Allergy to wormwood

Allergy to wormwood is a seasonal disease that can wreck the body; give prolonged runny nose and fever. Let's look at causes of allergy to wormwood, how to recognize symptoms and how to cure the allergy. Wormwood is Asteraceae plant, of silver-gray color with strong fragrant spicy smell and bitter taste. Wormwood can be of several types: plain, field and bitter.

Period of flowering of wormwood falls on July-September, just for period of summer heat and vacations. Wormwood grows like weeds, along railways, on vacant lots and fences.

Period of flowering of wormwood fully coincides with period of flowering of ragweed, so this period is dangerous for people with allergies and they must stay away from vegetation. One plant of wormwood can give hundreds thousands of seeds, which will be spread by wind to distance of 5 kilometers. Wormwood grows in Crimea, Caucasus, Central Asia and Western Siberia, but nowadays, you can find allergenic wormwood bush in any overgrown vacant lot or yard.

Despite the fact that wormwood is an allergen, drugs are made from it. For these purposes, wormwood is collected in flowering period, i.e. from July to September, by cutting off only tops of plants. Collecting wormwood is taken very seriously; as if you are one week late, medicinal properties of the plant will be lost. But why for some people wormwood becomes a medicine and for others a strong allergen that causes a severe allergic reaction?

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What causes allergy to wormwood?

Causes of allergy to wormwood are based on pollen of plant-allergen. All plants are divided into several groups: trees, grasses and weeds. Wormwood is a dangerous herb that by its pollen can cause severe allergic reaction. Note, that in spring, allergenic pollen is isolated by trees, which blooms, in summer - by grass in meadows and fields, but in autumn - by weeds.

High concentrations of allergenic pollen in air are present in the morning. Therefore, almost all allergists advise their patients with allergies to give up morning walks. Exactly high content of pollen in the morning is cause of illness at beginning of working day and stabilization of state in the evening.

Heredity is another cause of allergy to wormwood. Scientists have proved that if allergic parents will have child, there is a possibility with accuracy of 60%-90% that the baby will also suffer from allergy to wormwood. Healthy adult person, whose immune system is weakened, can get allergy to wormwood as well. Immunity significantly reduces its protective level due to alcohol consumption, smoking, cold, residing in adverse environmental areas, e.g., in industrial cities where air is already saturated with noxious gases and oxides which are deposited on lungs and not only provoke allergy to wormwood, but also strengthen it.

Symptoms of allergy to wormwood

Symptoms of allergy to wormwood are very similar to symptoms of seasonal allergies to other plants. Main symptoms of allergy to wormwood are:

• Allergic rhinitis and stuffiness, runny nose is accompanied by transparent, liquid secretions. In severe cases of allergy swelling of nasal mucosa is possible.
• Conjunctivitis and severe watery eyes.
• Bronchial asthma attacks, frequent sneezing, asthma and shortness of breath.

Symptoms of allergy to wormwood are totally dependent on month of flowering of plants, and tend to recur from year to year. Symptomatology of allergy to plant is totally dependent on number of pollen particles in air. So, windy, dry weather on hot summer day, bring a lot of trouble for allergic with allergy to wormwood. But during rain allergy is absent, since concentration of allergenic pollen in air is significantly reduced.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of allergy to wormwood is performed very quickly and do not present any particular difficulties. Search for link between exposures to allergen, that is, to wormwood, and emergence of above symptoms is first thing to do in diagnosis.

Only professional doctor allergist can accurately diagnose allergy to wormwood. During diagnosis patient must pass blood and urine tests, as well as undergo skin crops for allergens. Tests are conducted to confirm allergy to wormwood and identify threshold of sensitivity to plant allergens.

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Treatment of allergy to wormwood

Treatment of allergy to wormwood is based on protection from contact with allergen. In times of aggravation of allergy to wormwood, doctors recommend patients to do symptomatic therapy, which allows to get rid of unpleasant symptoms.

Intensive treatment is applied in severe cases of flow of allergy to wormwood, which cause violation of general condition. If allergy causes swelling, then special compresses and injections are performed which relieve swelling and abolish symptoms. With attacks of asthma and cough inhalation treatments should be carried out, and in severe cases respirators are prescribed for patient.

Treatment of allergy to wormwood includes:

• Taking of antihistamines. These are drugs that prevent progression of allergy symptoms. Medication may be in form of tablets or intramuscular or intravenous injection. Dosage and antihistamine drug itself is prescribed by doctor allergist. Please note, that antihistamines are hormones, so they must be taken with extreme caution and only when other methods of treatment and prevention have failed.
• Treatment of allergy symptoms using vasoconstrictors. These are nasal drops and drops from eye conjunctivitis. It is important to choose drug that does not damage nasal mucosa and blood vessels. Drops are taken several times a day.

All these methods of treating allergy to wormwood must be carried out each time, once allergy shows. But do not forget elementary rules of hygiene that will help to get rid of allergy symptoms at home. Make daily wet cleaning, do not open windows at night, and if open, then use special thick, or in other words, anti-allergic net that blocks small particles and pollen. Regularly take shower to wash away pollen particles, which came at you on the street and do not forget about healthy nutrition.

Prevention

Prevention of allergy to wormwood is based on complete avoidance of contact with allergen. Methods of prevention of allergy to wormwood include:

• Relocating into area where allergen is not growing or regular defeat of plant before it blooms.
• Do not walk out in windy, hot, dry weather in the morning. Since exactly during this period there is the highest concentration of allergen in air.
• Wear sunglasses that protect your eyes from tearing and conjunctivitis. Regularly wash clothes, which you wore at street, take shower and wash your hair. Avoid drying clothes outdoors, as allergen will likely come on clothes.
• Since peak of allergy is in summer, you should buy air conditioner, or at least get fan and humidifier.
• Do not use cosmetics and perfumes in acute allergies, as this will only aggravate symptoms and make disease more dangerous to health.
• Carefully watch your diet, be careful with honey and herbal teas, as they may have wormwood in contents.

Allergy on wormwood is common problem that can be localized. It is enough to fulfill all above recommendations, and then allergy will not spoil your holidays.