Health Talk: Coping with seasonal allergies

"At least 300 million people across China suffer from allergic diseases," said Wang Xueyan, director of the Allergy Center at Beijing Shijitan Hospital, during an interview in the latest episode of Health Talk.

As spring arrives, many residents face the unwelcome return of seasonal allergies. The most common symptoms include itchy eyes, nasal congestion, sneezing and runny nose.

"Sometimes I even wanted to 'dig out' my eyeballs and wash them because it was extremely uncomfortable," said Pan, one of Dr Wang's patients who spoke to CGTN. Pan has battled pollen allergic rhinitis for more than 10 years.

To relieve his symptoms, Pan sought help from Dr Wang to receive desensitization treatment. This approach gradually introduces small doses of pollen allergens to help the immune system build tolerance.

This episode of Health Talk follows Pan's treatment journey with Dr Wang while exploring the science of seasonal allergies. The program showcases the four main categories of allergies and various diagnostic approaches. Viewers will also learn about treatment options ranging from medication to immunotherapy, and get a rare glimpse into the microscopic world of pollen through the hospital's specialized monitoring system.

Videographers: Chang Ruixiang, Guo Huakang

Video editor: Li Yue

Cover image designed by Li Wenyi, Liu Shaozhen

Lu Wei contributed to video production.