The Big Sneeze

Pollen blew from sycamore trees in Southern California, from orchard grass in Tennessee, from the oaks of New England. Pollen was blowing everywhere in the U.S. last week, and all over the country hay fever victims knew it. Sales of such over-the-counter antihistamines as Coricidin and Allerest climbed with the pollen indices. Noses itching and eyes stinging, patients ran to their doctors for the more potent prescription drugs. Almost three months before the debut of the most debilitating pollen of them all--ragweed--the hay fever season had arrived with a loud sneeze.

Hay fever's acute onset could be blamed on the weather--hot, dry air had spread tree and grass pollen over wide areas. And the big sneeze could be linked with a long-range trend; in the last four decades, hay fever incidence has increased fivefold until nearly 9,000,000 people suffer from it each year in the U.S. Hay fever, says Philadelphia Allergist Dr.Philip Gottlieb, is a disease of civilization.

It has the most effect on urban populations that have been predisposed to the actions of pollen by such stimuli as auto exhaust fumes, chimney smoke and smog.

Also a factor is the strain of modern living. According to research, such emotions as anger and anxiety trigger dormant allergies, including hay fever.

Civilization may have helped produce hay fever in ever larger quantities, but medical scientists still do not know the exact mechanism of hay fever, and, at best, the treatment they prescribe only alleviates symptoms. Antihistamines (which tend to dry up nasal passages) help give relief in 80% of cases, and steroids have proved to be useful. Allergists inject various kinds of pollens under the skins of their patients in order to desensitize them --a long and costly process that is only occasionally successful. Still under investigation is what the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases calls "one-shot immunization." Patients are inoculated with a dose of ragweed pollen in oil in an effort to build up natural immunity. Thus far, the one-shot method has helped hundreds of patients, but hundreds of others have suffered from rashes and the raising of ugly lumps.

The only sure help remains a ready handkerchief. And the best prescription is still a long ocean cruise.

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