What is Seasonal allergy and how to diagnose it ?

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What is Seasonal allergy and how to diagnose it ?

• What is Seasonal Allergy?
• Seasonal allergy is commonly called hay fever.
  They result from exposure to airborne substances
  like pollen grains, that changes or appear
  during certain time periods, so their pollen
  allergy season may be from early spring up to
  late fall.
• When does Seasonal Allergy usually happen?
• The term hay fever is somewhat misleading because
  symptoms do not occur only in the summer when
  hay is traditionally gathered and it never
  includes a fever. Hay fever is usually a reaction
  to pollens and grasses. The pollens that cause
  hay fever vary by season
• Spring Usually trees (such as oak, elm, maple,
  alder, birch, juniper, and olive)
• Summer Grasses (such as Bermuda, timothy, sweet
  vernal, orchard, and Johnson grass) and weeds
  (such as Russian thistle and English plantain)
• Fall Ragweed
• Seasonal Allergy is also caused by mold spores,
  which can be airborne for long periods of time
  during the spring, summer, and fall.
• What are the symptoms of seasonal allergy?
• Seasonal allergies cause itchy skin, a runny
  nose, watery and redness of eyes, and sneezing.
  It can make the nose, roof of the mouth, back of
  the throat, and eyes itch. Itching may start
  gradually or

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abruptly. The nose runs, producing a clear watery
discharge, and may become stuffed up. The lining
of the nose may become swollen and bluish
red. The sinuses may also become stuffed up,
causing headaches and occasionally sinus
infections (sinusitis). Sneezing is common. The
eyes may water, sometimes profusely, and itch.
The whites of the eyes may become red, and the
eyelids may become red and swollen. Wearing
contact lenses can irritate the eyes
further. Many people who have allergic rhinitis
also have asthma (which results in wheezing),
possibly caused by the same allergy triggers
(allergens) that contribute to allergic rhinitis
and conjunctivitis. The severity of symptoms
varies with the seasons. How is seasonal allergy
diagnosed? An Allergy Specialist can usually
diagnose these allergies when typical symptoms
(such as a runny, itchy nose and itchy eyes)
develop during a particular season. Typically, no
testing is necessary, but occasionally, the
nasal discharge is examined to see whether it
contains eosinophils, typically present in an
allergic condition. Sometimes a skin test or an
allergen-specific immunoglobulin test will help
identifying the allergen. What are the options to
get rid of seasonal allergy? Regularly flushing
out the sinuses with a warm water and salt
(saline) solution may help loosen and wash out
mucus and hydrate the nasal lining. This
technique is called sinus irrigation. Corticostero
id nasal sprays, antihistamines, and
decongestants help relieve symptoms. When these
treatments are ineffective, a corticosteroid may
be taken by mouth or by injection for a short
time. One can even undergo allergen
immunotherapy if its a long standing
problem. What is Allergen immunotherapy? Allergen
immunotherapy also called as desensitization
helps some people when other treatments are
ineffective. It is needed in the following
situations when symptoms are severe, when the
allergen cannot be avoided, when the drugs
usually used to treat allergic rhinitis or
conjunctivitis cannot control symptoms. Allergen
immunotherapy for hay fever should be started
after the pollen season to prepare for the next
season. Immunotherapy has more side effects when
started during pollen season because the
allergens have stimulated the immune system.
Immunotherapy is most effective when continued
year-round. How to protect from seasonal
allergy? One can protect from seasonal allergy by
wearing an allergy mask, use air filters indoors,
keep windows and doors shut, change the clothes
after exposure, and shower before
bed. Resources American academy of Allergy
Asthma Immunology, Beaumont, MSD manuals,
Indian College of Allergy Asthma
Immunology. If you have any allergy related
issues feel free to contact Allergy Specialist in
Bangalore - Dr. Puneeth KN for a consultation.