Spring allergies

Spring allergy is another seasonal test for allergy sufferers. An allergic reaction caused by flowering plants and their pollen is called hay fever or spring catarrh. Typical manifestations of the body's immediate reaction are rhinitis, watery eyes - conjunctivitis, hay fever often provokes attacks of bronchial asthma. The culprits of allergies are all plants that are pollinated by the wind, these are all fragrant herbs, shrubs, birch, alder, poplar, maple and many other trees. Pollen gets into the body, provokes specific mast cells (antibodies) to release histamine into the bloodstream, this is how spring allergy occurs.

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Causes spring allergies

Spring allergy, pollinosis can be a genetically determined disease, according to statistics, if parents are allergic, then in 50% of cases their children will also be predisposed to allergic reactions. Almost 20% of all inhabitants of the planet suffer from spring pollinosis.

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Diagnostics spring allergies

One of the first and most important steps is collecting anamnesis, including family history.

The allergist also compares the flowering calendar of provoking plants and the manifestation of allergy symptoms in the patient. It is important to collect information on the dynamics of exacerbations associated with the humidity and climatic conditions of the patient's area of residence. Next, a comprehensive specific diagnosis is carried out to identify the true allergen or group of allergens using skin tests. The third stage is provocation, special tests that are carried out strictly during the period of symptom reduction (in remission):

• Nasal test for spring allergies, manifested mainly by rhinitis.
• Conjunctival.
• Inhalation – for symptoms that provoke bronchial asthma.
• In addition, immunological tests of blood serum are prescribed to determine the level of IgE.

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Differential diagnosis

How to determine what is bothering you - a common cold or spring allergies?

• Hay fever is characterized by seasonal symptoms that recur at the same time. These are rhinitis, conjunctivitis, cough, and possibly edema.
• Spring allergies are almost never accompanied by an increase in body temperature.
• Unlike a runny nose caused by a virus or infection, hay fever produces profuse, watery discharge.
• Hay fever is characterized by constant sneezing, which occurs 7-10 times, which is not typical for a common cold.
• Spring allergies are manifested by itching and redness of the eyes, allergic conjunctivitis, while this symptom is almost never seen in acute respiratory diseases.
• The symptoms of colds do not depend on the territory and location of the patient. In case of hay fever, it is enough to leave the area where the provoking tree or bush grows, and the symptoms are smoothed out.
• Acute respiratory diseases cannot be treated with antihistamines, unlike hay fever.

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Treatment spring allergies

The choice of treatment method depends on the stage of the allergy and the flowering season (beginning, middle or end). During the peak flowering season, treatment is aimed at maximally protecting the body from irritants and allergy-provoking antigens. Preparations that help neutralize the allergic reaction are divided into two categories:

Preventive measures

• Non-steroidal antiallergic drugs - ketotifen, which suppresses allergic mediators, cromogline.
• Selective local corticosteroids – prednisolone ointment, hydrocortisone ointment.
• Antihistamines – fenistil, claritin, loratadine and others.

In addition to drug treatment, spring allergies require the patient to follow certain rules:

• Ventilate the room daily, preferably at night, to minimize the possibility of street dust and pollen getting into the room.
• Close doors and windows, or cover them with special nets to prevent pollen from entering the room.
• If possible, avoid going outside in dry, hot, windy weather when the air humidity is low.
• Take showers more often to wash away as many tiny pollen particles as possible from your body.
• Dry bed linen and underwear indoors to avoid exposure to plant pollen.

When the flowering season ends, regularly take immunomodulatory drugs to reduce the risk of relapse in the fall.

Spring allergies are not just an unpleasant phenomenon, but often lead to an exacerbation of many associated diseases, so at the first symptoms of an allergic reaction, you need to contact an allergist to receive adequate professional help.

Prevention

In addition to avoiding contact with the plant that provokes an allergic reaction, it is necessary to exclude certain types of food from the diet several weeks before flowering. The fact is that certain food products contain antigens similar to substances that cause allergies. These are mainly foods made from provocative plants, as well as seasonings and greens. The list of products that activate pollinosis includes:

• Bananas and melons.
• Dill, celery.
• Hot pepper capsicum.
• Seeds, both sunflower and pumpkin, nuts.
• Drinks containing wormwood include balms and vermouths, especially white ones (the name vermouth comes from the German word Wermut – wormwood).
• Halva.
• Mustard and mayonnaise.
• Raw carrots.

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