Press Release

For Immediate Release
Contact: Tom Capezzuto
(973) 972-7273
E-mail: capezzta@umdnj.edu

At UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Agony of Ragweed Allergy Season May be Exacerbated
By Consumption of Some Fruits and Use of Products with Camomile

As the remaining weeks of summer wind down, you may notice large, leafy plants that grow abundantly in sidewalk cracks and other areas, such as backyards.

The arrival of ragweed season unofficially begins by mid-August and extends through much of the fall season, until the first frost begins to kill the pollen-emitting plants. If you are allergic to ragweed, you may be surprised to learn that some fruits, cosmetics and herbal tea are cousins of this wild weed and may also trigger the same annoying effects, said Dr. Leonard Bielory, director of the Asthma and Allergy Research Center at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)-New Jersey Medical School in Newark.

"Honeydew melon, cantaloupe, bananas and camomile, an herb found in some teas and cosmetic products, are related to ragweed and contain many of the same ingredients that contribute to sneezing, coughing, congestion, running noses, headaches, irritated eyes and sometimes wheezing," Dr. Bielory said. "If you are allergic to ragweed, these items may exacerbate your hay fever symptoms and may contribute to the 'oral allergy' syndrome by making your palate itch."

These particular fruits, camomile and ragweed are known as "cross-reactors" because they contain common proteins found in plants of the same botanical family, he added. Eliminating exposure to them will help allergy sufferers control some of the symptoms associated with ragweed.

Dr. Bielory noted that the best way to avoid ragweed pollen is to stay inside as much as possible. Don't exercise outdoors during the day when pollen levels are highest; cut the grass and trim the shrubs in the early evening. When engaging in yard work, consider wearing goggles and a dust mask. "Ragweed sufferers also should keep their home and car windows closed and use air conditioners and air purifiers to minimize exposure to pollen," Dr. Bielory said.

Those with hay fever should also shower before going to bed to avoid bringing the pollen into bed, and those with pets should wipe their furs clean when they come inside the home in the evening.

To arrange an interview with Dr. Bielory, call Tom Capezzuto of the UMDNJ News Service at (973) 972-7273. For information regarding daily pollen counts, call UMDNJ's pollen count hotline at (973) 972-6518.