Ragweed

A plant from the composite family, similar in morphology to mugwort. The difference is the underside of the leaves, which are white in mugwort and green on both sides in ragweed. Clustered inflorescence at the tip of the shoot. Flowering time: from mid-July, especially August and September. The pollen is very different. Significance especially due to the high sensitization!

Ragweed originally comes from the USA, where the sensitization rate to ragweed is as high as to grass pollen, whereby the allergenic potential of ragweed pollen is much higher than that of grass pollen. Cross-reaction with mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), in this respect reactions in mugwort-sensitized persons without new sensitization to ragweed pollen, here also infestation of the lower respiratory tract.

The original home of Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Mugwort Ambrosia) is North America and Mexico. Introduced into eastern Central Europe, the ragweed has been spreading to the rest of Europe for about 50 years. There are large populations in Hungary and the surrounding countries.

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3. McIntyre MS et al. (2011) Ragweed sensitization in Bavaria: results of a three-year study on clinical relevance. Abstract CD 46th DDG Conference FV02/06
4. Wobser J et al. (2015) What is the clinical relevance of sensitization to ragweed pollen detected in the skin prick test? JDDG 13 (Suppl 1) 71-72
5. Buters J et al. (2015) Ambrosia artemisiifolia (ragweed) in Germany - current presence, allergological relevance and containment procedures. Allergo J Int 24, 108-120. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40629-015-0060-6