Plant allergies

An allergic reaction to plants has ceased to be a typical seasonal phenomenon for modern humans. What was previously called autumn-spring pollinosis can now debut in winter and at any other time. Plant allergy is a large group of various allergic inflammatory reactions, most often developing on the mucous membranes and skin. The disease is characterized by relapses corresponding to the time of contact with a particular provoking allergen. The intensity of symptoms is associated with a genetic factor, with the individual sensitivity of the body and with the presence of concomitant pathologies in it.

The history of plant allergy officially began at the beginning of the last century in France, when in 1914 in the southern town of the country almost the entire population simultaneously began to suffer from edema and skin dermatitis. Later, in the 60s of the 20th century, a similar phenomenon was observed in Russia, in Kuban, after the first flowering of ragweed, which was brought from the American states and planted everywhere in villages and cities.

Currently, every fifth inhabitant of the planet can exhibit an allergic reaction to pollen from grass, trees, and even indoor plants, although inexorable statistics show that there are many more such people.

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Causes of Plant Allergies

If it was previously believed that the causes of allergies to plants and other reaction-provoking agents belong to the category of congenital, that is, genetic, then at present other factors have been identified:

• Hereditary factor. If one or both parents suffer from allergies, the risk of an allergic reaction in the child increases to 40-50%.
• A hereditary-acquired factor, which may include constitutional anomalies (atopic constitution as a risk of developing IgE sensitization).
• Tendency to immediate-type reaction. ITS - immediate-type hypersensitivity or exudative-catarrhal factor.
• Congenital or acquired predisposition to autoallergy (lymphatic-hypoplastic factor).
• Immune system dysfunction – decreased levels of T-suppressors.
• Inflammatory processes in the body, accompanied by changes in the permeability of hematological barriers.
• Endocrine pathologies, dysfunctions.

In general, the causes of plant allergies are the development of sensitization to plant allergens, of which there are currently more than 700 types. A characteristic feature of recent decades has become a cross-allergic reaction, the trigger of which can be not only trees, grass and flowers, but also obligate food products, fruits and vegetables.

The main provoking factor, which is considered the basic cause of hay fever, is pollen. Pollen, in turn, is specific cells that promote plant reproduction. The cells contain plant protein, which has a complex structure, and it is the protein compounds of pollen that cause a reaction from the immune system. Immunoglobulins IgE and IgG aggressively perceive only protein structures, triggering the mechanism of release of bradykinin, histamine, serotonin and other biologically active elements. Allergies can only be caused by male pollen cells, the main provoking plants are flowering trees, meadow grasses and cultivated cereals. Also aggressive in the allergic sense are composite and goosefoot plants, weeds, including the infamous ragweed.

The causes of allergies to plant components can be internal, that is, associated with the characteristics and condition of the body, but they are also caused by external factors.

Factors influencing the intensity of an allergic reaction in hay fever:

• Ambient temperature.
• Air humidity level.
• Wind speed and direction.
• The amount of pollen released by a plant.
• Volatile properties of pollen, ability to spread quickly.
• The composition of pollen and the amount of protein elements – polypeptides, glycoproteins.
• The size of the area sown with allergenic grasses, the distribution area of flowering plants and trees.

The causes of allergies to indoor flowers may be identical to the etiological factors that provoke a reaction to pollen plants, but often such manifestations are associated with another type of disease - pseudoallergy. If a house plant secretes only essential compounds, but not pollen, then it does not have a true protein antigen and cannot cause aggression from IgE and IgG.

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Plants that cause allergies

Today, the number of plants that cause allergies is approaching a thousand, not counting another thousand cereal grasses, and plant allergens can be found literally in any corner of the world. The reaction to pollen is most pronounced during the flowering period, that is, in spring and summer, but plant allergies can also manifest themselves in the fall, especially in the morning hours in sunny weather and low humidity. For those who have encountered hay fever before, it is very important to know when and which plants can "dust". For allergy sufferers, many countries have special calendar maps that clearly define the plants that cause allergies, the date of their flowering, and the expected territory of pollen distribution.

Since it is not possible to provide a detailed floral map within the framework of this article, we will list the most aggressive plants, trees and grasses in the allergy sense:

• Coniferous trees - fir, spruce, cypress, pine. Previously it was believed that coniferous trees are not capable of causing allergies, but recent studies prove the opposite, even in winter a person can have a reaction to the New Year's spruce, the cones and needles of which retain a small amount of pollen •
• All fruit and berry trees that bloom in spring – apple, pear, cherry, sweet cherry, apricot, quince, plum.
• Birch.
• Maple.
• Oak.
• Linden.
• Alder.
• Ash.
• Willow.
• Beech.
• Acacia.
• Sycamore.
• Hazel.
• Forage plants, herbs.
• Flowering meadow grasses – clover, alfalfa.
• Flowering weeds – ragweed, quinoa, plantain, nettle, wormwood.
• Cereals – rice, rye, wheat.

It should be noted that poplar, which many blame for provoking allergies, is in fact not capable of activating the formation of antibodies in the body, the mechanism of reaction to poplar fluff is completely different. Fluff is a means of transport for pollen from neighboring flowering plants, it carries allergens everywhere due to its lightness and high volatility. Also, many flowers are not dangerous, the pollen of which is collected by insects, so it simply does not have time to spread enough to cause an aggressive reaction from the immune system. A more serious threat is posed by cereals and meadow plants, which, according to statistics, provoke more than 45 types of cross-reactions.

Plants that cause cross-allergies:

Pollen of a plant, tree	Products that cross-react	Potential allergens	What is not recommended to use
Hazel, birch, alder	Birch sap, apples, nuts, cherries, plums, all stone fruit trees	Tomatoes, potatoes, onions, cucumbers	Birch buds and leaves as herbal medicine, alder cones, buckthorn bark
Meadow grasses	Yeast drinks (kvass and beer), cereals, bread products	Citrus, strawberries	Cereal porridges
Asteraceae weeds – ragweed and mugwort	Vegetable oils and seeds, herbal wines (vermouths, aperitifs), spices – coriander, nutmeg, curry, anise, ginger, cinnamon	Garlic, citrus, carrots	Herbs for phytotherapy – wormwood, calendula, chamomile, coltsfoot, tansy, succession, dandelion

Houseplants that cause allergies

In addition to aesthetic pleasure, indoor plants help improve the quality of indoor air, as they are able to absorb harmful substances and release phytoncides, oxygen, and essential oils into the room atmosphere. However, modern man is so affected by autoimmune processes that even everyone's favorite violets can cause allergies and intolerances.

Most often, this happens to those who already have a history of hay fever, since indoor flowers themselves cannot secrete polypeptides, or pollen in principle. These plants do not have the ability to pollinate with the help of wind or insects, they reproduce in another way initially. Symptoms that may indicate intolerance to decorative "favorites" are as follows:

• Dry persistent cough.
• Allergic rhinitis with thin, clear discharge.
• Redness and burning in the eyes.
• Lacrimation.
• Itchy skin.
• Swelling.
• Rash.
• Shortness of breath or suffocation – extremely rare.

It should be noted that Quincke's edema and anaphylaxis do not occur as clinical manifestations of a reaction to indoor plants; if such symptoms are observed, then most likely they indicate a true allergy caused by a completely different provoking factor.

Indoor plants that cause allergies:

• Ornamental apocynaceae plants - oleander, alamander, tevetia, provoke allergies during the flowering period. In addition, the reaction can be caused by the milky juice, which is contained in some types of apocynaceae plants.
• The family of spurge plants - croton, acalypha, euphobia, poinsettia, the reaction is provoked by milky juice.
• The Aristolochia family – Aristolochia, Sarum, Asarum – contain a large amount of essential terpenoid compounds (camphor), which provoke allergies.
• The family of Crassula – Crassula, Kalanchoe, Echeveria, Rochea sedum (sedum).
• Dieffenbachia.
• Hydrangea.
• Philodendron.
• Monstera.
• Amaryllis family.
• Philodendron.
• Ficus.
• Pelargonium (geranium).

The causes of allergic reactions to indoor plants are hidden in volatile essential compounds - aeroallergens or in the toxic contents of leaves and stems, causing contact allergies. Atopic reactions of the human body are almost 90% associated with respiratory or skin contact with saponins or alkaloids contained in indoor flowers and ornamental plants.

Houseplants that cause allergies

Sometimes houseplants can not only please the owner with their blooming appearance, but also create many problems due to an allergic reaction to a specific smell.

What houseplants are known today that cause allergies?

1. The most common "resident" of houses, previously standing literally on every windowsill, is geranium. Scented pelargonium deserves a lot of praise, as it is capable of bactericidal air purification, its leaves and smell can relieve headaches, a decoction of stems and flowers has a diuretic and anti-edematous effect. However, like many houseplants that cause allergies, geranium not only relieves headaches, but sometimes provokes them, and even in combination with skin rashes and suffocation.
2. Family of decorative ferns. Almost all species in this category carry a potential threat of provoking allergies. Ferns are perhaps one of the few houseplants capable of producing pollen, or more precisely, spores. It is the spores spreading around the room that are aggressive allergens that contribute to the development of allergies - rhinosinusitis and tracheobronchitis.
3. Plants of the dogbane family, which do not take root in every home due to their "capriciousness", and are also not universal in terms of the reaction to them from the owners. The flowering period of oleander or alamanda is marked by a huge amount of ethers released. This suffocating aroma can provoke both headaches and allergies, among other things.
4. All milkweed plants, which are damaged during the period of reproduction, transplantation and secrete toxic juice. When in contact with it, a person develops a local allergic reaction.
5. The universally revered "money tree" or crassula (fat woman), despite its popularity, carries the threat of a severe allergic reaction from the respiratory tract. Allergies are usually caused by all sorts of procedures from the category of "folk" recipes, when a person treats wounds with Kalanchoe juice, or drops it into the nose as a cure for a runny nose.

When replanting and caring for indoor plants, it would be a good idea to study information about them and protect yourself with gloves or gauze bandages. After working with potentially dangerous flowers and plants, it is necessary to thoroughly wash your hands under running water, and if you have a history of allergies, you may have to give up these plants altogether to avoid serious attacks and Quincke's edema.

Symptoms of Plant Allergies

Plant allergy is commonly called pollinosis, although seasonal allergy has recently evolved into a broader concept of a reaction to plants in principle, which includes the interaction of the immune system not only with trees and grasses that produce pollen, but also with decorative representatives of the flora. Classic symptoms of hay fever have always been characterized by seasonality and alternation of exacerbations with periods of remission. The polysymptomatology of existing allergic reactions is not so specific, the list of clinical manifestations has expanded, symptoms of plant allergy can now have a wide variety of options, often similar to the clinical picture of purely respiratory or dermatological diseases.

List of the main signs of plant allergies:

• Allergic rhinitis, rhinosinusitis.
• Increased lacrimation and hyperemia of the eyelids.
• Shortness of breath and symptoms of bronchospasm, even suffocation.
• Facial swelling.
• Superficial dry cough, paroxysmal sneezing.
• Rash, dermatitis.
• Classic manifestations of urticaria.

The most typical symptoms of plant allergy are for allergy sufferers who have already had experience of exacerbation and treatment of hay fever. Often, patients themselves notice the first signs, which may be such manifestations:

1. Rhinoconjunctival syndrome, when lacrimation, eye irritation and typical allergic rhinitis start almost simultaneously. Redness and swelling of the eyelids are noticeable, itching in the nasal cavities is felt, sneezing attacks appear, sensitivity to light and odor irritants. Symptoms worsen at night and can persist for a long period even with adequate therapy.
2. Respiratory symptoms often leading to bronchial asthma. The allergy begins with a sore throat, then a dry, shallow cough develops, often very painful and lasting for a long time. Breathing becomes noticeably difficult, attacks of suffocation develop, when the patient cannot exhale.
3. Skin reactions that are common in 10-15% of allergy sufferers suffering from hay fever. These may be simple rashes, but exacerbations in the form of urticaria, atopic or contact dermatitis, and even eczema are also common. All types of skin symptoms are potentially dangerous in their own way. Urticaria, for example, often leads to Quincke's edema, and eczema is considered a recurrent disease that is difficult to treat. Contact dermatitis, which develops on skin areas that come into contact with a plant irritant, is relatively safe in terms of treatment effectiveness. As soon as the provoking factor is eliminated (removed), the skin is treated, and the symptoms of contact allergy quickly subside.

Allergy to flowering plants

Fortunately, allergies to flowering plants have been studied very well today, almost all pollen allergens have been classified and described. This achievement is very important for the fight against allergies in general, since the body of allergy sufferers, according to statistics, sooner or later becomes sensitized to flowering trees and grasses in 60% of cases, even if the reaction was previously to a food product or another provoking factor. It is believed that almost all plants that produce pollen are capable of causing an aggressive response of the immune system, but only 50 plant species are most active. This category includes all wind-pollinated representatives of flora, it is their pollen that can fly long distances and accumulate in the environment in high concentrations. The size of the pollen molecule is also important, for example, coniferous trees produce much more pollen, but its molecular structure does not allow it to actively interact with the human body, a large diameter of the molecule (up to 100 microns) is retained by the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, causing only a local reaction. At the same time, birch pollen, which is less abundant than spruce or pine, is considered the most aggressive and provocative in an allergic sense; it is capable of overcoming the cells of the mucous tissue, penetrating the bronchial lining, activating the IgE globulin response and the sensitization process.

Most often, allergies to flowering plants occur during the period of pollen production, that is, in spring and summer. Bushes, weeds and meadow grasses are especially dangerous, since their number significantly exceeds the number of wind-pollinated trees. Among the grasses, ragweed, wormwood and timothy grass are in the lead, especially those growing in dry and warm areas with low humidity. Among the trees, the birch family holds the palm - the birch itself and its "relative" - alder, followed by hazel (hazel), maple, ash, linden.

Flowering plants, or rather their pollen, are a source of albumin-like proteins, unique complex compounds of protein elements with carbohydrates. The pollen of each plant species contains its own set of protein allergens, and it is their variability that affects the diversity of symptoms in hay fever. For example, birch pollen contains more than 40 protein compounds, of which 6 are the most aggressive. Allergists have identified three most dangerous periods when allergies to flowering plants are observed in the form of mass outbreaks:

• Spring flowering of plants is April-end of May.
• Spring-summer period – May – end of August.
• Summer-autumn flowering, mainly herbs. This is mid-August to the end of October.

It should be noted that not only pollen, but also other parts of plants – fruits, leaves, roots, seeds – can cause an allergic reaction.

Allergy to plant pollen

Pollen from flowering trees, plants and grasses is a strong allergen, as it has the following properties:

• Pollen contains protein compounds that can trigger an aggressive response from the immune system and activate the sensitization process.
• Each plant contains several polypeptide complexes, which means that variability in the allergic reaction and its manifestations is acceptable.
• Pollen can be stored for a long time even after the flowering period has ended. Pollen elements can settle on clothes, objects, but most often they are stored on fruits, seeds, and leaves.
• If the plant belongs to the category of wind-pollinated family, it produces a very large amount of pollen, which is capable of spreading over long distances.
• Pollen has high volatile properties, this is due to a natural factor aimed at the reproduction and spread of plants.
• Only male pollen elements cause allergies.
• The most aggressive in an allergenic sense is young, fresh pollen, which has small molecular sizes (up to 35 microns).
• In a dry, hot climate, pollen spreads much faster than in an atmosphere with high humidity.

Allergy to plant pollen appeared relatively recently, at least its first scientific description dates back to the beginning of the last century. Nevertheless, hay fever is considered a well-studied pathology, which is currently successfully treated by allergists, of course, provided that timely access to qualified medical help is provided.

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Allergy to indoor plants

Houseplants are not only interior decoration and natural air purifiers, but also sometimes dangerous "neighbors" that can cause an allergic reaction. Allergy to houseplants is not as common as true hay fever, but it is still a serious danger for those people who have at least one case of symptoms from the immune system in their medical history. In addition, those who have a predisposition to allergies, including hereditary, should be careful with houseplants. It is believed that if a child's mother suffered from allergies, the risk of symptoms in offspring is close to 25-30%, if the father is allergic, the probability of allergy development in heirs approaches 50%.

It is for this reason that some people should take a responsible approach to choosing indoor plants. The safest and most neutral in the allergy sense are heather, balsam, begonia, golden mustache, all climbing plants, including tradescantia.

The most common allergy-causing flowers and ornamental plants are:

• Geranium.
• Eucharius.
• Ficus.
• The entire family of euphorbiaceae due to the milky juice they contain.
• Dieffenbachia.
• Oleander.
• Crassula (Kalanchoe).
• Aristolochia.
• Catharanthus.
• Ferns.
• Philodendron.
• Orchids.
• Adenium.
• Madagascar palm (lamera).
• Monstera.
• Spathiphyllum.
• Amaryllis (haemanthus).
• Poinsettia.
• Rhododendron.
• Decorative ivy.
• Ornamental pepper (browallia).
• Cyclamen.
• Ornamental magnolia.

An allergy to indoor plants is, of course, an unpleasant phenomenon, but the balance of benefits and harm will most likely dictate the need to get rid of dangerous flowers to avoid risk. Stopping an exacerbation and treating the developed sensitization of the body for years is much more problematic than giving an indoor "miracle" to someone who does not have any signs of an allergic reaction.

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Allergy to house plants

A plant is the same living organism as literally everything created by nature. The respiratory function of the plant world is the process of absorption and release of specific substances. It is this property of flora that is the factor contributing to the development of allergies to houseplants.

An allergic reaction to indoor plants is not a full-fledged, true allergy, with the exception of contact dermatitis. This is due to the lack of pollination ability, which is inherent in plants living in the wild, in natural conditions. An allergy to indoor plants is rather a secondary disease that develops against the background of existing sensitization of the body. It is the ability to release essential compounds during the process of "breathing" that provokes an aggressive reaction from the respiratory system and human skin.

Just as many essential oils can cause allergic symptoms, so ether-containing indoor flowers, especially during the flowering period, are provocateurs of unpleasant signs and symptoms in humans. In addition to ethers, plants secrete alkaloids, enzymes, their leaves and stems may contain a toxic substance, elements that irritate the skin. The only plant capable of producing pollen at home is the fern, its mature pores, along with dust, fly around the room and cause coughing, shortness of breath, and sometimes severe suffocation.

In addition, the cause of allergies to houseplants is often not related to them at all; banal dust settling on broad leaves, toxic components of fertilizers that are added to the soil, all of this can be the main provocateurs of an allergic reaction.

How do symptoms of allergies to indoor flowers and plants manifest themselves?

• Signs of allergy from the respiratory system. Runny nose, dry superficial cough, sneezing attacks.
• Swelling of the eyelids, lacrimation, redness of the eyes.
• Burning and stinging sensation in the eyes, sensation of a foreign body, desire to constantly rub the eyes.
• Headache.
• Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, suffocation.
• Rarely – pain and sore throat.

It should be noted that those who suffer from hay fever will have symptoms of reaction to indoor flora representatives identical to the signs of reaction to pollen of outdoor plants. In "debutants", newcomers to allergies, the symptoms may be non-specific. For example, a headache is not associated with a blooming orchid as a cause for a long time, a person believes that the headache is due to overwork, weather, and so on. At this time, sensitization of the body develops, the immune system "gets used" to the provoking factor and reacts to it more and more strongly until the "culprit" of the headache is finally identified. Therefore, with recurring signs in typical conditions, relapses of symptoms under certain circumstances should be a reason to contact a doctor for timely diagnosis.

Allergy to flowering plants

Every year the number of plants and trees suffering from flowering increases at an alarming rate. Such rapid dynamics are explained by the deteriorating environmental situation and the decrease in immune protection of the population as a whole.

Another reason is the lack of awareness of people about allergies as a disease, including pollinosis (allergy to flowering plants). Allergies to flowering trees, shrubs and grasses affect men and women, old people and children, regardless of social status and area of residence. Previously, the largest number of allergy sufferers lived in cities; in rural areas, allergic reactions were extremely rare. Today, this number has evened out; villagers visit doctors with allergy symptoms just as often as residents of megacities.

Allergy to flowering plants is characterized by relapses and clear seasonal periods. Pollen rhinopathy, allergic catarrh, pollen bronchial asthma, hay fever - these are definitions of one nosological unit - pollinosis, this name is accepted throughout the medical world and it is this name that unites specific symptoms and atypical signs of an allergic reaction to carminative flora.

What causes plant allergies? The reaction is caused by pollen, and it is especially acute during the pollination period – in spring and summer, when nature is renewed and flora representatives strive to reproduce and spread.

The most dangerous periods and plants that produce pollen at this time:

• Beginning of April – mid-May. The flowering season of alder, birch, maple, oak, hazel, and ash.
• Horses of May, June, early July. Cereals and forage grasses bloom, weeds begin to bloom. Dandelion, rye, corn, and couch grass bloom.
• July, August and September. Ragweed (especially from mid-August), wormwood, quinoa and tansy bloom.

The maximum concentration of various pollen in the atmosphere is observed from May to mid-July; these natural phenomena are most dangerous in dry, hot areas with low humidity.

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Diagnosis of plant allergies

Diagnostics that help to determine the provoking factor should be carried out by a specialist, an allergist. As a rule, the first stage, which involves diagnosing plant allergies, includes a fairly lengthy conversation. Collecting anamnesis, including hereditary, is an important stage that helps to clarify the direction of further actions of the doctor. Then laboratory methods are needed that specify the etiology of the allergic reaction and help to identify the exact allergen.

Modern allergology has many technologies for identifying provoking agents, but the most common is the method of skin and provocative tests, they are carried out in various ways - scarification, application, nasal and others. A suspected allergen can be applied to a selected area of the skin (most often on the forearm), the body's reaction to it is an indicator of sensitization to this type of antigen. With the nasal method, the antigen is introduced into the nasal mucosa and the reaction of the immune system is also assessed. The only drawback of these methods is that they are not carried out during an exacerbation. If the acute period is relieved by antihistamines, the results of such tests and tests can also be incorrect, so such diagnostics are indicated only a few weeks after the exacerbation of an allergic reaction or during remission. During the manifestation of acute symptoms, a method for determining IgE, specific immunoglobulins in the patient's blood can be used

In general, the diagnosis of plant allergies includes the following stages:

• Collection of allergy history, including hereditary.
• Outside the period of exacerbation, skin tests and provocative tests are carried out.
• The immunological status is determined by laboratory analysis of blood serum.

Let's look at each stage in more detail.

1. Anamnesis. The patient is questioned according to a standard scheme, when the health status of the closest relatives and the health status of the patient himself are determined. It is important to clarify the presence or absence of concomitant pathologies, reactions to certain types of medications or vaccinations. Information from the allergy sufferer himself is also considered relevant, who will certainly note some pattern in the manifestation of allergies and can often point to a specific provoking source.
2. If the allergy manifests itself with initial symptoms and does not threaten to worsen in the clinical sense, skin tests are performed using pollen antigen variants. Skin tests can be scarification, intradermal or application. The doctor determines the need for one or another method based on the condition of the allergy sufferer and his age. Most often, application tests are indicated for patients with manifestations of skin reactions, especially in case of allergy to indoor plants and wild flowers. Tests for 10-15 allergens can be performed simultaneously. The intradermal method can be used only in case of unclear results obtained by scarification or application tests. Nasal or conjunctival tests are performed only during the period of remission, outside the flowering period of plants and trees.
3. Blood serum analysis to determine the level of sensitization of the body can be performed at any time, both during an exacerbation and in remission. Unlike skin and provocative tests, it is safe and allows you to determine the aggressive response of the immune system to an allergen at the initial stage of the process. The detected antibodies, depending on their class, help the doctor diagnose the form of allergy, choose the right diagnostic and therapeutic strategy.

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Treatment of plant allergies

The methods used in the treatment of plant allergies are well studied and are used everywhere as a certain standard set of actions. Obviously, this is due to a fairly extensive knowledge of the mechanism of immune defense, constant scientific research and development, which are carried out by allergists around the world. Today, the first stage, which includes the treatment of plant allergies, is elimination. Moreover, neutralization of the provoking factor is indicated for any type of allergy, regardless of the variants and classification of the antigen. Effective and efficient drugs that relieve symptoms. Antihistamines of new (III, IV) generations have a long-term effect and do not cause complications in the form of drowsiness and addiction. The drugs are developed in a convenient form - spray, nasal drops, aerosols, syrups, which allows them to be used in the treatment of allergies in children. Glucocorticosteroids are extremely rarely prescribed nowadays, this is possible only in cases of severe exacerbations, Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock, when it comes to saving the patient's life.

Diet is also important for allergy sufferers, as many types of pollen can provoke cross-allergy. A hypoallergenic menu can become a habit for those who already have at least one case of alarming symptoms in their anamnesis, as well as for those who have a genetic predisposition to allergies. A good result is given by taking various sorbents, which can serve as a preventive measure, providing a platoon of obligatory food products.

The last decades have been marked by the emergence of a new hyposensitization technology – ASIT (specific immunotherapy). If treatment with antihistamine drugs is ineffective, a course of ASIT can provide a long period of remission, which often lasts for several years.

Treatment of pollen allergy

The first step in treating pollinosis - an allergy to plant pollen - is to neutralize contact with the provoking factor. However, the reaction that has developed also requires drug therapy. Currently, pharmacology offers a wide range of TLR (toll-like receptor) agonist drugs that help switch the immune system to a less aggressive response, allergists have the opportunity to prescribe safe cytokine inhibitors, and more advanced immunotherapy methods are constantly being developed and implemented.

Treatment of pollen allergy includes the following basic steps:

• Elimination of the provoking factor.
• Pharmacotherapy.
• ASIT - allergen-specific immunotherapy.
• Teaching allergy sufferers to prevent possible reactions and relieve symptoms that have already appeared on their own.

The first direction in therapy is maximum avoidance of plants and trees that release pollen. This action is basic, and not only in the acute period, but also during remission. Sometimes it is necessary to avoid "meeting" with the provoking agent throughout life in order to avoid serious exacerbations and consequences. It happens that elimination does not give a visible result in reducing the severity of symptoms, however, it is necessary, since it allows you to reduce the number of drugs and procedures by almost half.

Medicines are the second direction, helping to reduce the manifestation of an allergic reaction, alleviate the patient's condition, increase the period of remission and, possibly, ensure recovery. Medicines for hay fever are prescribed depending on the clinical manifestations of the allergy and can be as follows:

• Antihistamines of the fourth generation, which act longer than their predecessors, are safe for the central nervous and cardiovascular systems. The drugs quickly relieve swelling, rash and itching, do not cause drowsiness and addiction.
• Glucocorticosteroids may be prescribed as indicated.
• Vasoconstrictor drugs, usually in nasal form (drops, solutions).
• Cromolyns are drugs that stabilize the immune system.
• ACP - anticholinergics.

Allergen-specific immunotherapy is usually connected at an early stage of allergy development, as it reduces the risk of exacerbations and the progression of the entire process as a whole. Such therapy is especially effective if diagnostics determines the exact allergen. Today, ASIT is considered one of the most universal and effective methods that provides etiopathogenetic treatment, that is, it affects the root cause, and not just reduces symptoms. ASIT is used in various ways depending on the patient's age and the severity of his disease, this can be subcutaneous administration of minidoses containing allergens, sublingual, inhalation methods and others are also used.

In general, treatment of pollen allergy should include dynamic monitoring of symptoms, control of the immune system and mandatory prevention, which plays an important role in the life of allergy sufferers.

Prevention of plant allergies

Preventive measures to prevent the occurrence of allergies and their relapses primarily consist of limiting any contact with the provoking factor. Elimination is the only reliable way, if not to completely avoid the reaction, then at least to reduce the severity of symptoms. Simple and effective methods that include the prevention of plant allergies are wet cleaning, airing the room when there is no wind outside and regular water procedures after each exit from the house.

In addition, you should limit the time spent on walks, especially during the flowering period of plants and trees. You can walk in the evening, when the air humidity increases naturally and the risk of contact with pollen is minimized. Walks after rain, in windless weather are also useful. Dry, hot air, sun and wind are "taboo" for allergy sufferers, it is on such days that the frequency of exacerbations of hay fever increases. If a person is prone to allergies, he should always have a mini-first aid kit with the necessary anti-allergy drugs. Sometimes simple actions are enough to stop an attack, but if the medicine is unavailable, there may be trouble. Antihistamines are best purchased in a soluble, easily digestible form - a nasal spray, an inhaler, less often - an injection form. In addition, prevention of plant allergies is awareness. You should know what trees, grasses, plants, and shrubs grow in the area where you live, and it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the pollination calendar, which indicates the pollination periods. If a person has already had to “get acquainted” with allergies, a reliable way to prevent the next attacks is the ASIT method – allergy-specific immunotherapy. This method is considered one of the most effective and modern, treatment is carried out before the start of flowering, usually starting from the end of autumn and throughout the winter period.

Plant allergy is a disease of civilization, at least, this is what both doctors and biologists who study allergy as a mass disease believe. A century and a half ago, few people knew about this pathology; if there were manifestations of an allergic reaction, they were rather a clinical exception, a rarity. It is obvious that with the benefits of the modern world, the acquisitions of scientific and technological progress, a person simultaneously loses the normal adaptive and protective function of the immune system, which has ceased to fully perform its work. In this regard, strengthening the immune system, observing the norms and rules of a healthy lifestyle are becoming even more relevant, since these actions are not only able to prevent allergic reactions and other ailments, but also improve the quality of human life in general.