Allergic diseases that occur in spring; It is known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, seasonal allergic asthma and seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. These diseases occur during the pollination time of meadow grasses, weeds, cereal crops and trees (in March - August), and sometimes they may appear as allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma attacks in autumn months due to the effect of mold fungi.
What are the triggers and symptoms of seasonal allergies?
The triggers of seasonal allergies are house dust mites, cat and dog antigens, indoor molds and cockroach antigens indoors. Outdoors, it is meadow, grass, tree pollen and outdoor molds.
Symptoms of seasonal allergies are nasal discharge, itching, sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, watering, itching on the palate, shortness of breath, chest tightness, dry cough. The incidence of seasonal allergies after the age of 10 is 10-15%, and these ailments can occur suddenly at any time in life.
What are the symptoms of seasonal allergies mixed with?
Since the symptoms of seasonal allergic diseases are similar, they can be confused with non-allergic rhinitis, vasomotor, infectious, hormonal and drug-induced rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis can also be accompanied by diseases such as rhinosinusitis, conjunctivitis, nasal polyps, otitis, sleep disorders and asthma. Seasonal allergic diseases occur with the interaction of genetic susceptibility, environmental factors and triggers. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is frequently seen in the family members of patients with allergic asthma with similar diseases.
How are seasonal allergies related to asthma?
Allergic rhinitis and asthma often coexist in the same individual. 80% of individuals with asthma have allergic rhinitis, and 40% of patients with allergic rhinitis have asthma. There are 3 different methods in the diagnosis of seasonal allergies.
- Evaluation of the complaint and the story
- Physical examination (Complete examination of the nose, eyes and respiratory system)
- Skin tests (Prick tests)
Prick skin tests are the most commonly used tests for diagnosis. These tests are inexpensive, simple, sensitive and give immediate results. In cases where allergy tests cannot be performed when necessary, the diagnosis is made by measuring specific "IgE" in the blood.
What are the treatment options for seasonal allergies?
Periodic treatment is applied in allergic rhinitis. The treatment can be applied in 3 steps.
- Prevention therapy: Avoiding allergens that cause allergic diseases and taking preventive measures. This is difficult with pollen allergy.
- Drug therapy: (pharmacotherapy): Antihistamines, intranasal corticosteroids, leukotriene antagonists, oral decongestants, intranasal anticholinergics are used.
- Vaccine Treatment (immunotherapy): There is no definitive treatment that eliminates seasonal allergic diseases. The only treatment that changes the natural course of allergic diseases is immunotherapy, that is, vaccine treatment.
What are the precautions that patients can take in their daily life?
If patients have increased complaints about pollen and seasonal allergies in the spring months, spending their time indoors more in April-May, changing their clothes after returning home and taking a shower, and not doing sports activities in the morning when pollen is high in the atmosphere are among the precautions they can take. In addition, untreated allergic diseases reduce the quality of life of the individual, as well as increase the severity of the disease and increase the probability of developing allergic asthma.
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