Ragweed allergy is one of the most common and severe seasonal allergies, affecting millions of people worldwide. In Romania alone, over 2.5 million people suffer from this allergy.
2.5 million Romanians suffer from ambrosia allergy – Photo Archive
Doctors at the “Victor Babeş” Infectious Diseases Hospital in Timişoara warn that ragweed allergy becomes more common this late summer.
According to statistics, over 2.5 million Romanians suffer from this cause. That’s because a single ragweed plant can release up to a billion grains of pollen, which can be carried by the wind over a distance of up to 3 kilometers.
No one is born with such an allergy, but people become allergic over time, through excessive exposure to the pollen of this plant.
Ragweed allergy symptoms
Ragweed produces a highly allergenic pollen that causes severe symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, and even difficulty breathing. A lesser known aspect is that repeated exposure can lead to the development of new allergies to other types of pollen or even food.
“Approximately 1 out of 5 people is sensitized to this pollen, and for those prone to develop allergies, the forms can be severe. Symptoms appear in late summer or early fall. Ambrosia pollen causes various forms of rhinitis or conjunctivitis, the main symptoms being stuffy nose or rhinorrhea, sneezing in salves, itching and conjunctival erythema. Also, pollen can trigger moderate-severe asthma attacks, as well as skin rashes.“, said Dr. Bianca Matiş, allergist at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Timisoara, according to News.ro.
For people with asthma, ragweed pollen can exacerbate asthma attacks, leading to difficulty breathing and wheezing. This is only if the asthma is allergic, according to pulmonologists.
In rarer cases, ragweed allergy can cause eczema or rashes.
A seasonal problem
Ragweed starts releasing pollen from August and continues until the first frost in October. But as global warming could alter allergy season, scientists are researching the impact of climate change on the pollination season. Some studies suggest that the pollination season could become longer and more intense in the coming years.
In Romania, this plant is a major problem especially in lowland areas and around big cities. There is also a Ragweed Map, where people can mark areas where they see this plant, but also notify local authorities so that action can be taken.
“The easiest way is to mark the areas with ragweed on www.hartaambroziei.ro, and once you have done that, you can send a petition to the town hall, the National Environmental Guard and the prefecture with a single click. The exact address, geographic coordinates and the corresponding town hall will be retrieved automatically; you just need a picture from the spot. So don’t let ragweed affect your health!“, say the representatives of the site.
Doctors warn that avoiding ragweed pollen completely is almost impossible, but there are effective measures to reduce exposure and relieve symptoms. During the period when ragweed is active, it is recommended to:
- Follow a pollen calendar to anticipate peak periods.
- Avoid going outdoors during peak hours on hot days.
- Keep windows closed to prevent pollen from entering.
- Change your clothes frequently and wash your face and hands after being outside.
- Avoid drying clothes outside to prevent pollen build-up.
Treatment and prevention
Currently, there is no definitive treatment for ragweed allergy. Antihistamine drugs and corticosteroids are most commonly prescribed to manage symptoms. However, immunotherapy or “allergy shots” are options that can reduce sensitivity to ragweed pollen in the long term.
However, the effectiveness and affordability of this therapy varies, and research is still ongoing.
“However, avoiding exposure is not enough. Ragweed allergy is usually diagnosed through skin tests or blood tests, which detect the presence of specific antibodies to ragweed pollen. Once the allergy is confirmed, treatment may include: Medication: Antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids or decongestants may be prescribed to relieve symptoms; Immunotherapy: This long-term treatment involves gradually exposing the patient to allergens in controlled doses, to reduce sensitivity to ragweed pollen“, says the doctor Bianca Matiş.
Specialists recommend using nasal steroids to treat common ragweed allergies, and oral antihistamines are sufficient for milder symptoms. Ideally, treatment should be started two weeks before the start of the flowering season, and local authorities should implement ragweed eradication programs to control its spread.
Antihistamines, available without a prescription, help relieve allergy symptoms by blocking the effects of histamine, the chemical responsible for allergic reactions. Nasal sprays are effective for reducing congestion and opening the airways, and anti-allergy eye drops are recommended for the eyes.
Be careful, however, antiallergic drugs can give false positive results for amphetamines, claims forensic doctor Cristian Paparău, and this can leave you without a license according to GEO 84, until the blood tests confirm the result.
“We are in the midst of ragweed season and many Romanians will take anti-allergic drugs to treat themselves. What you need to know is that these anti-allergy drugs can give a false positive result for amphetamine in a possible drug test”stated in a post on Facebook the doctor Cristian Paparău.
For severe and chronic allergies, immunotherapy is a more appropriate option. This treatment involves gradually giving small amounts of the allergen to build up the body’s tolerance to that substance. Immunotherapy is a long-term treatment and incurs costs borne by patients. The duration of treatment is usually two to three years.
“I can’t survive without the daily pill”
Studies show that ragweed allergy has a significant impact on quality of life. Affected individuals may suffer from insomnia, chronic fatigue and concentration problems. There is also a link between seasonal allergies and depressive or anxiety states, which underscores the need for effective symptom management.
“Symptoms start suddenly, with allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, sneezing that won’t stop, itchy nose, throat, eyes, ears. Without treatment the symptoms get worse, practically without the daily pill and nasal spray I can’t cope“, says Raluca, who has been dealing with this problem for several years.
“The night can be terrible, I would end up not being able to breathe“, she also said.
In addition, the costs for treatment and wipes exceed 100 lei per month, adds Raluca, who mentions that the allergy affects her social life and work.
Measures to control the spread of ragweed
In Romania, the legislation requires the removal of ragweed from private and public lands, considering that ragweed is extremely allergic.
Specifically, Law no. 62/2018, updated in 2023, regulates the fight against ragweed, landowners and road managers must prevent and destroy ragweed by mowing, pulling or weeding, from the time the plant emerges until the end of the growing season. The municipalities have the role of identifying the infested lands and notifying the owners, and if they do not take measures, they can intervene directly, and the costs will be borne by the owners.
Fines for non-compliance with the law vary between 1,000 and 5,000 lei for individuals and 10,000 and 20,000 lei for legal entities.
However, enforcement of this law is often inconsistent and the plant continues to spread.
