Mugwort allergy

Mugwort allergy (Artemisia vulgaris) is a significant late-summer allergen in Croatia. Mugwort flowers from July to September, in parallel with ragweed in continental Croatia. Although mugwort pollen concentrations are lower than ragweed's, mugwort has stronger cross-reactivity with food and causes mugwort-celery-spice syndrome. It is widespread along roads, on neglected plots and in industrial zones.

Symptoms of mugwort allergy: sneezing, a runny nose, watery and itchy eyes, coughing. In people with mugwort-celery syndrome, reactions occur to raw celery, carrot, bell pepper, pepper, caraway, coriander and other spices (up to 50% of mugwort allergy sufferers). Symptoms usually start in late July, peak in late August, and ease in mid-September.

The mugwort season lasts from early July to mid-September, peaking in late July and August. In Slavonia the season is 1-2 weeks longer. In coastal and Mediterranean Croatia the mugwort season is shorter (most often only July-August) because the dry, warm climate does not favour its growth.

Mugwort is widespread throughout continental Croatia - Slavonia (along the A3 and A4 motorways), the Posavina region, and the area around Zagreb and Velika Gorica. In Slavonia and eastern Croatia, mugwort often grows in parallel with ragweed on the same plots. Dalmatia and Istria have less mugwort, but the continental parts of Lika and Gorski Kotar have significant concentrations.

Follow the pollen forecast for late summer - mugwort and ragweed share the same season, so allergy sufferers often have combined symptoms. Immunotherapy for mugwort is available and effective, especially for allergy sufferers with mugwort-celery syndrome. During August, avoid neglected plots and farmland. When cooking, use only heat-treated spices - avoid raw celery and carrot during the season.

Mugwort pollen cross-reacts with celery (mugwort-celery-spice syndrome), carrot, bell pepper, pepper, caraway, coriander, mustard, sunflower seeds and chamomile. It also cross-reacts with ragweed (both Asteraceae) - 60% of mugwort allergy sufferers also react to ragweed.

Other allergens