Bengaluru: Is your morning walk or the walk to your nearest grocery store, leaving you with rashes, a runny nose and an itchy skin? If the answer is yes, you could be allergic to parthenium. The wild urban plant or weeds, also known as Parthenium (or Congress grass) growing uncontrolled at construction sites all across the city, are causing a host of problems for children as well as people who are sensitive to pollen.
In a city which has one of the highest incidences of asthma in the country and is also referred to as the asthma capital of the country with 25 per cent of cases reported, citizens need to watch out as prevention turns out to be the only cure for patients. “Allergies because of Parthenium or Congress grass are widespread in the city as there are a lot of open areas and it grows on its own. These pollens are everywhere,” says Dr Pranjal Shamsher, skin consultant at Dr Health.
Parthenium or Congress grass is a poisonous, allergic and aggressive weed growing plentifully in wastelands, orchards, forestlands, flood plains, agricultural areas, urban areas. It can also be seen on railway tracks.
“Parthenium-sensitive patients, who were never exposed to ragweed, and who show positive skin reactions with ragweed pollen extracts, should be more cautious in this city with its decreasing green cover and rapid construction of plots,” advises Dr Leelavathy, Head of Department, Dermatology, Bowring Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI). He adds, “We see many cases of such allergies every day.”
"It all starts with skin itching and hay-fever like symptoms with a lot of sneezing, skin and respiratory allergies. And this itch-and-scratch cycle makes the skin rough and eventually the skin darkens," explains Dr Pranjal, who says that there are anti-allergy medicines available for this.
"Generally patients are asked to take extra precautions and keep their skin covered. Also they are told to avoid going outdoors on days when pollen is present in high concentrations in the air. Close all windows in the evening when pollen generally settles down. This will minimize the concentration. Air conditioning also decreases indoor pollen counts," sums up Dr Pranjal.
Treatment of parthenium allergy
Moving the individual to a parthenium weed-free area can be a temporary cure. Doctors consider this a very general allergy and treat patients with nasal sprays and corticosteroids instead of curing the allergy itself. Applying mustard oil to the affected area, helps. Using the leaves of the mahua tree (Indian butter tree) to apply on the affected area is said to bring a degree of relief to the patient.
