Early start to hay fever season threatens to prolong sufferers’ misery

HAY fever sufferers face another month of misery from tree pollen – with scientists also predicting an early start to the grass pollen season.

The birch pollen season, which began around 10 days sooner than last year, has left millions experiencing symptoms and now allergy scientists expect the grass pollen season will begin early in May.

The late Easter means holidaymakers keen to get outdoors are facing higher levels of pollen in the atmosphere than in previous years, with more trees in leaf. The birch pollen season is at its peak in the South and Midlands, with the highest levels expected in northern parts later in the month.

The early onset of the season is thought to have been brought about by the comparatively warm winter and early spring.

The sustained warm temperatures also mean 2017 is likely to be a year when the grass pollen season builds up steadily, rather than beginning suddenly in the final week of May.

“It has been particularly bad for people so far this year, and it’s likely to continue into the immediate future,” said Dr Jean Emberlin, scientific director at the charity Allergy UK.

“It is affecting lots of people and started quite suddenly because we’ve had this almost continual run of good weather. This Easter is far worse for hay fever sufferers than last year.”

The Met Office said springtimes in Britain are around one degree Celsius warmer compared with the 1960s, with the average temperature for March, April and May rising to 8.1C (46.6F) between 2007 and 2016.

The forecaster also said the number of days when frost was recorded, which can arrest the spread of pollen into the atmosphere, had fallen slightly, particularly in Scotland.

Dr Emberlin added that this year’s good weather meant it was likely that the suffering experienced by hay fever suffers was being made worse by pollution in the air. Approximately a quarter of the 18 million hay fever sufferers in Britain are allergic to the pollen from birch trees, which traditionally reaches its peak in early May, while the majority suffer from grass pollen.

While there is no cure, many people are able to control symptoms with treatment such as antihistamines and steroids.

In February, however, researchers at Imperial College London found that three years of immunotherapy taking pills or injections showed “big improvements” which previous trials of only two years had not achieved.

Pollen contains proteins that affect people’s nose, eyes sinuses and throat by causing them to become swollen and inflamed.

Birch trees are often planted in parks or near houses, and a single catkin can produce more than one million pollen grains, which are spread on the wind.

Doctors say hay fever sufferers should keep doors and windows closed during high-pollen periods.