Pollen collector device can help allergy sufferers

Mini device on the backpack: Pollen collector can help allergy sufferers

02/15/2014

Millions of people in this country suffer from a pollen allergy. Allergic people, however, usually lack more detailed information about pollen count and their own burden. This could be remedied in the future by a small device.

12 to 16 million pollen allergy sufferers in Germany
Even if it is only a small device, it could in future provide great service to millions of people with allergies in Germany. Currently, the geoinformatics specialist Klaus Böhm (48) and the software developer Torsten Sehlinger (38) are developing a personal pollen collector to measure their own allergy burden. At the Berliner Charité, a study on the mini-device still in development begins these days. The German Society for Allergology estimates the number of pollen allergy sufferers nationwide at about 12 to 16 million. For the two researchers in Mainz reason enough to get to the bottom of the strain, because so far the pollen measurement still has deficits.

Measuring stations at around 45 locations
Allergy sufferers, especially in the spring and summer to suffer from an itchy nose or watery eyes, can by so-called „Prick test“ be examined for allergies. „If you have antibodies against the proteins of birch pollen, it causes swelling and redness“, explains allergist Karl-Christian Bergmann (71) of the Berlin Charité. „Then one can say with high probability: It is a hay fever with birch pollen.“ In addition, information from pollen collectors is added. These are measuring stations at a height of about 15 meters at around 45 locations throughout Germany. „So we know roughly what's flying around in Germany. What flies ten kilometers away, but we can only guess and appreciate that.“

Symptoms recorded in digital diary
About six years ago, geoinformatics Böhm had the idea to record the personal allergy symptoms and relate them to the concentration of pollen in the environment. „Allergy sufferers throughout Germany should register their symptoms in a digital diary. Then you could see on a map, how are you, how are the people in my neighborhood?“, so the Mainz University of Applied Sciences professor. The information of the respective diaries was linked with the pollen data of the German Weather Service.

Inaccurate pollen information
From the researcher's perspective, however, this had a catch: „There was no motivation for the allergy sufferers to do it permanently. And the pollen information available was too imprecise.“ Because values ​​were extrapolated where collectors were missing. For example, the nearest measuring points for Mainz are in Bonn, Marburg and Mannheim / Heidelberg. „It's a big mistake“, so miner. „A trial for a new drug or immunotherapy is expensive and costs on the order of one million euros. Since you can not afford such uncertainties actually.“

Enter complaints via smartphone app
And thus come the „Personal pollen sampler“ into the game, a device that sucks in air and that you can carry for example on the backpack. As Böhm's ex-student Sehlinger reports, the air is directed to a sticky strip where pollen, soot and fungal spores land. This strip will then be moved by motor to get a temporal profile of the pollen load. For the location will be determined by GPS. The mini-device should be adjusted by a doctor and the patient would have to change the cassette and recharge it every one to two days. The allergic person enters via a smartphone app his complaints to the nose, eyes or bronchi.

Useful for knowledge about suitable therapy form
Even if allergy sufferers are offered an overview on the internet by the German Allergy and Asthma Association (DAAB), where pollen counts are recorded, this one hangs „pollen trend“ However, it depends on how many affected people report. The association considers the development of the pollen sampler to be meaningful. „If that were successful, it would of course be very helpful“, so certified biologist Anja Schwalfenberg in Mönchengladbach. First and foremost, to know which pollen the patient comes into contact with and which form of therapy is suitable.

Interest in the whole world
The allergologist Bergmann entrusted with the study in Berlin is convinced: „The device will find interest throughout the world. It will also be used by allergists and clinics.“ He further said: „There will also be other applications in kindergarten, stroller or car.“ Because children would be at higher risk of having hay fever or pollen asthma later if they were born in a month when pollen is flying. Böhm and Sehlinger received the Innovation Award Rhineland-Palatinate 2013 for their development.

Unclear when device can be used in practice
However, it is still unclear when the small pollen collector in the (medical) practice can be used. Therefore, it is for pollen allergy sufferers to continue to be satisfied with the conventional options for the time being. Conventional physicians recommend getting help with symptom-reducing medicines early on. As a causal treatment many physicians offer the hyposensitization, a treatment in which the immune system receives the allergen in ever higher doses as a syringe or in tablet form, in order to bring about an immunological habituation. However, the treatment is occasionally considered to be distressing as it can lead to side effects, e.g. lead to allergic reactions and circulatory symptoms. In natural medicine, in addition to homeopathy and acupuncture, methods such as self-blood therapy, hypnosis, Bach flower treatment and intestinal rehabilitation are used. (Ad)