The time to disperse a lot of pollen is approaching, but this is the spread of the new coronavirus infection, and there is a risk of infection by touching itchy eyes due to hay fever, and what to do when confusing symptoms such as sneezing occur. There is also a concern about whether it is okay.
Specialized doctors want you to take preventive medicine and use masks and goggles to prevent pollen uptake when you go out.
“Sneezing may be mistaken for corona” Consult a doctor
Asahiko Endo, director of the otolaryngology clinic in Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, has installed an observer on the roof of the clinic for 35 years to help accurately diagnose hay fever, and how much pollen is scattered every day. I am measuring if I am doing it.
The number of pollen attached to the slides is counted by type under a microscope, and according to Dr. Endo, although many people did not fly to the point of developing pollinosis by observation up to the 6th, they soon "scattered". It is said that it will increase to the level where it is judged that "has started".
Under Dr. Endo, when a patient with hay fever develops symptoms such as sneezing, he is likely to be mistaken for a new type of coronavirus, and he is consulted on what to do about it. If you have a strong symptom, it means that you should refrain from going out, wear a mask or goggles to prevent pollen uptake, and use medicine prophylactically.
Dr. Endo said, "It is important to get a diagnosis from a specialist doctor and treat it prophylactically with medicine before the scattering becomes full-scale or while the symptoms are relatively mild."
Cedar pollen scattering peak from the end of this month
The Ministry of the Environment publishes data on pollen dispersal status based on observations from Kyushu to Kanto on its dedicated website.
According to this,
in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 61 pollens were observed per cubic meter on average for one hour at 2:00 pm on the 7th, and
in Kanoya City, Kagoshima Prefecture, 200
pollens were observed at
1:00 pm.
▽ In Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, 102 pollens were observed around 1 pm.
According to the forecast of pollen in this spring released by the Japan Weather Association,
the peak of Japanese cedar pollen scattering is
▽ from late this month to early next month in Fukuoka
▽ from early to mid next month in Takamatsu and Hiroshima,
▽ next month in Osaka. Early,
▽ Tokyo is from early to late next month,
and
▽ Kanazawa and Sendai are from mid to late next month. After
the peak of Japanese cedar pollen, hinoki pollen will start to scatter in each area.
Although the amount of pollen is smaller than usual, it is expected that most of the pollen will be higher than last year.
Measures against pollinosis similar to masks and goggles corona
According to Dr. Asahiko Endo, director of the Endo Otolaryngology and Allergy Clinic in Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, who is familiar with pollinosis, the measures against pollinosis are similar to those against the new coronavirus.
It is most effective to refrain from going out even with hay fever, and it is effective to wear goggles and glasses to prevent much of the pollen inhaled from the nose with a non-woven mask that is common outdoors, and to prevent it from being taken in from the eyes. is.
It takes time to treat hay fever after the symptoms become severe, so it is important to see a specialist doctor early and treat with medicine when the symptoms are relatively mild.
In addition, regarding the prevention of infection with the new corona, patients with pollinosis tend to touch their itchy eyes and nose with their hands and may be infected if the virus is attached to their hands, or if they are infected with the new corona, they may be infected. It can infect humans, so it is important to wash and disinfect your hands frequently and to avoid touching them with a mask or goggles.
Furthermore, regarding the ventilation required for the new corona measures, pollen will fall to the floor in about 3 minutes and will not rise unless it moves violently, and it is said that there is no big problem even if it is ventilated regularly. In that case, it is effective to wear a mask indoors or to wipe the floor with water on a regular basis and then wipe it off.
If a patient with hay fever sneezes, it may be misunderstood that he / she may be infected with the new corona, but Dr. Endo said, "It is not the problem of the person himself, but if he is suspected, he will be diagnosed and he will have hay fever. It is also important to tell others that it is. "