Pollen can help predict asthma and hay fever
| Apr 9, 2019, 12:12 IST
Did you know pollen grain in the air can actually cause cough and cold to some? If you did, you wouldn’t be surprised to know what we’re about to say next. A new study from Australia says that the presence a certain kind of grass pollen in the air can actually be of help to health practitioners to predict when hay fever asthma could strike.
The study involved a researcher from the University of Queensland and the School of Public Health. A professor from the latter school said that the collaborative study made use of plant DNA methods to identify and track different strains of pollen.
"Using this method, we may be able to better predict when allergenic pollen is present and allow people affected by asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and rhinitis to more effectively manage their condition," Dr. Osborne said.
"That tells us that that grass pollen exposure changes substantially across the allergy season," Dr. Osborne said.
"With the advent of personalised medicine, more and more people are becoming aware of which allergen is responsible for their allergy."
He also added it will help asthmatics manage their asthma better. The team is currently hoping to expand on the research to create a unique profile of all the grass pollen species to be able to der time the most harmful strains.
When asked about his methodology, he said, "We are doing this by examining hospital and GP records in the United Kingdom and seeing if demand for these services involving asthma and rhinitis correlates with the presence of one grass species over another.
"For example, ryegrass has been touted as the cause of thunderstorm asthma in Australia, as it occurred in Melbourne in 2016.”
The team hopes that within three to four years the research study will allow them to produce a more reliable forecast of when and where exposure to pollens occurs.
The study is published in Nature Ecology and Evolution.
The study involved a researcher from the University of Queensland and the School of Public Health. A professor from the latter school said that the collaborative study made use of plant DNA methods to identify and track different strains of pollen.
"Using this method, we may be able to better predict when allergenic pollen is present and allow people affected by asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and rhinitis to more effectively manage their condition," Dr. Osborne said.
"That tells us that that grass pollen exposure changes substantially across the allergy season," Dr. Osborne said.
"With the advent of personalised medicine, more and more people are becoming aware of which allergen is responsible for their allergy."
He also added it will help asthmatics manage their asthma better. The team is currently hoping to expand on the research to create a unique profile of all the grass pollen species to be able to der time the most harmful strains.
When asked about his methodology, he said, "We are doing this by examining hospital and GP records in the United Kingdom and seeing if demand for these services involving asthma and rhinitis correlates with the presence of one grass species over another.
"For example, ryegrass has been touted as the cause of thunderstorm asthma in Australia, as it occurred in Melbourne in 2016.”
The team hopes that within three to four years the research study will allow them to produce a more reliable forecast of when and where exposure to pollens occurs.
The study is published in Nature Ecology and Evolution.