confirm an allergy to birch tree pollen. Nice estimates that about 27,000 people in England are expected to benefit from the recommendation. Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice, said: 'This treatment will help improve people's quality of life. 'Severe tree pollen allergies trap people indoors during beautiful weather and disrupt their work, education and family life. 'The daily tablet offers genuine long-term relief rather than just managing symptoms.' According to Allergy UK, birch pollen allergy is estimated to affect about a quarter of hay fever sufferers. Amena Warner, head of clinical services at Allergy UK, said: 'Many people don't realise how awful it is having an itchy, runny nose, sneezing episodes or itchy, irritated eyes in the pollen season. 'We frequently hear from people who avoid time outdoors, keep doors and windows shut, check pollen counts and try and minimise any exposure, which takes a significant toll on their physical and emotional wellbeing. 'Nice's recommendation is so important because it provides a genuine opportunity for people to manage the root cause of their pollen allergy, offering the chance to break free from this burden and enjoy a better quality of life.'
South China Morning Post
17-07-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
China's ‘green great wall' eases desertification but triggers hay fever misery: scientists
For Ma Bo, a resident of Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia, late July marks the beginning of another round of suffering. He has suffered from hay fever – an allergic condition triggered by inhaling pollen – for many years. His symptoms have gradually worsened since 2018, progressing from sneezing and conjunctivitis to an allergic cough and, eventually, bronchial asthma. The artemisia plant, which is widely cultivated in northwestern China to contain wind and sand erosion , has been identified as the trigger for his symptoms. Its pollen is particularly active from late summer to mid-autumn. 01:28 Great wall of Taklamakan: China surrounds its largest desert with green belt Great wall of Taklamakan: China surrounds its largest desert with green belt This resilient plant contributes to the ' green great wall ' – the weapon across the arid northern region that China uses to fight desertification – but it is also suspected of causing an increasingly concerning endemic hay fever outbreak. Now, after years of research, a group of Chinese scientists have confirmed the plant's role in causing the disease at a molecular level and identified several allergenic substances in its pollen. For the first time, the team has identified five volatile components from a member of the artemisia plant family, confirming they could all trigger allergic reactions. These findings 'provide a basis' for preventing and treating allergic diseases in areas where the plants are grown, according to a report in the state-owned newspaper Science Daily on Monday. The study, which was conducted jointly by scientists from the school of pharmacy at Xian Jiaotong University and the Yulin Forestry Science Research Institute – both in northwestern China's Shaanxi province – was published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials at the end of May. Artemisia, which has more than 100 species, is easy to grow and has low cultivation costs. However, according to a 2023 report by the Health Times, a subsidiary of People's Daily, its pollen has become a common allergy cause in northern China.
Medscape
05-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Grass Pollen: A Double Threat to Allergy Patients
Patients with pollen allergy who were exposed to higher concentrations of grass pollen were more likely to have physical symptoms and impairments in day-to-day life. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted an observational pilot study to assess the association between daily grass pollen concentrations and physical symptoms and daily life impairments experienced by patients with pollen allergy. The analysis included 53 patients (mean age, 41.8 years; 68% women) with grass pollen-induced allergic rhinitis in Bavaria, Germany, evaluated between May and July 2022. Researchers collected data for the pollen season 2022 from the Electronic Pollen Information Network of Bavaria. An app-based questionnaire was used to collect patients' data on allergic symptoms and treatment measures. They used a physical symptoms index to assess patients' daily eye and nose symptoms and a daily overall impairments index to assess impairments in performance, sleep quality, and activities. TAKEAWAY: The average grass pollen concentration measured between early May and late July 2022 was 37.1 pollen particles/m 3 . . A significant association was observed between grass pollen concentration and both the physical symptoms index (regression coefficient [beta], 0.002; P < .001) and impairments in day-to-day life (beta, 0.00064; P < .048). < .001) and impairments in day-to-day life (beta, 0.00064; < .048). Additionally, pollen levels were significantly associated with performance impairment (beta, 0.0009; P = .027); no significant association was observed with sleep or daily activities. IN PRACTICE: 'To enhance clinical practice, it is essential to address the gap in adequate medical care for pollen allergy patients and prioritize patient education on recognizing and managing allergic rhinitis,' the authors wrote. 'Advancements in technology-assisted self-monitoring could further empower patients in managing their symptoms and understanding the interplay between environmental triggers and allergic complaints,' they added. SOURCE: Jonas Huss, with the Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Munich, Germany, was the corresponding author of the study, which was published online on May 28 in Scientific Reports. LIMITATIONS: The study relied on physician-diagnosed allergies and self-reported patient data. Additionally, the absence of individualized air pollution or weather data, a limited sample size, and strict exclusion criteria further limited the generalizability of the findings. DISCLOSURES: The study was funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care. The authors reported having no conflicts of interest.
