Hay fever

General description of the disease

Every year the number of allergic diseases is steadily increasing all over the world. Despite the fact that scientists regularly develop more and more new drugs for this disease, today allergy is the scourge of civilization.

Pollinosis is an allergic pathology that occurs during the flowering of plants, popularly called it hay fever… The hay fever period occurs in the summer – from April to August, when the air is filled with pollen from flowers.

For the first time, the symptoms of this disease were described as early as the 2nd century BC. According to statistics, up to 40% of the world’s population is susceptible to hay fever. Pollen allergy is most common in the United States.

Pollen allergy does not affect life expectancy, but significantly worsens the patient’s quality of life. Most often, hay fever affects people between the ages of 10 and 45.

Causes

There are a number of factors that contribute to the development of this allergic pathology, these include:

• air pollution with exhaust gases and dust;
• genetic predisposition – if both parents suffer from allergies, then the probability that their child will suffer from allergic diseases is 50%;
• month of birth – people born in the summer months are more prone to hay fever during the flowering period;
• frequent colds;
• region – residents of the southern regions get sick more often;
• improper nutrition.

Tens of thousands of plant species grow on our planet, of which more than a thousand are allergens during flowering.

There are three peaks in the incidence of hay fever:

1. 1 spring between April to Maywhen trees bloom: birch, oak, alder, maple and others;
2. 2 summer months June and July, during the flowering of cereals;
3. 3 summer – autumn with July to Septemberwhen weeds bloom – ragweed and wormwood.

Plant pollen gets on the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx, eyes, mouth, skin and immediately provokes an active allergic response^[3].

Pollinosis symptoms

The symptoms of hay fever often resemble the common cold, hence its name:

• repeated sneezing, swelling of the nasopharynx, profuse watery nasal discharge, decreased sense of smell, difficulty breathing;
• itching, swelling and redness of the eyes, photophobia, lacrimation or dryness of the eyes, pain in the region of the eyebrows;
• sore throat;
• coughing attacks, voice changes; swelling of the larynx up to suffocation;
• dermatitis;
• nausea, unstable stools;
• increased body temperature, sweating;
• fast unmotivated fatigue;
• rashes on the skin in the form of blisters;
• tearfulness or irritability.

In addition to the above main symptoms of hay fever, it may be accompanied by migraine-like headache, loss of appetite, indigestion, and joint pain.

Complications of hay fever

Late therapy for hay fever can lead to serious complications:

1. 1 against the background of allergic rhinitis or pharyngitis, obstructive bronchitis may develop up to bronchial asthma;
2. 2 with untreated allergic rhinitis, the patient is worried about headaches, swelling of the nasopharynx worsens the quality of life, does not allow the patient to fully fulfill his duties at work and at home, sleep disorders become pronounced;
3. 3 allergic conjunctivitis can be complicated by keratitis, blepharospasomo and corneal erosion;
4. 4 skin manifestations of hay fever in the form of blisters can merge and develop into urticaria and Quincke’s edema;
5. 5 the development of angioedema is possible on the skin – a lesion of the skin with pronounced edema, and if it develops in the neck or face, then suffocation is possible.

Prevention of pollinosis

To prevent hay fever and relieve the condition during an exacerbation, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

• during the flowering period of plants, do wet cleaning at home every day;
• on dry sunny days, try to be outside only in the morning and in the evening;
• get rid of indoor plants;
• during flowering, avoid trips to nature and out of town;
• buy a home air purifier;
• immediately after coming home, you should change your clothes and take a shower;
• promptly treat viral infections;
• dry the washed laundry only indoors;
• residents of private houses in a timely manner to mow the grass in the yard;
• while traveling in a car, do not open the windows;
• wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from pollen;
• spend as much time as possible by the sea in the summer months.

Pollinosis treatment in official medicine

If you suspect hay fever, you should consult an allergist, who, based on a visual examination, patient complaints and a flowering calendar, makes a diagnosis. Depending on the symptoms, you may need to consult an ophthalmologist or otolaryngologist. After that, the allergist determines the severity of the pathology and prescribes drug therapy.

Treatment of hay fever is based on the use of antihistamines, which relieve symptoms of initial obstruction and rhinorrhea. With swelling of the nasopharynx and severe rhinitis, vasoconstrictors are used. With severe symptoms, an allergist may recommend glucocorticosteroids in the form of drops, sprays and ointments.

However, it is best to treat hay fever not during an exacerbation, but before the beginning of the flowering period of plants – in the autumn-winter period.

Good results of treatment can be achieved with the help of allergen-specific immunotherapy – this is a method of therapy in which micro-doses of the allergen are injected subcutaneously to the patient, gradually increasing the concentration. The advantage of this method of treatment is that it not only relieves the symptoms of the disease, but has an effect on the pathogenesis of hay fever.

Attention!

The administration is not responsible for any attempt to use the information provided, and does not guarantee that it will not harm you personally. The materials cannot be used to prescribe treatment and make a diagnosis. Always consult your specialist doctor!