Hay fever or allergic rhinitis is a common disease that has symptoms similar to a cold. Symptoms such as sneezing, congestion, runny nose, and sinus attacks are among the most common.

The cause of this disease is usually an allergic reaction to substances in the air such as flower pollen... So the time of its occurrence depends on what substance or allergen a person reacts to.

Despite its name, hay fever does not mean that a person is allergic to hay and fever.... The hay plant is rarely an allergen and fever is not one of its symptoms.... In this article, we will examine the details of hay fever.

Learn more: What is seasonal sensitivity?

What is hay fever?

Hay fever is an allergic reaction to substances in the air such as pollen.. Allergies occur when the body's immune system mistakes a harmless substance for a harmful substance and the body releases chemicals to fight it.

These reactions are actually what cause the symptoms....Allergens are often common substances that most people's immune systems either don't react to or only mildly react to....However, some people need treatment....because their symptoms make it difficult to do everyday things....Treatment may not eliminate the symptoms, but it can reduce their effect.

A summary of hay fever

• Hay fever can cause sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, watery eyes, and itching of the nose, eyes, or roof of the mouth.
• In the United States of America in 2016, about 20 million people over the age of 18 were infected with hay fever.. Of course, this disease has also been observed in 9% of children in this country.
• Hay fever is more common in spring, summer and early autumn.
• Symptoms of this disease are usually caused by allergic sensitivity to tree pollen, weeds or mold spores in the air.
• Treatment also includes avoiding, eliminating, or reducing exposure to allergens, medications, and immunotherapy or allergy shots.

Symptoms of hay fever

Depending on what substance the patient is allergic to, symptoms can start at different times of the year. A person who is allergic to common pollens will have more severe symptoms when the number of pollens is high. Common symptoms of this allergy are:

• sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Itchy throat
• Congestion, itching or runny nose

Of course, if symptoms are severe, any of the following symptoms may also occur:

• to sweat
• Headache
• Loss of sense of smell and taste
• Facial pain caused by sinus blockage
• spreading itching from the throat to the nose and ears
• Some people may experience fatigue, irritability and insomnia.

Note that people with asthma may experience wheezing and more difficulty breathing when hay fever symptoms occur.

Hay fever treatment

A range of over-the-counter treatments can help control hay fever....Sometimes, a combination of two or three is the best choice....Your doctor will guide you through the options available.

1) Drug treatment

• Antihistamine sprays or tablets
  These medications are usually available without a prescription....These substances actually stop the release of the chemical histamine...They usually relieve symptoms such as a runny nose, itching, and sneezing, but not sinus congestion....Older antihistamines cause drowsiness.
• Eye drops
  reduce itching and swelling of the eyes.... They are usually used together with other drugs.... Eye drops often contain cromoglicate.
• Nasal corticosteroids
  These sprays treat the inflammation caused by hay fever.... Their use provides long-term and safe treatment.... Of course, it may take a week to see the effects of using these drugs.... From this drug group, fluticasone (Flonase), fluticasone (Vermist), mometsonexone (Bimetsonehexone) and It was named Bemethasone Haxone. May smell or taste unpleasant or irritate the nose.
• Oral corticosteroids
  Severe symptoms of hay fever may respond well to prednisone tablets prescribed by a doctor.... These tablets are only for short-term use... However, it should be noted that their long-term use is usually associated with cataracts, muscle weakness and osteoporosis.
• Immunotherapy
  Immunotherapy can provide long-term relief by gradually desensitizing the immune system to the allergens that cause symptoms. This medicine is usually given as an allergy shot or as a sublingual drop to people who have severe symptoms that have not resolved with other treatments.
  Immunotherapy may lead to permanent improvement of symptoms and prevention of all diseases. injections are done by a doctor... but sublingual immunotherapy or medicine that dissolves under the tongue can be used at home.

2) Alternative therapies

Alternative treatments for this allergy include acupuncture... but the results of the study show that these methods are not very effective... so no herbal medicine is recommended to treat this disease.

Also, during pregnancy, it is necessary to consult a doctor before taking any medicine to avoid possible side effects on the development of the fetus.

Learn more: What is malt fever?

3) Home treatment and prevention

Allergies cannot be prevented...but people who experience hay fever may adopt some strategies to minimize its effects.

• Be aware of the amount of pollen in the air during allergy months.... The information needed in this regard is available through the Internet and other media.... The amount of pollen is higher in wet, windy, non-rainy days and in the early night.
• When the amount of pollen is high, keep the windows and doors closed.
• Avoid mowing during allergic months.
• Choose days for gardening when the amount of pollen in the air is low and avoid being in areas full of plants and grass when the amount of pollen is high.
• regularly wash the eyes with cool water to remove the pollen.
• When the pollen count increases, take a shower and change your clothes after entering the house.
• Use glasses that are used around to protect the eyes from pollen.
• Use a hat to prevent pollen from accumulating in your hair and falling on your eyes and face.
• Equip your car with a pollen filter and keep the windows closed when the amount of pollen is high.
• Try not to have flowers inside the house.
• Clean all surfaces, floors and carpets from dust as much as possible.
• Choose a vacuum cleaner with a suitable filter.
• Use a dehumidifier to prevent mold.
• Avoid smoking and if you are a smoker, it is better to quit.
• Smear the inner edges of your nostrils with Vaseline... because it prevents pollen from entering the nose.

Diagnosis of hay fever

To determine the correct method of treatment, the doctor examines the symptoms and asks about the person's personal and family medical history. According to the results of the blood or skin test, it is possible to determine which substance the patient is allergic to.

Learn more: Causes of fever in adults

In the skin test, the skin is stimulated for one minute with a specific allergen.... The blood test also shows the level of IgE antibody.... In case of allergy, this level will be high.... This test takes about 20 minutes.

Antibodies whose IgE is zero do not show any sensitivity....while if this number is 6, it shows a very high sensitivity.... Another test is scratching the skin and injecting the allergen under the skin and checking the reaction about 20 minutes later.

Causes of hay fever

Hay fever occurs when the body's immune system perceives a normally harmless substance in the air as a threat. So, the body produces an antibody called immunoglobulin (IgE) to attack the potential threat, releasing the chemical histamine. It is the histamine that causes the symptoms.

Seasonal hay fever triggers include pollens and spores that only cause symptoms at certain times of the year. Examples of hay fever triggers include:

• Tree pollen in spring
• Grass pollen in late spring and summer
• Weed pollen, especially in fall
• Fungi and mold spores are more common in warm weather

Other triggers for this allergy include dander or pet dander, fine dust, mold, and cockroach dust... Irritants that can lead to hay fever symptoms include cigarette smoke, perfumes, and diesel fumes.

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What factors increase the risk of hay fever?

There are factors that increase the risk of developing hay fever....These factors are listed below.

• Genetic factors
  The risk is higher if a close family member has hay fever or another allergy.
• Other allergies or asthma
  People with allergies or asthma are also more susceptible to hay fever.
• Gender and Age
  Before puberty, hay fever is more common in boys... but after puberty, it affects women more.
• Date of Birth
  People born in a season with high pollen levels are slightly more at risk of hay fever than other people.
• Cigarette smoke
  Exposure to cigarette smoke in the early years of life increases the risk of developing hay fever.

Other factors include being the first child, being a member of a small family, or a family with a higher income... These last three risk factors may be related to childhood infections.... Because a baby who has less infection in childhood may be more at risk of autoimmune problems in the later stages of life.

Conclusion

There is currently no cure for hay fever....However, symptoms can be controlled during times of year when pollen counts are high....For treatment to be effective in the first year, treatment should be started 3 months before the season when pollen counts are high.

Continued treatment can reduce symptoms, improve immunity against allergens and increase quality of life... According to the data obtained, three years of treatment leads to long-term desensitization to pollens... But if no significant improvement is observed after one year, treatment should be stopped because it is unlikely to be effective.

Hay fever can become more serious, spread to the lungs, and develop into allergic asthma.. People with pollen allergies are also prone to other allergies, such as food intolerances.. Severe hay fever can also sensitize the nasal mucosa to other irritants, such as cigarette smoke or dry air, leading to sinusitis. Pharynx and nose use Do... Of course, you don't have to wait to get the medical care you need as soon as possible..

To choose the doctor you want without having to go in person and call the office, you can refer to the list of the best doctors and book your appointment online according to the doctor's first vacant appointment, patient comments, office phone number and office address.. Click for a consultation with an otolaryngologist.

Source: Medical News Today