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ASTHMA IN CHILDREN: THE INHALED ALLERGENS – OUTDOOR ALLERGENS -POLLENS IN DELHI

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010
Atmosphere in Delhi is never entirely free from pollens. During autumn (mid-September to mid-November), spring (mid-February to mid-April) and early summer (mid-April to mid-May), air borne pollens are in abundance, and the incidence of seasonal asthma is extremely high. Even perennial asthma patients show an aggravation of their symptoms in these months. On the other hand, there are fewer pollens in the air from June to mid-August, and mid-November to mid-February. These are also the months when hay fever and asthma patients find relief from their symptoms.
Trees contribute 30 per cent of the pollens in the air; significant among them are Salvadora, Prosopis, Terminalia, Ailanthus, Ricinus and Ehretia. Weeds contribute 38 per cent of the pollens in the Delhi air; the important ones are Chenopodium, Xanthium, Amaranthus, Cannabis, Artemesia, Rumex and Umbellifers. Of these, Xanthium alone contributes 18 per cent. Grasses contribute 20 per cent of the pollens in the air; these are Cynoden, Cenchrus Sorghum, Eragrostis, Imperata and Heteropogon.
The number of pollens in the atmosphere in an area varies from year to year depending upon meteorological conditions, such as rainfall, temperature, sunshine, wind velocity and wind-direction. If there is excessive rainfall before the pollination season, it stimulates profuse and vigorous growth of plants with a consequent increase in pollen production. Heavy rains during the pollen season, on the other hand, may interfere with the shedding of pollens or wash the air borne pollen down. This is one of the reasons why patients allergic to pollens get varied symptoms from year to year.
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ASTHMA IN CHILDREN: THE INHALED ALLERGENS – OUTDOOR ALLERGENS -POLLENS IN DELHIAtmosphere in Delhi is never entirely free from pollens. During autumn (mid-September to mid-November), spring (mid-February to mid-April) and early summer (mid-April to mid-May), air borne pollens are in abundance, and the incidence of seasonal asthma is extremely high. Even perennial asthma patients show an aggravation of their symptoms in these months. On the other hand, there are fewer pollens in the air from June to mid-August, and mid-November to mid-February. These are also the months when hay fever and asthma patients find relief from their symptoms.Trees contribute 30 per cent of the pollens in the air; significant among them are Salvadora, Prosopis, Terminalia, Ailanthus, Ricinus and Ehretia. Weeds contribute 38 per cent of the pollens in the Delhi air; the important ones are Chenopodium, Xanthium, Amaranthus, Cannabis, Artemesia, Rumex and Umbellifers. Of these, Xanthium alone contributes 18 per cent. Grasses contribute 20 per cent of the pollens in the air; these are Cynoden, Cenchrus Sorghum, Eragrostis, Imperata and Heteropogon.The number of pollens in the atmosphere in an area varies from year to year depending upon meteorological conditions, such as rainfall, temperature, sunshine, wind velocity and wind-direction. If there is excessive rainfall before the pollination season, it stimulates profuse and vigorous growth of plants with a consequent increase in pollen production. Heavy rains during the pollen season, on the other hand, may interfere with the shedding of pollens or wash the air borne pollen down. This is one of the reasons why patients allergic to pollens get varied symptoms from year to year.*27\260\8*

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