Seasonal allergies

Hay fever or seasonal allergy is a reaction of the immune system to certain irritants that interact with the human body in certain periods, times of the year. It is not by chance that seasonal allergy was called hay fever, this word has a Latin root pollen, which means pollen. People suffered from hay fever before, in ancient Greece they sang the praises of the "food of the gods" - ambrosia nectar, which, by the way, was absolutely not suitable for either those in power or commoners, since it caused them severe skin rashes and suffocation.

Galen also briefly mentioned a disease resembling seasonal allergy, and later Dr. Van Helmont linked mass coughing fits with flowering trees. But the first specific descriptions of the disease, called hay fever, date back to the early 19th century. The English physician Bostock officially designated a seasonal allergic reaction, linking it to a provoking factor - hay. More than 50 years later, his compatriot Dr. Blackley proved that seasonal allergies are caused by plant pollen. A decade later, a report on hay fever appeared in Russia, in St. Petersburg, it was made by Dr. Silich at an open meeting of the Russian doctors' organization. Mass clinical manifestations of seasonal allergies date back to the 50-60s of the last century, the first outbreak of hay fever was noted in the Krasnodar region, where ragweed began to multiply, the seeds and pollen of which were brought from the American states along with food (grain).

Today, every fifth inhabitant of the planet suffers from pollinosis, regardless of age, gender, region and climatic conditions of residence. It is obvious that the true number of people suffering from the plant flowering season is much higher and this is a serious problem, since statistical indicators are inexorably increasing every year, despite obvious achievements in the study of this disease.

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Causes of Seasonal Allergies

In the clinical sense, pollinosis has been studied very extensively, fortunately, there has always been plenty of material – patients suffering from rhinitis, skin rashes, shortness of breath. But the etiology, the causes of seasonal allergies have been determined only recently. Previously, it was believed that the main factor provoking allergies relates to a possible predisposition associated with a genetic cause. Genetic predisposition does exist, but it has been proven that allergies are directly inherited, this is confirmed by statistics:

• A mother with allergies has a 25-30% chance of having children with allergic reactions.
• 20-25% of allergy sufferers have a paternal allergy heredity.
• 50% of children born to a father and mother with allergies have a history of allergies.

Scientists have found specific genes that parents with allergies pass directly to their babies, literally from the first hours of conception. Such children develop a deficiency in the secretory function of immunoglobulin IgA, which subsequently contributes to the sensitization of the body and an aggressive immune response to the effects of pollen from plants, trees and grasses.

In addition, the following groups of people can get hay fever:

• The population of territories where the environmental situation is recognized as unfavorable.
• People with a history of other types of allergies, when the triggering factor is medications, food, chemical compounds. In such cases, hay fever is a secondary disease, an example of which is a reaction to indoor plants that are not capable of producing pollen.
• Patients with chronic bronchopulmonary diseases.
• People with weakened immune systems.
• Workers in professions associated with harmful working conditions.

The cause of allergies during the flowering period of plants is their pollen; it should be noted that hay fever can also be caused by fungal spores, which also produce them in a seasonal periodicity mode.

The pathogenetic mechanism of pollinosis development is caused by sensitization, "habituation" of the immune system to pollen and fungal spore allergens, of which there are currently 500 to 700 species. It has been established that the most aggressive and widespread are 50 subspecies of pollen allergens, these are, as a rule, plants and trees that grow everywhere, are undemanding to weather changes and are able to survive in almost any climate. Each species can act as an antigen determinant and provoke an atypical response from the immune system. In addition, pollen allergy can contribute to cross-sensitization, when the trigger is not pollen, but an obligate food allergen.

The causes of seasonal allergies, or rather, the culprits of allergic reactions, are the following trees and plants:

• Birch and its subspecies.
• Alder.
• Hazelnut (filbert).
• Willow.
• Oak.
• Linden.
• Ash.
• Sycamore.
• Cypress.
• Maple.
• Elm.
• Walnut.
• Flowering weeds – wormwood, ragweed.
• Meadow flowering grasses – clover, timothy grass, alfalfa.
• Cereals – buckwheat, oats, rye, wheat.

Another specific cause can be considered the change of natural seasons; hay fever is most acute in spring and autumn, cases of plant allergies are less common in mid-summer, and extremely rare in winter.

Seasonal Allergies in Spring

Spring is the time of nature's revival, flowering and reproduction of plants. It is the spring period that is considered the most aggressive in the allergic sense, second in the number of hay fever exacerbations only to the beginning of autumn, when ragweed comes into its own. Seasonal allergies in the spring most often manifest themselves in rhinoconjunctival symptoms, rashes and urticaria are less common. As such, the spring allergy period starts in early April and ends in May. At the end of April, the most aggressive trees in the allergic sense are revived and begin to bloom - birch and alder. Hazel blossoms a little later, although everything depends on the territory of the "residence" of the trees and climatic conditions. Pollen produced by birch can spread for many kilometers, so a person suffering from allergies and not having these white-trunked beauties under the window is sometimes perplexed after diagnostics determining the birch allergen. In addition, pollen can be spread by poplar fluff, which is often blamed for all the allergic "sins" of which it is not guilty. In the southern territories, poplar blossoms quite early, already at the end of May it sprinkles the ground with fluff, which is an excellent means of transport for heavier pollen. Nearby flowering trees often neighbor poplars, so their pollen settles on the fluffy seeds and spreads everywhere.

Symptoms of seasonal allergies in spring can debut long before the actual flowering, about 50% of allergy sufferers begin to notice watery eyes, red eyes 7-10 days before the "hour X". During this period, allergies can still be prevented or at least measures can be taken to reduce the severity of symptoms.

Signs of spring hay fever:

• Typical rhinitis - the nose is stuffy, it is difficult to breathe. Sneezing attacks are characteristic, and the mucus secreted from the sinuses has a transparent, liquid consistency.
• Allergic conjunctivitis - eyes become red and swollen. Tearing, photophobia, and a feeling of a "speck" in the eyes appear.
• Attacks of shortness of breath similar to bronchial asthma. The cough is frequent, persistent, exhausting, and exhalation is difficult.
• Dermatitis, most often atopic. The skin itches, a rash appears, and weeping or dry blisters.
• An exacerbation of symptoms may result in angioedema, a life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical attention. Quincke's edema develops in 10% of allergy sufferers who suffer from spring exacerbations.

Often, seasonal allergies in spring are accompanied by an increase in body temperature, headaches, loss of appetite, and general poor health. It is no coincidence that many developed countries are fighting carminative plants and planting only safe types of flora on the streets, since employees with allergies not only have a reduced quality of life, but their productivity also drops by almost half. In addition, European countries have a good tradition of watering the streets early in the morning, which is especially effective in the spring - it is clean and the pollen is washed away.

Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies

Pollinosis differs little from other types of allergic reactions in its pathogenetic mechanism, the symptoms of seasonal allergies develop according to the classic scheme - from the nasal, respiratory tract, descending lower - to the bronchi and lungs. However, hay allergy also has differences, they are associated with conjunctival symptoms. In addition to the nose, the eyes of an allergy sufferer also suffer, pollen settles on the eyeball, penetrates the mucous membranes and starts aggressive immune processes. The first reaction of the immune system is the recognition of the allergen, which does not always proceed functionally, then the body begins to produce specific antibodies to suppress the foreign antigen. Since all typical allergens have a structure containing protein, the immune system interacts with protein elements, thus the process of sensitization, a kind of adaptation, occurs.

For the symptoms of seasonal allergies to manifest and develop into a recognizable clinical picture, a minimal portion of pollen is enough. However, in children, the signs of hay fever can be hidden, and sensitization also occurs asymptomatically. Only after several weeks or even months does the child become covered in a rash, his eyes become red and swollen, and allergic rhinitis appears.

The classic development of hay fever is characterized by the so-called allergic triad:

• Conjunctivitis and lacrimation.
• Rhinitis or rhinosinusitis.
• Cough and bronchospasm.

Typical symptoms of seasonal allergies include:

• Itching and redness of the eyes.
• Swelling of the eyes and increased lacrimation.
• Photophobia.
• Itching in the nasal cavity, sneezing (“allergic salutes”).
• Nasal discharge is light in color and liquid in consistency.
• Nasal congestion, difficulty breathing.
• Ear pain caused by involvement of the Eustachian tubes.
• Hoarseness of voice, change in its timbre.
• Atopic dermatitis, urticaria.
• Headache, possible increase in body temperature.
• A specific type of asthma is pollen asthma and bronchospasm.

Not every allergy sufferer experiences bronchospastic manifestations; if measures are taken in time, shortness of breath and spasm may not appear, however, asthmatic attacks still occur in 30% of patients with a history of previous seasons of exacerbation. The most threatening consequence of bronchospasm is Quincke's edema, which develops in a matter of minutes and requires emergency medical care.

The general condition with hay fever often resembles the symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections, colds, but without an increase in temperature. In addition, seasonal allergies can manifest themselves in the form of pollen intoxication, when a person begins a migraine attack, weakness, irritability develops, and sleep is disturbed. If pollen penetrates the digestive system, which often happens with cross allergies, nausea and abdominal pain appear, which often complicates the primary diagnosis - so nonspecific can be the symptoms of allergies. Such conditions are especially dangerous in children and the elderly, when the symptoms are hidden in the initial period, and exacerbations develop rapidly. Therefore, when the first signs appear that are similar to an allergic reaction, you should consult a doctor.

Seasonal Allergies in Children

Hay fever in modern children is a common occurrence that can develop due to the following reasons:

• Hereditary predisposition, genetic factor.
• Infectious, viral diseases of the mother during pregnancy.
• Contact with virus carriers, bacterial infections and, as a consequence, a decrease in immune protection.
• Living in an environmentally unfavorable environment.
• Disruption or sudden change in nutrition, especially in infancy.
• Untimely or incorrect vaccination.
• Artificial feeding.
• Dysfunction of the digestive system.

Seasonal allergies in children can be non-specific, like "masked" hay fever. Allergies can manifest themselves as pain and congestion in the ears in the absence of the classic picture of hay fever symptoms. In some children, an allergic reaction looks like partial and transient reddening of the eyes, a habit of constantly touching the nose - doctors figuratively call this symptom "allergic salute". Sometimes children begin to cough and the allergy can be similar to typical bronchial asthma without rhinoconjunctival signs. Only an allergist can establish the exact cause of the ailment using specific diagnostics that determines a specific allergen.

Seasonal Allergies During Pregnancy

Almost all groups of the population are susceptible to pollinosis, including pregnant women. Seasonal allergies during pregnancy follow the same pattern as in other patients, the main triad is as follows: lacrimation and conjunctivitis, runny nose, cough and possible bronchospasm. Skin rashes with pollinosis are less common, they occur only with direct contact with the provoking factor. It should be noted that the hormonal system of expectant mothers works in a special mode, so the signs of pollinosis can manifest themselves in an atypical form. The most indicative criterion for determining the root cause of discomfort can be family history. If the parents of a pregnant woman are allergic, it is likely that the woman also has a predisposition to allergies. There are also features in the differential diagnosis of pollinosis in pregnant women, for example, rhinitis in the third trimester may not be a signal of allergy, but is caused by the influence of changes in hormonal levels (progesterone). Therefore, as a rule, an accurate diagnosis can only be established after childbirth, when the function of the hormonal system is normalized, and during gestation only correct symptomatic therapy is carried out.

If seasonal allergies during pregnancy do manifest themselves, the main rules for the patient are constant medical supervision and maximum elimination of the provoking factor. Dynamic observation by an allergist is necessary to reduce the risk of pathologies in the baby's development, because with persistent coughing or nasal congestion in the mother, especially in the case of bronchospasm, fetal hypoxia is possible. The expectant mother tolerates seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) much more severely, and an exacerbation significantly worsens her condition and quality of life in general.

Confirmed hay fever in the mother practically guarantees a predisposition to allergies in the child, at least statistics define it this way:

• Half of children born to parents with allergies are predisposed to allergic reactions.
• If a seasonal allergy occurs in the expectant mother, and the child's father is healthy in this sense, the risk of developing an allergic reaction in the child is 25-30%.

Treatment of seasonal allergies during pregnancy is very specific. The opinion about the danger of using antiallergic drugs for pregnant women is completely unfounded, much more dangerous is the exacerbation and pathology of the fetus with untreated hay fever. In addition, in 1.5% of expectant mothers during pregnancy, the reaction to pollen causes severe bronchospasm and Quincke's edema, therefore, refusal of symptomatic treatment at least poses a threat to health, at most - to life in general. Currently, there are quite a lot of gentle methods of antiallergic therapy, safe drugs that do not affect the course of pregnancy and fetal development. Most often, drugs are prescribed in nasal form, systemic antihistamines can be prescribed only in exceptional cases, in case of exacerbations and a threat to life. Of course, the simplest and most complication-free method is the elimination method, that is, refusal of contact with the provoking situation, factor. Pregnant women prone to allergies need to choose the time and place for walks, and after them, be sure to wash your entire body under running water and take a shower. On sunny, windless days, it is better to stay at home with the windows and vents closed. The level of humidity in the room is also important: the higher it is, the lower the risk of coming into contact with pollen allergens. It should be noted that the trigger may not be pollen, but mold spores, so home hygiene must be observed very carefully. Limiting the use of household chemicals, a gentle hypoallergenic diet, a positive attitude, and trust in the experience and knowledge of the doctor will help the expectant mother safely survive the pollen season and prepare for childbirth.

Temperature with seasonal allergies

Among the symptoms of hay fever, there may also be a rise in temperature. Temperature in seasonal allergies is not a specific sign and is quite rare, but if it is noted, it greatly complicates the diagnosis of the disease. This is due to the fact that quite often plant allergies are similar in clinical picture to ARVI, ARI, especially in the initial period. Runny nose, malaise, headache, lack of rash - all this can mislead the patients themselves, who begin to treat pseudo-cold on their own. Uncontrolled use of drugs not only erases the typical symptoms of allergy, but also complicates its course, which can be expressed in hyperthermia as the most aggressive reaction of the body to the inflammatory process.

Most often, fever with seasonal allergies is observed in young children. Especially when hay fever manifests itself in the form of a rash, urticaria. Feverish condition with allergies is an adaptive, compensatory mechanism of the body to the impact of a non-infectious aggressive factor. The main role in the pathogenesis of fever is played by interleukin (IL), an intercellular mediator activated during inflammatory processes. In children, the level of IL is always slightly higher due to age-related characteristics, so their hyperthermia lasts quite a long time, sometimes even after the acute symptoms have subsided. It has been established that children aged 2 to 7 years are predisposed to atopic reactions, so the likelihood of fever during various exacerbations is very high. In adult allergy sufferers, fever is extremely rare, and can serve as a signal of exacerbation of a concomitant infectious disease, but not hay fever. The main drug that relieves fever, high temperature is paracetamol and its derivatives. When prescribing an antipyretic, the doctor always takes into account the patient's characteristics, the course of the allergic reaction, and the appropriateness of taking an antipyretic in principle. As a rule, the elevated temperature with seasonal allergies subsides after the main symptoms are neutralized, most often immediately after elimination.

Diagnosis of seasonal allergies

Identification of the root cause of an allergic seasonal reaction is based on questioning the patient and taking into account a special calendar of flowering carminative flora common in a particular area.

In addition to collecting anamnesis, including family history, diagnostics of seasonal allergies involves allergy tests, which identify the main "culprit" of the aggressive immune response. Determining the "culprit" of sensitization

It is carried out in several ways:

• Endonasal provocative allergy tests.
• Conjunctival provocation tests.
• Рrick-test, a test using microinjection.
• Provocative inhalation test.
• Skin prick tests.
• Detection of specific antibodies, IgE.

Almost all tests are carried out outside the period of exacerbation and, in principle, outside the flowering season of plants (except for the immunological analysis of blood serum). At the height of the season, eosinophilia can be detected in nasal mucus, but this is a non-specific sign indicating a specific type of allergy, much less determining the allergen.

Diagnostics of seasonal allergies may include the following areas:

1. General clinical examination – blood and sputum tests.
2. Instrumental examination of the nasal sinuses and bronchopulmonary system.
3. Specific allergy tests outside the pollination season.
4. Consultations with related specialists – dermatologist, immunologist, ENT doctor, pulmonologist.

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Treatment for seasonal allergies

Therapeutic measures that are involved in the treatment of seasonal allergies depend on the flowering period (spring, summer or autumn), the stage of the allergic process and the characteristics of the patient's body.

The treatment objective is not only to reduce the severity of symptoms, but also to protect vulnerable organs (targets) from the effects of allergens. In addition to eliminating the provoking factor, one of the main methods is pharmacotherapy, which can be divided into the following groups:

1. Preventive agents are non-steroidal antihistamines. These drugs are able to slow down the very initial phase of the immune response to an allergen. Prevention of the secretion of inflammatory mediators, suppression of histamine production helps to reduce the severity of allergies. Antihistamines are indicated throughout the flowering season of trees and plants, even in the absence of obvious symptoms. The forms of drugs can be both tablets and intranasal, in the form of sprays, powders for inhalation, aerosols. For children, there is a convenient form - syrup, which is no less effective and well accepted by children. Ointments and gels, as a rule, contain GCS - glucocorticosteroids. Local GCS are very active in skin rashes, relieve itching, inflammation well, but act in a slow mode (penetrate the skin), so they are combined with dosage forms that can quickly relieve allergy symptoms.
2. Symptomatic treatment of seasonal allergies also involves the use of antihistamines, most often to relieve rhinitis and conjunctivitis. New generation drugs are available in a convenient form for administration, both locally and orally. Forms and advantages of antihistamines of the III, IV generation:

• Forms – drops, sprays, syrups, suspensions, aerosols, tablets.

Advantages - taking 1-2 times a day, no drowsiness effect, fast action (within 30-60 minutes), duration of action (up to 24 hours), high rate of absorption by the digestive organs, no addiction effect.

Symptomatic therapy is effective in the first days of an acute allergic process, then a transition to preventive drugs with mandatory adherence to a hypoallergenic diet is indicated.

How to relieve seasonal allergies?

In order to answer the question of how to relieve seasonal allergies, you must first remember the basic therapeutic actions:

• Avoidance and exclusion of contact with the allergen, i.e. pollen. Elimination is 70% of success in treating hay fever, and the patient can do it himself.
• Drug therapy, which includes taking antihistamines, most often in the form of sprays, ophthalmological or nasal. Glucocorticosteroids can be prescribed during an exacerbation of the process and only in exceptional cases, GCS are also prescribed to those who suffer from pollen asthma to relieve asthma attacks.
• ASIT is allergen-specific immunotherapy. This is a whole process that lasts for months, during which the body "learns" to counteract the allergen less aggressively. ASIT is a very effective method, but it cannot be carried out during an exacerbation, that is, from the beginning of spring until the end of the autumn season. The best time for ASIT is winter, when you can get a full course of treatment and relatively calmly survive the flowering season of plants.

How to relieve seasonal allergies with drug therapy?

Treatment of hay fever involves the use of drugs that can suppress the inflammatory process caused by allergies. Drugs should be taken as prescribed by a doctor throughout the season, daily, even in the absence of pronounced signs of a reaction to pollen. What is prescribed for seasonal allergies?

• Antihistamines of the latest generation, which do not cause complications or addiction. They are often prescribed even to small children and pregnant women to avoid serious exacerbations or to stop them.
• Sodium cromoglycate preparations. Cromones are often prescribed for allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis in the form of eye, nasal drops, sprays. They block calcium channels of the mast cell membrane, which reduces the aggressiveness of inflammation.
• Vasoconstrictors are decongestants that regulate the tone of the circulatory system and effectively relieve the symptoms of rhinitis.
• Glucocorticosteroids are prescribed when the use of antihistamines does not produce results. GCS are taken in a short course until the most acute symptoms are completely relieved, then treatment involves more gentle methods.

Seasonal Allergy Remedies

Treatment of hay fever involves complex actions based on the main event – elimination of the pollen trigger and exclusion from the diet of possible food triggers in case of cross-allergy.

Seasonal allergy remedies are divided into different groups and can be as follows:

• Antihistamines of the latest generation. They are effective and safe, have a long-lasting effect, often it is enough to take one tablet, the effect of which lasts up to 12 hours.
• Vasoconstrictors.
• Combination drugs.
• Sodium cromoglycate preparations.
• GCS – glucocorticosteroids.
• ASIT – specific immunotherapy.
• Hemocorrection.

Let's take a closer look at remedies for seasonal allergies.

1. Antihistamines, the mechanism of action of which is aimed at preventing exacerbation. In the first hours after taking antihistamines, swelling of the nasal sinuses decreases, nasal discharge stops. Antihistamines are divided into 4 groups, the last 2 of which are considered the most effective and safe, these are drugs of the III and IV generations.

Generation I	Generation II
Chloropyramine	Clemastine
Diphenhydramine	Hifenadine
Chlorphenamine	Doxepamine
Pipolfen	Azelastine
Diprasin	Oxatomide
Suprastin

Generation III	Generation IV
Astemizole	Loratadine (Claritin)
Terfenadine	Ebastine
Norastemizole	Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
Acrivastine

Previously produced antihistamines had the following complications:

• Dizziness, drowsiness.
• Dry mouth.
• Nausea.
• Impaired coordination of movements.
• Decreased or increased appetite.
• Heart rhythm disturbance.
• Joint pain.

New generation drugs do not have such side effects and are absolutely safe, of course, provided they are prescribed by a doctor.

2. Vasoconstrictors are α-adrenergic receptor stimulants. These may be sanorin, oxymetazoline, otrivin, galazolin and other medications that help neutralize allergic rhinitis and nasal congestion. The course of treatment with the nasal form of the drug should not exceed a week, if there is no result, the doctor adjusts the prescription, self-administration of vasoconstrictors can cause complications.
3. Combination drugs are antihistamines combined with pseudoephedrines - actifed, clarinase.
4. Cromones are sodium cromoglycates. For hay fever, cromones are prescribed locally in the form of drops - cromoglin, lomuzol, hi-crom, optikrom. Sodium is able to bind membrane protein and reduce aggressive manifestations of allergy in the eyes and nose.
5. GCS - glucocorticosteroids can quickly relieve inflammation, they are prescribed locally in the form of ointments, less often in the form of drops, inhalations - for pollen asthma. This can be betamethasone, nazacort, syntaris, rhinocort, beconase and other drugs from the GCS group.

Seasonal Allergy Medications

Drug treatment of hay fever is aimed at relieving and controlling symptoms; medications for seasonal allergies are selected in accordance with the clinical manifestations and severity of the process.

• Mild symptoms, minor manifestations of hay fever. The main treatment is the use of prophylactic non-steroidal antihistamines - claritin, zyrtec, kestin. These drugs for seasonal allergies do not cause drowsiness, act for a long time and do not provoke addiction. The first generation drugs can be prescribed for itching, rash, when, on the contrary, drowsiness and sedative action will be effective. The nasal form - allergodil, gistimet help relieve itching in the nose, runny nose and nasal congestion are neutralized by naphthyzin, galazolin and other vasoconstrictor drops.
• Moderate severity of pollinosis is treated with local GCS (glucocorticosteroids), rashes and dermatitis respond well to treatment with such drugs. GCS are also effective for lacrimation and hyperemia of the eyes, oftan or dexamethasone are prescribed. The latest generation of antihistamines in combination with GCS ointments give results literally after 1-2 days.
• Severe seasonal allergies require high doses of hormones to relieve acute symptoms. Anti-leukotriene agents that reduce inflammation are also indicated. Hormones are indicated in a short course, as soon as the exacerbation is neutralized, the patient is transferred to a more gentle therapy.

Thus, the drugs for seasonal allergies are the main groups:

• Antihistamines of 4 generations.
• Cromones.
• GCS - glucocorticosteroids.
• Combination drugs (a combination of antihistamines and ephedrines).

Eye drops for seasonal allergies

In the treatment of conjunctival symptoms in hay fever, the main means are 2 groups of drugs - antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers. Eye drops for seasonal allergies can be prescribed as a monotherapy, but they are also used in complex therapy.

Chronic and subacute forms of conjunctivitis caused by allergies are treated with cromones - sodium cromoglicates. These are drugs such as cromoghexal, alomid. 2% cromoghexal is effective in treating symptoms in children, as it rarely causes burning and irritation of the eyes. Alomid is also able to induce the release of histamine, in addition, it helps to restore the structure of the cornea of the eye, so it is prescribed for all types of allergies accompanied by ophthalmological symptoms.

Acute allergic conjunctivitis is treated with more active drugs. Eye drops for seasonal allergies in this form are Allergodil, Spersallerg. These drops are able to relieve the symptom within 15 minutes, the effect lasts up to 6 hours, which makes such types of drugs very popular in the treatment of ophthalmological manifestations of hay fever.

Also effective are the following drops prescribed for allergic inflammatory processes in the eyes:

• Ifiral.
• Hi-chrome.
• Lecrolin.
• Allergocrom.
• Irtan.

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Treatment of seasonal allergies with folk remedies

In addition to specific therapy, allergies can be treated with so-called folk remedies. Of course, such recipes can only be used with the consent of the attending physician, and only during the period of remission to prevent relapses of exacerbation. Natural gifts should be used with caution, since many herbs themselves are allergens.

Treatment of seasonal allergies with folk remedies, safe and proven by many patients, recipes:

1. Infusion of blackcurrant leaves and twigs. You need to prepare 2 tablespoons of dry material or take 4 tablespoons of fresh crushed leaves. They need to be poured with 300 ml of boiling water, infused in a thermos for 1 hour, then strained and added warm boiled water to a volume of 500 ml. Drink the infusion for a week every 2 hours, one tablespoon at a time. If the infusion runs out, it needs to be prepared again, a freshly brewed remedy activates the immune system much better and removes toxins from the body.
2. Field horsetail - 2 tablespoons of dry grass are poured with a glass of boiling water, infused for 30 minutes, filtered. The remedy should be drunk every hour during the day, then the course should be repeated after 2 days. A total of 7 courses should be completed, that is, the horsetail decoction is taken for two weeks.
3. Mix 2 tablespoons of the medicine chest with a tablespoon of dry nettle. Pour 500 ml of boiling water over the mixture and leave in a thermos for 10 hours (it is convenient to prepare the remedy in the evening). In the morning, strain the decoction, you should get about 400 ml of the finished preparation. Take half a glass 30 minutes before each meal for a week.
4. Celery root juice, which includes amino acids, tyrosine, choline, nicotinic acid. The juice has a good effect on the blood composition, normalizes metabolism, removes toxins. The remedy should be made from fresh root vegetables, take one teaspoon before meals, at least half an hour. The course of treatment is 14 days. It is recommended to start taking celery juice with a teaspoon, then observe the state of the body, since celery contains Apium graveolens - essential compounds that can cause a secondary allergic reaction.
5. If there is no allergy to essential oils, then you can use fennel or dill in the form of an oil extract for a week. The essential oil should be dripped onto a piece of sugar, 3-5 drops, the intake regimen is three times a day half an hour before meals.
6. A calcium chloride solution, taken 30-40 minutes after eating, effectively prevents hay fever flare-ups. The recipe is as follows: add a teaspoon of Calcium chloridum to a glass of cooled boiled water.
7. Daily intake of fresh or dried figs helps normalize digestion, metabolism and strengthen the immune system. Figs are taken on an empty stomach, in the morning before breakfast, 30-40 minutes before meals. There is no dosage, but it is recommended to eat one fruit in the morning and evening.
8. Avicenna's recipe - taking mumiyo. 1 gram of the product is dissolved in a liter of warm boiled water, taken only in the morning. Children from 3 to 5 years old are recommended to take 30-50 ml of solution, older children under 14 years old - 75 ml daily, adult allergy sufferers can drink 100 ml in the morning. The course of treatment lasts at least three weeks. Doctors are favorable to this recipe and advise using it as a preventive measure and treatment for seasonal allergies annually.
9. Skin rashes and itching can be relieved with special baths: 10 tablespoons of pharmacy clay are dissolved in a liter of warm water, the solution is poured into the main warm water. You need to lie in such a clay "medicine" for 15-20 minutes, then wash it off the skin under the shower.
10. A decoction of the succession, combined with bathing in a healing solution of this herb, can significantly alleviate the condition of a person suffering from hay fever. Recipe: 5 tablespoons of succession are poured with cold water, after an hour, the remedy is boiled over low heat for 15 minutes. The cooled composition is filtered and divided into 2 parts. The first should be drunk 50 ml every 3 hours, the second should be poured into a warm bath and lie in this water for 20-25 minutes. Such procedures should be repeated every three days for 2 months in a row.

It is worth paying attention to recipes containing honey. Many sources advise taking a solution or honey in its pure form, but allergists are categorically against such experiments. Firstly, honey itself is a pollen product and can provoke an attack of allergy. Secondly, even if a reaction to honey has not been observed before, it is quite possible that it may appear as a symptom of cross-allergy.

Treatment of seasonal allergies with folk remedies can be quite effective, provided that recipes are used regularly, patience is present, and mandatory doctor's recommendations are followed. Sometimes herbal infusions are drunk for years to achieve an effect, some allergy sufferers see a reduction in symptoms after just a few weeks, everything depends on the intensity of the allergic process and the individual characteristics of the person.

Diet for seasonal allergies

As with any other therapeutic strategy, the treatment of hay fever includes a diet that helps alleviate the patient's condition and reduce the risk of possible exacerbations. Allergy sufferers are generally very sensitive to any food products, which is due to the pathogenesis of the disease itself, so the diet for seasonal allergies should be special. It is necessary to immediately identify those products that can cause

The same symptoms as with contact with pollen allergens:

1. An allergy to pollen from flowering weeds (wormwood, chicory, ragweed) can occur when consuming the following products:

• Seeds – sunflower, pumpkin.
• Halva.
• Vegetable oils.
• Melon.
• Mayonnaise.
• Eggplants, zucchini.
• Watermelon.
• Alcoholic beverages containing weeds (aperitifs) – vermouth, balsam, tinctures.
• Mustard.
• Greens, especially tarragon, parsley, basil.
• Honey.
• Bananas.
• Carrots (raw).
• Garlic.
• All citrus fruits.

These same products should not be consumed if you are allergic to sunflower or calendula. In addition, you should be careful when using herbal remedies containing the following herbs:

• Chamomile.
• Yarrow.
• Dandelion.
• Mother-and-stepmother.
• Elecampane.
• Tansy.

2. Seasonal allergy to pollen of flowering trees - alder, hazel, birch, apple:

• All types of nuts.
• Fruits that grow on flowering trees are pears, apples, apricots, cherries, and so on.
• Raspberry.
• Kiwi.
• Olives.
• Parsley.
• Dill.
• Birch sap.
• Tomatoes.
• Onion.
• Cucumbers.

You should not take decoctions of birch buds, alder cones, tansy and calendula.

3. Allergy to cereal pollen - wheat, buckwheat, corn, oats, rye:

• Use all bakery products with caution.
• Kvass.
• Beer.
• Oatmeal, rice, wheat porridge.
• Coffee.
• Smoked products – meat and fish.
• Cocoa products.
• Citrus.
• Strawberries, wild strawberries.

The list of prohibited products is very long, and it is quite logical to ask the question: what should people suffering from hay fever eat?

• Buckwheat groats.
• All fermented milk products, yoghurts without fruit additives. Cottage cheese is especially useful, as it contains calcium, which helps strengthen the vascular wall and make it "impermeable".
• Feta cheese.
• Lean meats and poultry.
• Stewed, boiled cabbage, with caution - zucchini.
• Green peas, young beans.
• Light varieties of baked apples.
• Refined, deodorized vegetable oil.
• Use butter with caution.
• Boiled, baked potatoes.
• Bread, crackers.
• Raisin.
• Dried fruit compote.
• Green tea.

The list of "prohibited" food products is not a dogma, you should limit their consumption during the period of exacerbation, for about two weeks, then you can gradually include them in the menu. A diet for seasonal allergies is not a test or torture, you need to take it very seriously, just like any other type of treatment. Sometimes it is the observance of the diet that significantly alleviates the severity of allergic symptoms, which once again testifies to its importance and significance.

Seasonal Allergy Prevention

In order to prevent the flowering and pollen season from becoming a period of exacerbation of allergic reactions, it is necessary to observe certain preventive measures.

Prevention of seasonal allergies includes the following actions and prohibitions:

• Avoid contact with provoking plants. If possible, go outside less often, reduce the time of walks, especially in windy or hot, sunny weather.
• Indoors, windows and doors should be closed; hanging damp transparent fabric on windows, which absorbs pollen, has a good effect. If windows or a vent are open at night, they should be closed early in the morning, since pollen production is especially active between 5 and 9 a.m.
• Every time you come home from outside, you should thoroughly wash your hands and your entire body, and it is advisable to wash your hair as well, as hair can contain enough pollen to cause an allergy.
• After walking, you should change clothes that may contain traces of pollen.
• When driving a car, you should close the windows, as pollen can enter through the air flow.
• If possible, during the most active period of flowering of trees and plants, it is better to take a vacation and move to areas with humid air (sea or river coast).
• It should not be forgotten that grasses also provoke allergies, so no matter how much you like the smell of freshly cut grass or the look of a mown lawn, these places should be avoided.
• After washing, linen and clothing should be dried indoors, as damp fabric is an excellent “sorbent” for pollen.
• Several months before the "hour X", that is, before the flowering season, you should take care of strengthening the immune system, normalizing the functioning of the digestive organs. It is also necessary to check the body for helminthic invasions, since they significantly increase the rate of sensitization of the body to the allergen.
• You should familiarize yourself with and remember the list of "prohibited" products that can become obligate allergens in case of cross-allergy. This list also includes medicinal herbs, of which there are many among pharmacy collections and in herbal preparations.

Seasonal allergy is a disease of civilization, many doctors believe, the reasons for this may be related to external and internal factors that sometimes cannot be cured and treated. However, despite its scale, pollinosis still does not affect every inhabitant of the planet. Therefore, the use of timely preventive measures makes it possible to take pollinosis under control - at least to reduce the severity of clinical manifestations of allergy or extend the period of remission, at most - to completely get rid of seasonal allergies.