What is Ragweed Allergy and What are its Symptoms?

Facts about Ragweed Allergy

Ragweed Allergy is one of the most common mass weed allergies in the world and particularly common in the United States, where it affects 30 to 40 million people. For these people affected by Ragweed allergy, the period from late spring up to the end of summer is often a difficult period as during this period they often begin to have a variable degree of symptoms of Ragweed Allergy, often labelled Hay Fever, which can adversely affect the quality of life and even lead to absence from work, apart from requiring medical attention and treatment.

Ambrosia Psilostachya: A Common Ragweed

What is Ragweed Allergy? 

Ragweed is allergy or hypersensitivity that certain individuals have towards a group of plants belonging to the Ambrosia species, which are commonly known as ragweed, bitterweed or bloodweed. 

These plants are one of the most common and widespread weeds, particularly in the United States. There are at least 41 species of Ragweed within the Ambrosia family, which are spread all over the world. By nature, these are very sturdy plants with enormous tendency to survive, which makes their control extremely difficult and challenging. Even if the whole plant is cut an inch above the ground, it will usually grow back very quickly. They also have a tendency to grow widely in open uncultivated areas, roadsides and fields, and equally affect rural as well as urban areas.

How is Ragweed Allergy Caused? 

Ragweed Allergy is a result of the body of an individual who is allergic to the ragweed, coming into contact with the pollen of the Ragweed plants. Each ragweed plant can produce up to a billion pollen during the summer, which are then blown up by dry winds and can travel up to 40 miles from their origin, bringing a wide area of human inhabitation under their influence. This is another reason which makes ragweed allergy difficult to prevent. 

The allergic reactions is precipitated by certain allergens present in the ragweed pollen. These are proteins, of which a glycosylated protein termed Amb a 1 is considered one of the worst culprits. There are some other calcium binding proteins too that can act as an allergen and precipitate a reaction in the predisposed individuals. 

When does Ragweed Allergy Happen? 

Ragweed Allergy can be seen anytime from beginning of July to end of October, but the later part, beginning from the middle of August is usually the worst affected, since it is the period during which most ragweed plants produce pollen, which are them dispersed all around by the strong warm and dry winds common during this period. 

What are the Symptoms of Ragweed allergy? 

Symptoms of Ragweed Allergy primarily relate to those parts of the body, which usually come in contact with the ragweed pollen. As the pollen spread through air, it is respiratory tract that is often the primary site to become affected. Breathing air containing ragweed pollen is the most common contact with its allergens, which commonly results in Allergic Rhinitis, characterized by sneezing, nasal irritation, stuffy or running nose and nasal block. 

As the local nasal inflammation worsens or the hypersensitivity reaction to ragweed allergens spreads, additional symptoms begin to emerge while the existing ones worsen. In case, such inflammation blocks the sinus openings and passages within nose, it can cause Allergic Sinusitis. It is commonly characterized by severe headaches or a feeling of heaviness in forehead. Allergic rhinitis can give rise to further complications like infections, which can make the matter much worse. Severe inflammation can also cause a post nasal drip which can lead to sore throat and coughing. 

Among the other part of the body that frequently get affected by the allergic Ragweed pollen, eyes are the most important. The most commonly affected part of eye is conjunctiva, which is also the most sensitive part of the body and can react to even a very small dose of pollen. The result is Allergic Conjunctivitis which consists of reddishness and occasionally swelling of eyes, associated usually with irritation and itching. 

More severe symptoms can begin to develop if there is frequent recurrence from fresh bouts of allergic reactions, which can make the symptoms much worse. This can result in worsening of nasal allergy. In some cases, a heavy dose of Ragweed pollen exposure can also lead to breathing difficulties that is very similar to those seen in Asthma. In fact, ragweed allergy is one of the common causes of Allergic Asthma in regions having a high prevalence of ragweed allergy. The asthmatic symptoms like cough and breathlessness typically appear during the summer months between August to October every year and are interspersed with symptom free periods in between. In some cases, Ragweed allergy can significantly worsen an already existing Asthma, making it doubly important for the Asthma patients with Ragweed allergy to take necessary precautions. 

In case of further worsening of symptoms in a case of ragweed allergy, there can be fever, loss of appetite, loss of smell and taste and even some degree of prostration. Sleep disturbances can be common, and recurrent or persistent sleep deprivation can also lead to depression in some cases. 

What is the Treatment of Ragweed Allergy? 

Like most other allergic disorders, there is no straightforward cure for Ragweed Allergy. The treatment largely consist of anti allergic medicines and other supportive treatment. Over-the counter antihistamines can offer some relief to those who are known to be allergic to Ragweed and live in affected areas with recurrence of symptoms every year between July and October. A more effective option, however, is to prepare in advance for the allergic season with the aid of medical advice, and have a stock of anti-allergic medication with you beforehand. In some cases, Immunotherapy has provided some relief, but its limited success means that it is an option that is best left to the medical expert. 

What are the Common Precautions that can Prevent Ragweed Allergy? 

Some of the simple precautions that can be useful in avoiding a recurrence of symptoms, include being indoors as much as may be practicable during the ragweed season, and avoiding outdoors and in particular parts inhabited with vegetation and feeds as much as possible, during the peak season of mid August to late October. Other simple measures that can also help include keeping the windows of the house as well as the car closed, drying of linen and towels indoor so as to prevent ragweed pollen from settling on them, taking showers immediately after outdoor work that could have exposed the body to ragweed pollen and not venturing into areas with heavy vegetation and weeds. 

Can Ragweed by Prevented by Clearing the Area of Ragweed? 

So far, the efforts to cleanse large areas from Ragweed infestation have not been yielded expected results. These sturdy plants reflect the power that nature still exerts over all forms of life. The long range by which the pollen can travel with wind also limits the useful of this approach.