15.12.2020
2 min read

Christmas tree allergy warning after Sydney mother hospitalised

Niki Waldegrave decided to buy a real tree to give her son a special festive season, but instead ended up in hospital.
Tim HatfieldBy Tim Hatfield

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Experts have issued a warning over a little-known Christmas tree risk after a festive allergy left a Sydney mother in hospital.

Last year, Niki Waldegrave decided she wanted to give her son a special holiday season so chose to swap the plastic tree for a real one.

But as soon as she picked it up she suffered an allergic reaction so severe she was rushed to hospital.

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“My arms were coming out in hives [and] my face ... basically everything went nuts,” she told 7NEWS.

Doctors administered Waldegrave with antibiotics and steroids in a bid to stem the swelling.

Niki Waldegrave decided to buy a real tree to give her son a special festive season, but instead ended up in hospital. Credit: 7NEWS

“It probably took me a week to clean up in total,” she said.

Adele Taylor, Sensitive Choice Manager at Asthma Council, said it wasn’t uncommon for people to have allergic reactions when hauling large trees into their living rooms.

“They will get pollen and other particles on them in the growing process,” she said.

“So when you get them down and bring them into your home, they will still be on the tree.”

Experts say even fake trees run the risk of sparking an allergic reaction. Credit: 7NEWS

But Taylor said fake trees were not necessarily risk-free either, with dusty storage spaces a haven for allergens.

“When you pull it out of the cupboard and open the box up you get dust floating through the are,” she said.

And another big risk with artificial alternatives is mould, which can accumulate while they are packed away.

Experts say fake trees should be given a thorough clean both before storing away and at the start of the next festive season.