[Pollen as the cause of allergies]

Pollinosis or hay fever is the most common allergic disease in Switzerland. For symptoms during spring pollens of birch and related trees (alder, hazel) and also ash tree are responsible, while hay fever during summer is mainly caused by pollens of grasses, rye and mugwort. These main plant pollen allergens, relevant cross-reactivities with other pollen and food allergens are reviewed in this article. The well-established methods of pollen-counting in Switzerland allow to define the varying amounts of measurable pollen depending on geographic and climatic conditions. Similarly clinical symptoms, the diagnostic work-up of pollen allergies and therapeutic aspects including preventive measures, symptomatic therapy and specific immunotherapy are presented. Finally, occupational and travelling aspects of pollinosis are briefly discussed.