Seasonal allergies, also called “hay fever”, are a group of conditions that can cause sneezing, congestion or runny nose, and whose symptoms appear only at certain times of the year. Most allergies are caused by:
Normally, people breathe these substances without problem, but when you have a seasonal allergy, the immune system acts as if the substances were harmful to the body and that is why symptoms occur.
The symptoms of seasonal allergies are:
– Repeated symptoms, congestion or runny nose.
– Purity (itching) in the eyes or red eyes.
– Pain or pruritus in the throat or ears.
– Sleep disturbances, which can produce a sensation of tiredness during the day.
Discussing with your doctor the symptoms you have and after a thorough examination, you can decide if it is appropriate to perform further tests.
One of these tests is to apply to the skin a drop of the substance to which you may be allergic and a small puncture in the same location. Then watch how your skin reacts to see if it becomes red or irregular.
To help reduce the symptoms of seasonal allergies, one or more of the following treatments are usually used:
– Nasal wash: Wash your nose inside with clean salt water this serves to eliminate the pollen and reduce the allergic reaction to it.
– Nasal spray with steroidss: Reduce the inflammatory reaction nasal allergens produce (substances that cause allergy). They should only be used under medical indication and for a limited time as they can cause dryness of the nasal mucosa and addiction.
– Antihistamines: These medicines help stop the symptoms of pruritus (itching), sneezing and runny nose. The main adverse effect of these drugs is fatigue, although the latest generation usually causes less drowsiness than the older formulations.
– Decongestants: Although these medicines can reduce the symptoms of nasal congestion are contraindicated in various pathologies (they are, for example, contraindicated in people with high blood pressure). In addition, these decongestant nasal sprays should not be used for more than 3 days in a row since prolonged use may produce a rebound effect and worsen the symptoms.
– Anti-allergic vaccines: : In some cases more serious, chronic or incapacitating, the allergist doctor can propose the application (1 to 4 times / week) of vaccines against allergies. These contain small amounts of allergens that, when they repeatedly contact the body, they force the body not to recognize it as dangerous and therefore not to react against it.
This treatment reduces symptoms in many people, but it can take months to take effect.
– Anti-allergic (sublingual) pills:For some types of allergies to pollen, there are pills that work very similar to anti-allergy vaccines. They are made to dissolve under the tongue and are taken every day for several months of the year.
If you feel symptoms every year at the same time, you can prevent them from taking your medicine one or two weeks before that time of year.
You can also prevent the symptoms if you avoid things that produce allergy, for example, people allergic to pollen can:
– Close the windows of the house and the car and use air conditioning.
– Shower before bed to remove pollen from skin and hair.
– Use a dust mask if you need to be outdoors and the symptoms are due to flowery contamination.
Remember that for the proper management of this pathology it is advisable to have the follow-up with your doctor.
May 9, 2017
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