Submitted by BenAtkinson on 24 December 2015
It is one of the focal points of the festive season, however the humble Christmas tree has the potential to cause disease…. A recent news story highlighted this information as the holiday season comes to its peak. People must be aware that sneezing, wheezing coughs and rashes which occur when a Christmas tree is introduced into the household are typical signs of the disorder dubbed ‘christmas tree syndrome’.
‘Research says that 35 per cent of people surveyed suffer from an increase of hay fever-like symptoms over the festive season, with pine Christmas trees causing most of the problems, according to a recent poll for Prevalin Allergy.’ Furthermore, researchers from Upstate Medical University found 53 cases of mould from 28 christmas trees. Interestingly, it is common for people to not have any symptoms despite the prevalence of mould on the trees.
Dr Lawrence Kurlandsky, who conducted the research, said in his report: “If you and your children don’t have any obvious allergies, then it is probably not going to bother you.”The team found that the mould in highest quantities on Christmas trees – aspergillus, penicillium, cladosporium and alternaria – are the ones most likely to trigger allergies. Advice from the experts…. Putting up the tree as late in the holiday season as possible and taking it down quickly after to avoid any possible allergy or infection to occur during the festivities.
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