ADDRESSING THE PIGEON IN THE ROOM

JUST look outside your window.

- NITIKA KRISHNA

What do you see? The blue sky, some trees, and that classic metropolitan traffic, of course—but you forgot the protagonist in your urban landscape. Pigeons. Not one, not two, but oh, so many! Well, pigeons are beautiful creations of Mother Nature, but what if allergenic proteins from their feathers or droppings are making you cough, sneeze, and gasp for breath? Needless to say, allergies caused by pigeons are of serious concern.

Proteins gone bad

Dr Vyakarnam Nageshwar, allergy superspecialist and founder-president of the World Allergy Foundation, Hyderabad, explains, "The primary allergenic proteins found in pigeon feathers are pig d 1 and pig d 2. The allergenic proteins found in pigeon droppings are pig d 5 and pig d 6, which are produced by the pigeon's digestive system. All these proteins can become airborne, causing allergic reactions in some people."

Health issues aplenty