Pollen and lung infections

[EMG_72]

I'm researching the potential link between pollen allergy and lung infections on behalf of a family member. Has anyone any experience of allergies leading to an infection? Thank you 🙏

[BenHall1]

Hiya EMG_72,

I am sorry to read of your plight in caring for your mother. I hope eventually things improve. Now, to answer your specific question I have not experienced this. Doesn't mean to say that there is no link at all.

That said, I live on the edge of a village and right next door is a dirt lane ( often used as a local rat run ) and bordering that farmland, hedgerows and trees and from now, even through summer, I'll be plagued with pollen issues which will produce at times an aggressive cough and chest mucus. That said, I have also recently been diagnosed with mild COPD - which I don't believe ............ my personal take is that my medical team can't accurately diagnose what my lungs are doing ( despite tests ) and so lump everything into the 'catch all ' area of COPD. Just out of convenience.

Mercifully, thus far, no infections..... yet !!

John

[Karenanne61 in reply to BenHall1]

Copd isn't a 'catch all' diagnosis used for 'convenience ' when medics, are unable to give a diagnosis that suits you. There are many of us here really struggling with copd and your statement infers that you are trivialising copd and doubting it's veracity.

[Mopsey1897 in reply to Karenanne61]

I think you misunderstood as he’s not trivialising it at all, he just meant he didn’t think he had it. I thought it was a sensible comment

[Patk1 in reply to BenHall1]

Copd includes chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema. When chest mucous is a problem,if it's thick,there are mucolytics dr can prescribe.also lung clearance techniques on aluk website are v gd and may reduce coughing+ irritation in between.have u tried antihistamines BenHall1

[BenHall1 in reply to Patk1]

Patk1,

Thanks ............ and this is exactly my point ! I have never ever been diagnosed with any sort of bronchitis, be it chronic or whatever ! I have never ever been diagnosed with emphysema. I do not have any degree of chest mucous and whilst I have some mild coughing in the mornings and feel there is some mucous it is so little I cannot eject it when trying to cough it up ............ and all the bloody doctors cannot help because I cannot describe the colour of the mucous ........... because I can't see the bloody stuff !

If Dr's are deaf as to what I'm saying perhaps they should try lip reading. So all the questions Dr's ask me I have to say don't know, they shrug their shoulders and just say COPD. Must be COPD.

I will try looking up lung clearance techniques and see what happens. Antihistamines, sorry to sound vague but I have no idea. I guess it depends on how awake my GP is as I am on Warfarin - the two may not be a good mix 😊

Having had a very useful conversation on the ALUK Helpline this morning and been given some pointers as to what is meant by certain phrases on my Spirometry Report it seems that the written analysis may be found wanting and that I should request a second test. In other words my first test was not conclusive because of poor techniques used at the time of and during the test.

Thanks for your interest.

[Patk1 in reply to BenHall1]

Look at acbt ( active cycle of breathing technique)with huffing I do sat up then on alternate sides( postural drainage).It's understandable poor techniques on 1st spirometry as we don't know what to do or expect.

I'd keep brief daily diary of peak flow,symptoms, exercise- any impact on symptoms use of inhaler - a pattern may show itself.

[BenHall1 in reply to Patk1]

Hiya Patk1,

Thanks for that - in respect of your last paragraph I have already been keeping my own Peak flow records, so no problemo there. Symptoms .......... much more difficult to say because my GP is treating my lungs - when in fact - my symptoms are coming from my nose. These bloody Dr's will not listen. In my late teenage years right through my adult life I have been riddled with sinus problems. These are much more difficult to quantify/describe/analyse/triggers, particularly now we are in spring and blossoms are blooming all over.

I'll try some home cures for sinus and see where I end up. Sinus dripping down the neck can't be contributing to good lung health can it ?

[Patk1 in reply to BenHall1]

I've chronic rhinosinusitis too - often go hand in hand with lung probs. I use steroid( budesonide/ beconase) nasal spray,antihistamines + use steriimar daily breathe easy( purified seasalt) to clear nose+ face sinuses. I resort to a decongestant whn v bad. U do sound to have allergies/ hayfever. Yr right, catarrh doesn't help lungs at all.I'd give nose/ sinus probs the title" rhinosinusitis" with catarrh,whn u see dr.

Has the salbutamol inhaler helped whn breathless etc? U could try doing pf( peakflow) before using yr inhaler& again perhaps 20-30 mins after

[BenHall1 in reply to Patk1]

At this stage I have been prescribed ( and I quote the label ) Mometasone Furoate 50 mg actuation, nasal spray suspension. It is having a mild benefit ( as opposed to something really dramatic ) so I guess I may need to stay with it for a while. The print on the packaging says it can take many weeks to get results in some people.

The Salbutomol inhaler does 'calm things down' but I have a gut feeling that it just isn't strong enough. TBH though, I use Benylin 'Chesty Coughs' cough syrup when the lungs get too 'blocked' and it seems to give more relief than anything else.

I do have a Peak flow meter and my current readings are around 410 whereas way back in December 2024 they were aroun d 370 - so - a little improvement, mainly due to exercises and walking. It seems that these readings are a bit below normal for an old guy of my age and body build but I'm optimistic I could improve. I will mention " rhinosinusitis" with catarrh when I see my GP. Breathing properly and with over active sinuses can be a challenge though when out walking. 😱

Thanks for yourcomments .... will give you updates.

John

[Mopsey1897 in reply to BenHall1]

It can lead to post nasal drip which gives you a cough and a little mucus, mainly in the mornings

[Izb1]

If you type in "pollen" in the search box above, it brings up previous posts, it may help with your query x

[Biker88]

I don’t know about pollen but fungi spores can lead to infection, Aspergillosis.org for more info

[thecurlyrebel in reply to Biker88]

I have rhino sinusitis with allergies leading to post nasal drip which then triggers asthma and a cough.

A good antihistamine helps with keeping my nose clear so I can breathe well whilst walking.

Avamys nasal spray worked for me when mometasone and budesonide did not

And Sterimar saline nasal rinse are a godsend for getting all that pollen out of nose

I would let the Dr know what isn’t working and ask for alternatives. Be persistent!! It’s your health!!

[peege]

Yes of course, the very nature of allergies leads to inflammation of the airways trapping mucus in the lungs. Any trapped mucus leaves the perfect warm wet environment for bacteria to multiply, if our immunity isn't great that means infection. Many of the members here (particularly those with bronchiectasis who live with having to do lung clearance twice or more daily) already have colonised bugs in their lungs ie Pseudomonas, Heamophilus Influenzae etc so those can be set off. So its not the pollens giving the infection it's our lungs reactions to it - in my very humble unqualified medically opinion

[BenHall1 in reply to peege]

Hiya peege,

Thanks for that ............ my brain is like a sponge at the moment and am just sucking in all the information forthcoming. Cheers

[MoyB]

It has taken me years to realise that my asthma is always worse between February- May and again September - October. I have been hospitalised several times with pneumonia following exaccerbations at these times. As soon as the catkins come out my hayfever begins, but flowers don't seem to cause me a problem. I think it's only tree pollen that affects me and then the tree moulds in the autumn. I was diagnosed years ago with allergic rhinitis and dust mites were said to be the culprit so I have sniffles all year, but mainly under control.

I don't know if any of this is helpful to you, but I believe that anything that irritates the airways can lead to infection. Good look with your research!

Xx Moy

[BenHall1 in reply to MoyB]

Hiya MoyB,

I must say bits and pieces of your post resonate with me. So far at least I've never been hospitalised. I live on the outer edge of a Cornish town, a village, next to our home is a dirt road used as a rat run by all sorts of vehicles. Surrounding us is open farmland with field boudaries comprising trees and hedgerows and at this time of year, with Spring buds bursting out the pollen and dust are unbelievable. I try and ensure I've plenty of stocks of nasal spray to hand.

Must say I agree, flowers (thankfully ) don't do anything to me ...... it is definately trees, hedgerows and dust send me off. One thing though, I always have trouble in maintaining stability with my treatment, just can't get the balance right. But hey ho - could be worse ! 😀

[2013mayo]

I think pollen doesn’t help anyone with copd. I have become very ill with my chest, I’ve ended up with pneumonia, I’m sure it’s got a lot to do with grass pollen. My grass has just recently been cut and that’s when I got a lot worse

[O2Trees]

Just adding my experience of losing my allergies:

When I was diagnosed with steroid induced (so they thought) prediabetes a few years ago I decided, in a bid to avoid it progressing to full-on diabetes, to totally give up sugar in all its forms including all refined carbohydrates, ie bread, biscuits, cakes, pastry, white rice, pasta etc etc. At diagnosis my blood sugar was at 46 so getting near to actual diabetes. Stay with me, it gets more relevant further down!

My blood sugar reading has now been 42 for the last few years, not having needed any IV hydrocortisone and only one short course of pred since serious hospitalisation in 2018. And I attribute this stabilisation more to this rather than the lack of sugar etc.

However what I didn't expect was this exciting side effect: my very severe grass pollen allergy and less serious but irritating dust mite allergy totally disappeared, coinciding with the first Spring after avoiding sugar and refined carbs - about 4 months later. I was flabbergasted and extremely grateful as I'd had allergic asthma most of my life.

I know this abstinence won't be for everyone - it was relatively easy for me as I didn't eat much of that stuff, just most days a slice of cake in local cafes and regular pasta meals - but I wanted to pass this on in case it's useful to someone.

I hope your research is helpful to your family member, MG_72.

[Patk1 in reply to O2Trees]

Brilliant 02Trees x

[Patk1]

Allergies certainly trigger production of more mucous from nose,sinuses and Airways.i do what I can to lessen impact with nose spray( steroid),sterimar nasal/sinus wash,antihistamines and decongestants when bad.if yr relative is producing mucous in airways/ lungs, there are lung clearance techniques on aluk website, to get it up+ reduce risk of infection.in uk tree pollen started earlier this year.i shared a pollen calender recently,u may find useful.i also have a sm air purifier downstairs+ in bedroom - they do help

[EMG_72 in reply to Patk1]

Thank you. What brand of air purifier do you have? Do you ever use an air humidifier?

[Patk1]

They were just about £30 ea off Ebay × also came with 2filters.illcheck the brand for u tomorrow.ive not used a humidifier altho I use a dehumidifier at times to dry bathroom after shower/ dry washing etc x