Leicester researchers have developed England's first comprehensive fungus spore calendar – a precious recent tool designed to assist allergy and asthma victims manage symptoms higher through seasonal awareness.
This detailed calendar is built on 13 years of rigorous data collection in Leicester, showing seasonal peaks for 23 kinds of fungal spores, each with different activity levels all year long.
Fungal spores are small particles released into the air by fungi, much like pollen. When inhaled, these spores can trigger allergic reactions or worsen asthma and other respiratory problems.
Thanks to the pioneering work of researchers on the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Center (BRC), the calendar represents a serious advance in respiratory health management across England.
The research, published online within the journal October 2024, was led by Fiona Simon, experimental officer of respiratory sciences on the University of Leicester.
He said: “In the UK, fungal allergies affect as much as 30% of hay fever victims and as much as 70% of individuals with severe asthma, making fungal spores a serious health concern.
“Through our evaluation we discovered two fundamental peaks within the variety of spores: a primary peak in the summertime and a smaller, secondary peak within the autumn.
“We found that temperature and rainfall were the main factors influencing the concentration of spores,” added Fiona.
“This research not only sheds light on when levels are highest, but in addition helps us all understand how climate and environmental changes can affect respiratory health.
“We hope the calendar will become an invaluable resource for patients managing chronic respiratory conditions, helping them plan activities, manage symptoms, and, if needed, during these high-risk seasons. can be used as a tool to enhance preventive measures.”