Dorothy FarrarMugwort allergy
Mugwort is considered the most aggressive allergen among native herbs. A cross allergy with the ragweed plant is very common. The skin prick test provides information about the degree of mugwort or mugwort-ragweed allergy. Treatment is either with anti-inflammatory ointments, an antihistamine or, in severe cases, with cortisone. The best prevention is to stay in the great outdoors as a small child so that the immune system is sufficiently stimulated.
What is mugwort allergy?
Mugwort (lat. Artemisia vulgaris), a daisy family, which is also called mugwort, goose herb or wild wormwood, has its main flowering period from mid-July to around mid-August. Before and after, a slight increase and a slow decrease in pollen count can be observed. The pollen count of this herb species ends at the end of September. It is one of the most common triggers for pollen allergy and hay fever . Mugwort is considered to be particularly aggressive in terms of its allergens.
causes
The allergen of the mugwort plant is stronger than the allergens of other native plants in our latitudes. Because the allergens have such a massive effect, confrontation with a very small allergen dose is sufficient.The cause of the risk of cross-allergies is that mugwort is related to many other herbs and vegetables and the proteins are therefore identical. The main causes are chamomile, horseradish and the vegetables celery, fennel, peppers, potatoes, carrots and tomatoes, which are highly allergenic in this context. This also applies to the spices oregano, caraway, curry, pepper and aniseed as well as coriander. An allergic reaction to these herbs, vegetables, and spices occurs as a result of contact.
When to the doctor?
In the case of a mugwort allergy, there is usually no need to see a doctor. Since the allergen is not a substance or a food that is consumed particularly often, the patient can usually do without the plant. By not using mugwort, the mugwort allergy is also reduced and no longer occurs. If there are no particular complications without contact with mugwort, no medical treatment is necessary.
A doctor can be consulted if the mugwort allergy cannot be avoided and the affected person often comes into contact with mugwort. Allergens can be administered to the patient so that the body no longer reacts to mugwort with an allergic reaction . A visit to the doctor is also recommended if the symptoms of mugwort allergy do not go away on their own after a short time and persist for a long time. These include, above all, severe redness and itching . The respiratory tract is also affected by mugwort allergy. In these cases, a doctor should be consulted.
symptoms and course
Typical symptoms:
- tingling in the nose
Even if mugwort is popular in the kitchen as a tasty spice or vegetable, allergy sufferers fear this herb like no other. Not without reason, when you consider that mugwort allergens are stronger than those of other native plants.
Allergic reactions appear primarily on the skin in the form of redness, pustules and eczema (especially in neurodermatitis ) and as hives (urticaria). If the course is longer, the skin thickens (med. lichen infected). The formation of nodules, blisters and crusts is also possible.
Because mugwort is related to many other herbs, cross-allergies can quickly occur. This means that food-related symptoms can occur as with other pollen allergies. Other symptomatic signs are swollen and watery eyes as well as a more or less severe runny nose as the disease progresses. If this occurs together with conjunctivitis , it is called rhinoconjunctivitis.
Hay fever (pollinosis) can also be triggered by an allergy to mugwort, possibly also in connection with ragweed. Whether the cold is caused by ragweed or mugwort cannot be distinguished clinically. There is an oral allergic reaction to both plants. About 25% of those affected also complain about irritation of the lower respiratory tract and shortness of breath through to asthma attacks . The asthmatic symptoms, which can turn into allergic asthma with massive symptoms, are triggered by both pollen as an early or late reaction. A more or less severe type I immediate allergic reaction, including the formation of Ig E antibodies, is triggered as soon as the mucous membranes come into contact with the pollen.
Diagnose
A comprehensive medical history should always precede sensitization. The skin prick test offers a reliable method of confirming or ruling out a mugwort allergy or ragweed allergy . The skin is sprinkled with the allergen of the mugwort plant. It only takes a few minutes to see any signs of allergy.
In many cases, the so-called mugwort-ambrosia complex is also involved. The ragweed plant has the highest cross-activity to the common mugwort. Therefore, one cannot speak of a ragweed problem in isolation. Rather, the mutual influence of both forms of sensitization in the ragweed-mugwort complex must also be considered diagnostically.
It is also important to know that mugwort and ragweed pollen seasons overlap. Therefore, a nasal or conjunctival test should be used to check whether a sensitization that has already been diagnosed is up-to-date. If specific immunotherapy is being considered, these two test procedures are considered to be urgently needed.
complications
In most cases, mugwort allergy does not lead to any particular complications or symptoms. Of course, this is only the case if the person concerned does not take mugwort directly. If this is avoided, there are no symptoms and there is no reduced life expectancy. In most cases, mugwort allergy causes nasal congestion and dandruff when in contact with mugwort. The eyes can also water or be swollen. It is not uncommon for an unpleasant itching to spread all over the skin, which usually reduces the quality of life of those affected.
In acute cases, shortness of breath can also occur. As a rule, these symptoms disappear relatively quickly after avoiding contact with the mugwort. Severe asthma attacks that need to be treated by a doctor are rare. Mugwort allergy is usually treated with medication and therapy. However, the mugwort allergy cannot be completely restricted in every case. In some cases, patients suffer from this allergy for the rest of their lives. However, if contact with the plant is avoided, there are no further complications.
treatment and therapy
Anyone who is allergic to mugwort should avoid the spices oregano, curry, caraway, aniseed, nutmeg and pepper as well as aniseed and coriander. This also applies to horseradish and chamomile. The vegetables peppers, carrots, potatoes and celery as well as tomatoes, carrots and potatoes should also be avoided. The most effective method of treating mugwort pollen allergy is hyposensitization. Those affected are administered aggressive allergens over a longer period of time, the dosage of which increases slowly. The aim is for the organism to get used to the allergen.
A distinction must be made between the rare mono-sensitization and the frequent co-sensitization. These occur as clinically silent or clinically current sensitizations to both types of pollen. If those affected suffer from an allergic sniffle because of the mugwort allergy, the drug treatment is carried out with antihistamines . There is also an attempt to abstain.
With a mixture of 50% mugwort allergen and 50% ragweed allergen, the specific immunotherapy should be carried out on an outpatient basis in the doctor’s office (allergist). The treatment of allergic asthma caused by mugwort or ragweed is based on the treatment measures for other forms of pollen asthma. In the case of severe allergic reactions, the doctor can also prescribe cortisone to stop the signs of inflammation immediately.
It is also important that the threshold values for mugwort and ragweed are determined by epidemiological studies. These studies are supported by the German Pollen Information Service Foundation. If the triggering factors are to be avoided in the future, both plant species should be avoided. Whoever has them in the garden must remove both.
prevention
From birth, children should under no circumstances be kept away from plants of any kind in the wild. This is the only way to sufficiently stimulate the immune system.It has been proven that children who grew up on a farm, for example, not only suffer less frequently from mugwort allergy as adolescents or adults, but are also more resistant to other allergens.
Children should also be involved in the preparation and preparation of fresh herbs and fresh vegetables as early as possible. In this way, the children get to know and love healthy foods, usually without any signs of allergies.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.