Allergy sufferers should not let their guard down as autumn arrives, because fallen leaves can also trigger a reaction, according to Oleg Krivtsun, an allergist with the medical company SberZdorovie. Krivtsun told the broadcaster RT that decaying leaves create favourable conditions for mold fungi to multiply.
He said high concentrations of mold spores persist in leaf litter even once temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius. Although the spores rarely rise more than half a metre into the air, people can still inhale them while raking or tossing leaves, he said.
How the spores affect the body
Once inhaled, the spores can enter the respiratory tract and set off an allergic reaction, including a runny nose, sneezing and coughing, Krivtsun said.
He advised people prone to allergies to stock up on antihistamines and glucocorticosteroids ahead of the autumn season. He also recommended that both the allergy sufferer and other family members change their clothes after returning home from outside, and rinse exposed areas of skin, including the face, hands and neck.
Krivtsun said people should also pay attention to the nasal passages and suggested cleaning the eyes with specialised solutions. At home, he recommended regular wet cleaning and, where possible, installing an air purifier fitted with a HEPA filter, which removes mold spores from the air.
Background on the warning
SberZdorovie is the medical and health services arm of Sberbank, Russia's largest bank, offering online consultations and other healthcare services. RT is a Russian state-funded broadcaster. HEPA, or high-efficiency particulate air, filters are designed to trap very small airborne particles, including mold spores and pollen, and are commonly recommended for people with respiratory allergies.
Earlier warning about ladybird bites
Allergy sufferers were previously warned about the consequences of ladybird bites, which, as it turned out, can cause hives and asthma attacks in some people.
