Pollen allergy (pollinosis; ICD-10 J30.1: Allergic rhinopathy due to pollen) refers to the occurrence of allergic symptoms of the immediate type (type I allergy) after contact with pollen of wind-pollinated plants. Pollen allergy occurs seasonally.
Allergen transmission is aerogenic (airborne).
Sex ratio: balanced.
The prevalence of pollen allergy is about 16% (in Germany).
Course and prognosis: Pollen allergy usually causes symptoms throughout life. These can be effectively reduced by early diagnosis, exposure prophylaxis (avoidance of contact with the allergen, see “Further therapy“) and hyposensitization or desensitization (synonyms: specific immunotherapy, SIT). If allergic rhinitis (allergic rhinitis, hay fever) occurs, it should always be taken seriously. If left untreated, it can cause a floor change from the upper to the lower airways (bronchial tubes), so that allergic asthma develops. Almost every third pollen allergy sufferer also develops bronchial asthma as the disease progresses. Coughing and dyspnea (shortness of breath) are the first signs of this.
