ISLAMABAD- Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has received 31 pollen-allergy patients in the last couple of days even weeks before the onset of the allergy season that forecasts how severe the season may be this year. Every year, during spring season, in Islamabad and its suburbs, there is an epidemic of pollen allergy that usually starts in mid- February and continues till the end of April. In order to provide immediate and effective treatment to patients in the upcoming pollen allergy season that is around the corner, PIMS has divided patients into three categories. Adult patients with mild pollen allergy symptoms will be provided treatment in the Outdoor Patient Department (OPD). Patients with severe shortness of breath or difficulty in respiration will be treated in emergency department. Children suffering from severe pollen allergy will be given treatment in the emergency department of the Children Hospital of the PIMS but those having mild symptoms will be treated in medical department of the OPD. PIMS Executive Director Dr Majid Rajput has directed the hospital administration to provide every possible medical facility to the patients and emergency registration charges have also been withdrawn. PIMS has also decided to increase staff in emergency department as with the start of pollen season numbers of pollen allergy patients also increase. All kinds of medicines used in treatment of pollen allergy are provided to the emergency department in sufficient quantity to fight with the disease. As many as 120-nebulisation points have been established in the emergency department to tackle the increasing number of pollen allergy patients. Health professionals believe that about 10 to 12 per cent population of Islamabad is affected by pollen allergy, as there may be one or two victims in every household. Pollen allergy can develop into asthma among aged people. Headache, running nose, pain in stomach and itchy eyes are common symptoms of the pollen allergy. It is pertinent to mention that this allergy varies in intensity from person to person but no age nor gender is immune to this illness.