Seasonal allergies: symptoms, causes, treatment, prevention

doctor, paramedic, manager of the boarding house “Teplye pesody. Lyubertsy”

“When some enjoy the first sunny days, for others begins a period of suffering. Sneezing, coughing, red eyes, itching, sore throat and runny nose mar the onset of warmth. Seasonal allergies, or pollinosis, affect 30% of the population. A spike in the incidence of the disease is noted in May. It is at this time that trees and shrubs bloom”.

Seasonal allergy (pollinosis) is an inflammatory disease of the mucous membranes. It occurs due to hypersensitivity to plant pollen.

Symptoms of seasonal allergy

Clinical manifestations include:

eye affection (lacrimation, redness, conjunctivitis, itching, pus);
nasal involvement (stuffiness, runny nose, sneezing, odorlessness);
upper respiratory tract involvement (fever, dry cough, hoarseness, stuffy ears);
skin lesions (hives, rash, itching).

In rare cases, symptoms manifest themselves in the form of bronchial asthma, Quincke’s edema, anaphylactic shock.

This may be accompanied by additional signs. Among them are weakness, a feeling of brokenness, fever, headache, low performance.

Often allergies are confused with ARVI. Unlike respiratory diseases, this disease is not accompanied by an increase in body temperature, bone pain, cough with phlegm, yellow or green nasal discharge.

The disease in all patients proceeds differently. There are three degrees.

Mild degree

In this case, the symptoms are weakly expressed. With them, a person can cope independently. They do not greatly affect the quality of life. It manifests itself in the form of a runny nose, less often – sneezing.

Medium degree

Here symptoms such as nasal congestion, mucus discharge, constant sneezing are manifested. Often there is also conjunctivitis. This clinical picture causes discomfort and interferes with a person’s normal life.

Severe degree

Allergy in this case interferes with work, study and sometimes even sleep. It is accompanied by regular itching, lacrimation, sharpness in the eyes. This strongly affects the mental state. Without treatment, unfortunately, you can not do without it.

What causes allergies?

Pollinosis is caused by about 50 species of wind-pollinated plants. For the manifestation of a reaction, a minimum concentration of pollen particles in the air is enough.

The main allergens:

trees and shrubs (birch and alder are the most frequent causes of allergy, hazel, oak, maple, poplar, ash, elm);
cereals and meadow grasses (rye, wheat, timothy, fescue, bluegrass, wheatgrass, wheatgrass, brome, buckwheat);
lawn grasses (blossoms and sap from freshly cut grass are dangerous if they come into contact with the skin);
weeds (dandelion is the strongest allergen, wormwood, ragwort, ragweed, hemp, nettle, buttercup);
mold fungi (they can be found in stale leaves and potatoes).

In Russia, allergies occur by period:

late April-early May (when birch, alder, chestnut, ash, oak, mother and stepmother, dandelions, hazel bloom;
June-July (flowering of cereals);
August-October (dusting of weeds).

Causes

Until now, scientists can not determine the exact causes. But, as a rule, several factors are distinguished:

Genetic predisposition (increased formation of IgE, antibodies to their own cells, low local defense mechanism of mucous membranes);
living in unfavorable environmental conditions;
regular respiratory diseases.

Diagnosis

Detect seasonal allergies can be detected thanks to a blood test for specific immunoglobulins E or skin allergy tests for different types of pollen, fungi. However, they are done when there is no pollen in the air. So that the result is “clean”.

The doctor also interviews the patient and makes an examination of mucous membranes. Additional tests may be prescribed. This is a flush from the nose and from the conjunctiva.

Treatment of seasonal allergies

Therapy of this disease is aimed only at reducing symptoms. There are various methods:

antihistamines (single use helps to eliminate sneezing, nasal congestion, lacrimation and itching);
hormonal sprays (in this case, regular use is provided. They help to remove swelling, inflammation and nasal congestion, sneezing and mucus secretion);
immunotherapy (used only in severe cases, it is the introduction into the patient’s body of small doses of the allergen that is the causative factor of the disease).

Special attention to the state of their health should be paid to the elderly. Against the background of weakened immunity, reduced defense functions, the presence of chronic diseases, the body becomes hypersensitive to various substances. Ignore unpleasant symptoms in no case should not be ignored.

It is necessary to consult a doctor who will identify the allergen and prescribe effective treatment. This will help to avoid Quincke’s edema, bronchial asthma and other serious consequences.

Prevention

Avoid allergies can be avoided by moving to another region for a season. Some people prepare in advance for the period of flowering plants, to which their body reacts especially acutely.

If there is no opportunity to move, it is worth trying to use medical masks and respirators. They will help reduce contact with pollen when outdoors. It is important to resort to air conditioning and air purification, as well as regular wet cleaning. A vacuum cleaner with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance) filter is a great way to help.

It is necessary to rinse the nose and eyes. You can ventilate the room, but at times when the concentration of pollen in the air is minimal. This is early in the morning or late in the evening. Gauze nets or window screens are effective.