Allergy to poplar fluff: does it really exist and how not to confuse it with a cold

With the onset of the warm season, Ukrainians are increasingly complaining of itchy eyes, sneezing, stuffy noses, and sore throats — and they often blame poplar fluff for this. But is it really the cause of allergies?

LIGA.Life discusses the most common myths, how to distinguish seasonal allergies from a cold, and when to see a doctor, together with allergist Larisa Prokhorova.

Myths about down allergies

There is no true allergy to poplar fluff. We are looking for a reaction to the pollen it carries.

According to Larisa Prokhorova, a true allergy to poplar is an extremely rare phenomenon (less than 1% of cases). What we perceive as an "allergy to down" is, rather, a mechanical irritation of the respiratory tract. In addition, down carries other potentially allergenic particles: grass pollen, weeds, dust, mold.