Allergies in Hungary

Managing an expat's health issues can come easy with Hungary's public health insurance which is available to all residents for all essential or emergency medical care. But for non-basic services such as allergy management, private health insurance in Hungary may be required. 

An expat in Hungary may experience a few allergies coming from different types of allergens, but most of them have something to do with pollen. Wormwood, birch trees and summer trees are the most common sources of pollen which reaches its height of distribution during late July to early August. Pollen particles are very small and can enter airways easily, thus, causing a variety of symptoms which are commonly known as hay fever.

There are other causes of allergic reactions and these include molds, animal hair, house dust and mites. The most common, though, is ragweed and children who are born during winter months when ragweed pollen distribution peaks are known to develop immunity to it. Because ragweed has caused a lot of people extreme inconvenience, the government is implementing rules that require landowners to get rid of the plant on their property.

There are many ways to manage the inconveniences brought about by ragweed pollen, though. For some, they can deal with it with the use of ordinary antihistamines but for those who are extra sensitive, they can seek medical help through other means, including hyposensitivity therapy which reduces or minimizes a person's sensitivity to the allergen.  

Although these allergies can be a cause of great discomfort for those who are affected, they are generally harmless unless the person has existing medical conditions which can be exacerbated by allergic reactions. But generally, with some antihistamines and common sense, these allergies will be perfectly manageable. If an expat feels the need to visit an allergy specialist, make sure to have an international health insurance in Hungary to help with the costs.