Pollen allergy - symptoms and how to test
Pollen is a fine powder used to fertilize plants of the same species and is generated by trees, flowers, grasses and weeds. Pollen allergies occur when an individual's immune system incorrectly usually perceives harmless pollen as a harmful invader. The immune system produces histamine and other substances as a response to the pollen. Allergies like hay fever impact about 7.7% of the U.S. population. Pollen allergies affect around 25% of the U.S. population. Tree pollen, prevalent in the spring air, can trigger allergic reactions in certain people. Grass pollen, which mainly occurs in the summer, is a concern for certain people. Doctors perform two tests to determine if a patient has a pollen allergy: Specific IgE Blood Test or Skin Prick Test (SPT).