Pharmacist's warning over 'autumn sneezing syndrome' similar to cold rising in UK

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A pharmacist has issued a warning over 'autumn sneezing syndrome' after a rise in cases this year.The condition, also known as allergic rhinitis, is caused by an allergic reaction, but the symptoms of this condition can often be similar to that of the common cold.This makes it difficult for people to differentiate between the two illnesses, especially during the winter months when colds are rife among the population.Abbas Kanani, a pharmacist of Online Pharmacy Chemist Click, said the condition is traditionally linked to the spring and summer months due to tree and grass pollen, but it's seeing a surge in cases during autumn.An increased presence of airborne mould and fungal spores found in dead plant matter in gardens and woodlands may be the driving force behind this phenomenon. "People are likely to experience intensified symptoms when exposed to mould spores from decaying leaves at this time of the year.

The spores get into your nose and cause rhinitis (hay fever) symptoms"," the expert said. Due to this, the body is prompted to release a number of chemicals that cause the inside layer of your nose to become inflamed and excessive levels of mucus are also produced."The immune system is reacting to an allergen as if it were harmful," Kanani added.According to the pharmacist, these are the most common symptoms of allergic rhinitis:Pharmacist Abbas Kanani noted that the above symptoms can happen "within minutes" of coming into contact with something you are allergic to - whereas the common cold takes time to develop.The expert added: "There are many types of allergens, such as pollen, dust, mould, or flakes of skin from certain animals which could trigger allergic rhinitis."Rotting leaves, grass cuttings and compost