We figure out which plants emit pollen, whether hay fever is inherited and whether it can be cured of it.
The flowering period in central Russia lasts quite a long time: from mid-March, when the snow has not melted yet, and until the first October frosts. Runny nose, impaired sense of smell, headaches, nasal congestion – we figure out why this happens and, most importantly, whether the problem can be solved once and for all.
Allergologist-immunologist, pediatrician of the Semeynaya clinic
1. All plants cause allergies – a myth
Not every plant can cause hay fever, there are quantitative and qualitative factors. And if everything is clear with the first ones (the greater the physical amount of dust elements, the more likely it is to cause allergies), then many do not know about the quality one. To be pollinated by insects, the pollen needs to be relatively large in order to “catch” on the insect and, thus, get to the pistil. Conversely, the pollen of wind-pollinated plants needs to be small in order to move freely in space, and to cause an allergic reaction, dust particles should be no more than 50 microns.
2. Allergies can develop on nerves – true
Allergic rhinitis does not necessarily occur in childhood, it can also occur in adulthood, this is called “late sensitization”. It can arise both on the basis of relatively complete health and from strong emotional or hormonal shocks. In women, for example, pregnancy and childbirth often provoke the onset of allergic diseases.
3. Allergies are inherited – true
The qualitative factors in the development of allergic reactions primarily include hereditary predisposition. So, if both parents suffer from hay fever in a family, then the probability of any allergic diseases in a child reaches 85%. And this is not necessarily a hay fever, because it is not a diagnosis that is inherited, but a pathological mechanism.
But any damage to the gene can be de novo, and in a family where there is not a single allergy sufferer and no one has ever been ill with anything, there is a possibility of such a child being born.
The essence of the pathological mechanism is that the patient’s immune system tends to perceive some proteins from the environment as foreign. In response to this, from her point of view, the pathogen, the immune system begins to act with a normal response for it – a complex of inflammatory reactions, one link of which is the release of histamine. It, in turn, causes symptoms familiar to all allergy sufferers, for example, mucosal edema, mucus hypersecretion, sneezing and itching.
By the way, itchy nose is one of the most indicative symptoms of allergic rhinitis in children, because everyone has discharge, but not every runny nose is accompanied by itchy nose.
4. You can diagnose allergies yourself – not always
Based on the name, it is clear that seasonal allergies manifest themselves at certain times of the year and are accompanied by the same type symptoms:
coryza;
nasal congestion;
itchy nose;
itchy eyes;
tearing;
cough.
Of course, such symptoms can be present throughout the year with a cold, but you need pay attention to details.
First, the disease proceeds without an increase in body temperature.
Second, the symmetry of manifestations… In the overwhelming majority of cases of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, the symptoms are not one-sided, because the dust particles are evenly distributed in the air and also evenly enter the nose and eyes during inhalation.
Third, there is a significant relief during rainy weather (dust sticks to the ground) and aggravated in dry windy weather.
And fourthly, positive effect of antihistamines… But it is not exactly. Often, the patient is hampered by the conviction of a diagnosis or, conversely, the disbelief that he may have it, because he did not have an allergy until the age of 25 (30, 35, 40, 50, etc.). Therefore, in any case, it is worth contacting a specialist.
Treatment of hay fever during the period of active pollination is always only symptomatic therapy that can only alleviate the patient’s suffering at the time of exacerbation, no matter how long it may be.
5. It is impossible to cure hay fever – partly true
Pollinosis is a chronic disease, and the task of the allergist is to achieve long-term remission. Today, according to all world standards, there is only one reliable and safe way to achieve long-term remission, this is allergen immunotherapy (AIT, ASIT, SIT).
The method, which has been used since 1911, has proven its effectiveness, but requires the patient to be directly involved in the treatment process. The essence of the method is to “educate” the cells of the tolerance of the immune system, so that they perceive foreign antigens as safe and do not react to them with inflammation. But first you need to find a causal (major) allergen. To do this, there are a number of tests, ranging from skin tests with allergens to high-tech blood tests for specific allergens, which allow you to accurately identify a causal allergen and start preparing for the season in time. In order to correctly prescribe an examination and correctly recommend a particular therapy, the doctor needs a detailed conversation with the patient (or the parents of small patients).
The phenomena of hay fever have been known for a long time. Even Hippocrates in the 1879th century BC. described the symptoms of seasonal allergies. The term “hay fever” was introduced into medical use by the British physician John Bostock, and, as can be seen from the term, the doctor from Foggy Albion directly linked the symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis in patients with plants, in particular during the mowing period. In the future, various doctors wondered what the reason was for decades, until in XNUMX David Blackley proved that plant pollen was to blame.