Pollen allergy in adults

There’s a reason local news and weather websites regularly update pollen counts each spring: Tens of millions of people suffer from allergy symptoms caused by tree, grass, and weed pollen.

Pollen sticks to almost everything, able to penetrate into the smallest cracks. Most of us have no reaction to pollen. But in some people, the womb causes unpleasant symptoms. When you hear people talking about spring allergies, they are most likely referring to pollen allergy (hay fever).

There are two types of pollen: entomophilous (spread by insects) and anemophilous (wind-borne). It is the anemophilic finger that most often causes allergies in people.

Can adults be allergic to pollen?

Pollen allergy or hay fever is caused by contact with pollen particles. They are small, light and can travel through the air and enter the bronchi through the nose and mouth.

An allergic reaction occurs because the immune system mistakenly believes pollen is dangerous. In an attempt to fight off the “alien invader”, the immune system produces antibodies that attack the pollen particles. Cells produce a chemical known as histamine that causes the traditional symptoms of an allergy.

With an allergic reaction due to hay fever, a variety of symptoms can be expected. Their presence and severity depend on how much pollen enters the body and how sensitive it is to it. Common allergy symptoms include: watery eyes, runny nose, sore throat, cough, mucous discharge, headaches, inflammation, and asthma.

However, pollen allergy varies greatly from patient to patient. Not everyone reacts very strongly, and most people only develop allergies to certain types of pollen. This means that hay fever can only occur during specific seasons when plants that you are personally allergic to are in bloom.

Trees produce the most pollen in spring. In summer, grass. And in autumn, weed pollen most often prevails. As a result, knowing when you’re allergic is a great indicator of what type of pollen you’re allergic to.

If hay fever flares up in the spring, you may be allergic to trees such as birch, oak, alder, cedar, hazelnut, willow, olive, and hornbeam. But if an allergy occurs in the summer, ryegrass and timothy are most likely to blame. And for those of us who suffer in the fall, weeds like ragweed, nettle, sagebrush, and sorrel are likely culprits.

The area you live in can also affect the severity of your pollen allergy. If your hometown has no winds and it rains a lot, most of the pollen will be washed away before it can do any harm. However, those who live in very windy and dry climates will encounter pollen much more frequently.

Allergy as a reaction of the body is useless and dangerous, it is a deficiency in our immune system. Our body mistakenly labels a harmless substance as dangerous and begins to react inappropriately. Scientists have no idea where allergies come from, but many theories about this immune response are wrong.

Some people may be genetically predisposed to allergies – their immune system has inherited a coding that causes it to overreact to pollen. And this theory makes sense, given how often multiple allergies occur at once.

Another theory suggests that hay fever is the result of exposure to pollen while fighting off a virus such as the common cold. The immune system tries to fight the virus, and at the same time marks the pollen as a pathogen.

Some research also looks at the influence of our childhood on allergies in adulthood. Studies show that in children who are not exposed to allergens. For example, if a child has not had pets, a wool allergy may develop later in life, as their bodies never had a chance to get used to the allergen. However, this is hard to explain with pollen given how common it is.

How does pollen allergy manifest in adults?

If you are allergic to pollen and breathe in pollen-laden air, you may experience symptoms such as:

• sneezing;
• nasal congestion;
• coryza;
• watery eyes;
• itching in the throat and eyes;
• wheezing.

Pollen can also exacerbate symptoms of asthma, including increased coughing and wheezing. In addition, pollen allergy can manifest on the skin in the form of hives.

How to treat pollen allergy in adults

We encounter pollen in hay until autumn, so it is important to find an allergist who will determine the cause of the symptoms and help find ways to alleviate the condition.

Diagnostics

Clinical history is so important when testing for pollen allergy that doctors collect it, accurately recording all complaints and symptoms in patients who know exactly when they have an allergy. This may give the physician a clue, at least in terms of the different seasons the plants produce pollen.

Doctors also have skin tests at their disposal, in which a drop of a certain allergen is applied to the skin and scratches are made – local reactions on the skin will show what the patient may be allergic to.

Similarly, a doctor may do a blood test to check for allergic antibodies.

Modern treatments

One of the key tips is to get ahead of the pollen season and the specific allergen. For example, if your symptoms usually get worse in mid-April, start taking your medication at the end of March. Similarly, if there is warm weather towards the end of winter, it would be wise to start taking medications at that time. Ask your allergist about medications you can take before pollen season starts.

For people with severe pollen allergies, two immunotherapy options are available:

• tablets that dissolve under the tongue – available by prescription for people who are allergic to herbs and ragweed; these medicines must be started 12 weeks before the expected onset of symptoms;
• allergy shots – these can help your body build up its resistance to pollen.

Allergy shots, also called immunotherapy, are a series of low-dose allergen injections that can reduce your sensitivity to allergies and reduce symptoms over time. Immunotherapy is a long-term treatment that lasts for 3 to 5 years, but it can be very effective in treating seasonal allergy symptoms. Talk to your doctor to see if immunotherapy is right for you.

It is not always possible to completely get rid of allergies, but there are many ways to relieve or eliminate symptoms. It can be:

• antihistamines;
• nasal sprays;
• sinus lavage kits;
• eye drops;
• face wipes.

The type of medicine or remedies you need will depend on your symptoms.

Over-the-counter allergy medications are one of the most common and effective treatments for seasonal allergies. These include:

• antihistamines – the first line of defense against seasonal allergies, which can help stop sneezing or get rid of a runny nose;
• decongestants – can help clear nasal congestion by constricting the blood vessels in the nose, making it easier to breathe.

Some allergy medicines contain both antihistamines and decongestants.

Nasal products can be a good help for pollen allergies – they can reduce congestion, runny nose or sneezing. There are many different types of nasal preparations:

• saline rinses – sold without a prescription and can be used to immediately relieve congestion;
• antihistamine sprays – available without a prescription and will start working in about 30 minutes, but doctors sometimes recommend using them daily
• corticosteroids – available over-the-counter or by prescription, they must be used within 10 to 14 days to effectively relieve congestion.

If you suffer from allergic conjunctivitis, you should talk to your doctor about choosing the right eye drops for your allergy.

Prevention of pollen allergy in adults at home

Keep an eye on pollen forecasts (available on weather websites), especially if you plan to be outdoors for a long time. But even if you see a forecast of high pollen levels, this does not necessarily mean that you will be affected. An increased amount does not mean a high concentration of the particular pollen you are allergic to.

If you plan to work outside around plants or mow grass, a respirator may help.

Popular questions and answers

Answered the most common questions about pollen allergy вallergist-immunologist, Ph.D. Anatoly Bala.