Grasses are one of the largest plant families in all environments and are of considerable importance due to their wide distribution.
The flowering period for most grasses is between the end of March and September, with peaks in May.
The most representative grass is Phleum pratense and its allergens can be divided into several groups, the most important being group 1 (Phlp1) and group 5 (Phlp5).
«Allergies can cause asthma and affect life quality»
Symptoms of grass pollen allergy include rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma and oral allergy syndrome (OAS). OAS is characterised by itching of the oral cavity after eating a plant food, especially raw. Asthmatic forms are particularly recurrent during intense exposure to the allergen.
Seasonal fluctuations are very frequent and can therefore influence symptoms. Allergic symptoms of grass pollen allergy can occur even at low pollen concentrations, because the allergen particles are very small and can easily enter the deep airways.
Cross-reactivity with olive tree and birch allergens is very common, and there may be cross-reactions with foods such as peanut, carrot, kiwi, apple, hazelnut, tomato and celery; cross-reactions with foods can cause oral allergy syndrome.
