Seasonal allergies in spring in children. Seasonal allergies - features and prevention. Seasonal allergies in children

Hay fever is caused by the body's sensitivity to pollen and flowers. It is customary to distinguish seasonal waves of allergies, which correspond to periods of plant growth and weather conditions. In May, allergens include the flowering of birch, alder and oak. At the beginning of summer comes the period of allergies to poplar, pine, spruce, dandelions, and fescue. In mid-summer it is linden and meadow grasses (timothy, wheatgrass, etc.). And in August - quinoa, wormwood, ambrosia. September is characterized by allergies to hay, dry leaves and grass.

Causes of seasonal allergies

Main causes of seasonal allergies– exposure to plant pollen and substances contained in fruits, berries, vegetables, etc. on the human body. During flowering or when using these products in our menu, the likelihood of seasonal allergies becoming worse increases.

In addition, after the snow melts, a large amount of mold fungi and chemicals accumulated in the snow from car emissions and reagents that contribute to the appearance even before flowering begins: the appearance of red spots on the skin, cutting pain in the eyes, runny nose, unpleasant sensations in the throat, sore throat, cough, hives. In addition to allergy sufferers, people with chronic diseases of the skin and ENT organs are at increased risk. The following reasons contribute to a predisposition to allergies:

Hereditary factor (if one or two parents had an allergy, then there is a 70% chance that the child will also develop it);
Unfavorable environmental situation (industrial emissions and vehicle emissions);
A person's tendency to develop other types of allergies. In this case, seasonal allergy disease is a secondary disease;
The body is highly sensitive to certain allergens. The immune system begins to produce antibodies in response to allergens, such as pollen;
Chronic diseases of the bronchi and lungs;
Weakened immune system;
Harmful work (for example, contact with harmful substances through the skin, mucous membranes of the eyes, breathing).

Symptoms of spring-summer allergies in a child

Seasonal allergies (or hay fever) can have various manifestations: runny nose, sneezing, skin inflammation (rashes, pimples, peeling, redness) or even asthma attacks. But most often, the symptoms of hay fever are expressed in the form of a runny nose in combination with redness of the eyes (up to conjunctivitis).

Often a person confuses allergy symptoms with signs of a cold and may begin to self-medicate incorrectly. A number of differences between allergies and ARVI:

Rarely is there an increase in temperature;
sneezing becomes frequent;
nasal discharge is liquid and has a characteristic transparency;
headache as a result of intoxication from the effects of pollen on the body;
general weakness of the body;
insomnia;
itching appears in the nose, throat and ears;
nasal discharge and itching worsen in dry, windy weather, and weaken during rain;
Allergies usually last longer than a cold (the symptoms of a cold, as a rule, do not last longer than one week).

Features of allergies in children

In babies and preschool children, seasonal allergies often begin with clear snot, sneezing and rashes similar to diathesis (dry patches on the skin, redness, small rash with pimples, peeling of the skin), then the eyes become red, swollen and watery. In the initial stages, the disease can be confused with seasonal diseases.

Depending on the intensity of allergies, there may be purulent discharge eye (conjunctivitis) and asthma attacks. Sometimes asthma goes away as you get older. Some children experience severe ear congestion. A preschooler will complain to his mother about pain in his ears. And a younger baby will simply cry and experience pain when pressing on the ears. It is impossible to take the street out of the life of an adult, much less a child, from where allergens come en masse. The main danger of seasonal allergies is that they can combine with allergic reactions to dust or pets and lead to dermatitis or asthma.

How to treat seasonal allergies in a child?

Allergies should be treated not only at the time of exacerbation, but also prevention should be carried out on the eve of allergy season. You can effectively cope with allergies only if you complex treatment, experienced allergy sufferers have already been convinced of this for years.

Prevention of scoliosis.

Make sure your student wears the backpack with the straps on both shoulders. During a break between lessons, invite your child to walk around with a book on his head, imagining himself as a sultan. Monitor the height of the table and chair, as well as the firmness of the mattress on which your child sleeps.

While healthy children enjoy the warm sun and collect bouquets of spring flowers, children with allergies suffer from painful symptoms of hay fever.

Causes of allergies in spring

Hay fever – seasonal (spring) allergic reaction organism for flowering plants.

The cause of allergies in the spring is the penetration of allergens into the child’s body.

Plant pollen gets on the skin, the mucous membrane of the eyes and respiratory tract(nose, larynx). Penetrating into the body, allergens irritate the immune system, promote the production of antibodies, the release of histamine and other biological factors into the blood. active substances. As a result, symptoms of hay fever appear.

What is the source of spring allergies?

More than 100 types of plant allergens can cause an allergic reaction! Most often, allergies occur to the spring flowering of trees, shrubs, and flowers. For example, in April, walnut, oak, alder, birch bloom, in May - poplar, linden, apple tree, dandelions, coltsfoot. From spring to autumn, quinoa, ragweed, and wormwood bloom.

Symptoms of spring allergies in a child

The most common symptoms of spring allergies in a child:

Swelling and nasal congestion;
Frequent sneezing;
Itching and burning in the nose;
Clear and liquid discharge from the nose;
Itching, irritation, redness of the eyes;
lacrimation;
Swelling of the eyelids;
Photophobia, frequent blinking;
Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath;
Cough;
Rashes, redness, swelling, itching of the skin;
Dryness, flaking of the skin;
Moodiness and irritability;
Drowsiness or insomnia;
Lack of appetite.

How to distinguish an allergy from an acute respiratory disease?

Allergies are almost never accompanied by an increase in body temperature;
Symptoms of spring allergies appear annually at approximately the same time;
A child suffering from allergies feels much better at home. His health worsens on the street, especially when surrounded by flowering plants - in the park, in the forest. For a patient with an acute respiratory infection, the location does not matter;
The well-being of a child with allergies worsens on a dry and warm day, improves in rainy weather;
Nasal discharge is thick and thin, as opposed to the thick, cloudy discharge associated with a viral or bacterial infection;
In case of allergies, the cough is not accompanied by sputum production;
The acute respiratory infection lasts no more than a week. Symptoms of hay fever may appear over several spring and summer months;
If you notice that your child has allergies in the spring, consult a doctor immediately. Timely prevention and treatment of hay fever will help make you feel better and prevent the progression of the disease.

Treatment of allergies to spring blooms

The choice of treatment for hay fever depends on the stage of the disease and the flowering season of the plants causing the allergic reaction.

A month before the start of the flowering season, specific immunotherapy is carried out - antibodies are removed from the child’s body, causing symptoms hay fever;

During the flowering period, drugs are used that protect the body from the effects of allergens and relieve allergy symptoms: Antihistamines;

Antihistamines;
Local hormonal agents (ointments and creams);
Non-hormonal antiallergic drugs.

Important! Only a doctor should prescribe medications for the prevention and treatment of allergies in a child!

Close windows and doors to prevent pollen from flowering plants from entering the premises. Instead of ventilation, use an air purifier;
Frequently do wet cleaning of premises;
Minimize walks in dry, windy weather;
Frequently wash the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes, take a shower - to remove pollen from flowering plants from the body;
Dry bedding and clothes indoors to avoid pollen getting on things.

While healthy children enjoy the warm sun and collect bouquets of spring flowers, children with allergies suffer from painful symptoms of hay fever.

Hay fever is a seasonal (spring) allergic reaction of the body to flowering plants.

The cause of allergies in the spring is the penetration of allergens into the child’s body.

Plant pollen gets on the skin, the mucous membrane of the eyes and respiratory tract (nose, larynx). Penetrating into the body, allergens irritate the immune system, promote the production of antibodies, and the release of histamine and other biologically active substances into the blood. As a result, symptoms of hay fever appear.

What is the source of spring allergies?

Symptoms of spring allergies in a child

The most common symptoms of spring allergies in a child:

Swelling and nasal congestion;
Frequent sneezing;
Itching and burning in the nose;
Clear and liquid discharge from the nose;
Itching, irritation, redness of the eyes;
lacrimation;
Swelling of the eyelids;
Photophobia, frequent blinking;
Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath;
Cough;
Rashes, redness, swelling, itching of the skin;
Dryness, flaking of the skin;
Moodiness and irritability;
Drowsiness or insomnia;
Lack of appetite.

How to distinguish an allergy from an acute respiratory disease?

Allergies are almost never accompanied by an increase in body temperature;
Symptoms of spring allergies appear annually at approximately the same time;
A child suffering from allergies feels much better at home. His health worsens on the street, especially when surrounded by flowering plants - in the park, in the forest. For a patient with an acute respiratory infection, the location does not matter;
The well-being of a child with allergies worsens on a dry and warm day, improves in rainy weather;
Nasal discharge is thick and thin, as opposed to the thick, cloudy discharge associated with a viral or bacterial infection;
In case of allergies, the cough is not accompanied by sputum production;
The acute respiratory infection lasts no more than a week. Symptoms of hay fever may appear over several spring and summer months;
If you notice that your child has allergies in the spring, consult a doctor immediately. Timely prevention and treatment of hay fever will help make you feel better and prevent the progression of the disease.

Treatment of allergies to spring blooms

The choice of treatment for hay fever depends on the stage of the disease and the flowering season of the plants causing the allergic reaction.

A month before the start of the flowering season, specific immunotherapy is carried out - antibodies that cause symptoms of hay fever are removed from the child’s body;

During the flowering period, drugs are used that protect the body from the effects of allergens and relieve allergy symptoms: Antihistamines;

Antihistamines;
Local hormonal agents (ointments and creams);
Non-hormonal antiallergic drugs.

Important! Only a doctor should prescribe medications for the prevention and treatment of allergies in a child!

Close windows and doors to prevent pollen from flowering plants from entering the premises. Instead of ventilation, use an air purifier;
Frequently do wet cleaning of premises;
Minimize walks in dry, windy weather;
Frequently wash the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes, take a shower - to remove pollen from flowering plants from the body;
Dry bedding and clothes indoors to avoid pollen getting on things.

schoolofcare.ru

What are you allergic to in spring - a review of allergens and treatment methods

Allergies are more severe in spring than in any other season of the year. According to statistics, 85% of all allergy sufferers suffer from its exacerbation during this period. We’ll talk about why this happens, what the threat is and how to deal with the manifestations of this disease in this article.

Seasonal allergies are serious problem. Each season has its own list of the most aggressive allergens that cause the greatest number of problems. The peculiarity of this time of year is that the body, being weakened after the winter cold, lack of sunlight and vitamins, easily responds to the influence of any irritants.

The immune system is in a rather deplorable state; colds and exacerbations of any chronic diseases occur immediately.

In addition, the concentration of allergens is highest during this season. Thus, plants do not bloom in winter, there is no cold in summer, but in this “transitional” time of year absolutely all irritants can “work.” The air temperature outside is still unstable, there are frosts, and snow can fall even in May in some regions. And people, sensing the approaching heat, neglect warm clothes. Hence the allergy to cold.

So, what can you be allergic to in spring?

Spring allergens

Flowering plants cause a lot of trouble for allergy sufferers

As already mentioned, any known allergen can have its negative effects on susceptible people. Distributing them in order of decreasing influence during this season, you can get the following list:

pollen from plants (flowers, grasses, trees);
Pets;
food allergens;
medicines;
contact allergies (both to clothing and household chemicals);
mold fungus (activates by mid-May);
insects (also appear towards the end of spring).

Looking at this list, one can understand that allergies in early spring before plants bloom are quite likely, since allergy sufferers suffer not only from hay fever. It is difficult to judge when allergies end in spring, because the flowering time does not end on May 31, but continues until the end of September.

Hay fever

First of all, in the spring people are worried about reactions to pollen. Hay fever brings maximum inconvenience: allergies to flowering in the spring are rightfully considered by WHO to be a pathology that largely disrupts the usual way of life. To find out what blooms in spring during this period, you need to refer to the allergy sufferer's calendar.

Please remember that for each region Russian Federation this document is prepared separately. After all, the periods of activation of the plant world in Norilsk and Rostov-on-Don are significantly different.

However, by averaging the indicators, the most generalized flowering schedule can be identified:

Spring-autumn plant flowering calendar (can be enlarged)

hazel;
alder;
cypress.

birch;
ash;
maple;
dandelion;
cherry;
poplar;
lilac.

birch;
maple;
alder;
lilac;
beet;
pine;
Linden;
chestnut;
dandelion.

Despite the fact that there are quite a lot of allergens, there is an encouraging fact: weeds, which are the most powerful irritants, begin to bloom only in mid-summer.

It cannot be denied that this type of allergic reaction is relevant at any time. And if a person suffers from an allergy to oranges, then it will manifest itself in spring, summer, and autumn.

However, it is at this time of year that cross-allergies become most relevant.

Thus, in case of a hypersensitivity reaction to birch, symptoms may occur when consuming:

Photo: Rash on hands as a symptom of food allergy

apples;
cherries;
drain;
peaches;
carrots;
celery
and even potatoes.

Under “normal conditions,” severe allergies to these products do not develop. But as soon as birch pollen begins to hover in the air, it becomes simply impossible to consume these vegetables and fruits.

Household allergies

Allergies to dust and mold are not as common in the spring as they are in the fall. The fact is that fungi begin to become active only towards the end of spring, and the process of sporulation starts even later. Therefore, “mold allergy” is rather a problem end of the year.

But dust mites have an autumn-spring seasonality. People, “raking up rubble” in corners after winter, inhale large amounts of dust. As a result, many of them experience worsening allergies.

As for pets, they are especially “dangerous” at this time. First, active molting begins. And despite the fact that wool itself is not an allergen, it contains particles of proteins that cause negative reactions. With fur scattered throughout the apartment, they get into the respiratory tract and mucous membranes.

In addition, spring is the period of searching for a partner for reproduction. This means that all the animal’s hormonal and enzyme systems are activated in order to attract a “spouse”. The substances secreted by the beast become more active and “aggressive”.

Contact allergy

The seasonality of this disease is, of course, very arbitrary, but it does occur. On the one hand, people are starting to clean their house, wash windows, someone is doing repairs - hence the abundance of household chemicals, cleaning products and even building materials.

On the other hand, spring is also a time of love for people. This means that women are starting to use decorative cosmetics and perfume twice as actively. Skin dried out by winter weather requires intensive care. All these are “danger factors” for the development of allergic reactions.

In addition, people change from woolen clothes to lighter ones. But it's still too cold to wear cotton blouses. Hence the abundance of synthetics. And it very often causes skin allergies.

Medicines and insects

Photo: Red rash on the body - a severe allergic reaction to a drug

By the end of spring, mosquitoes and ticks are already beginning to become more active, but for this time of year this problem is not so relevant.

But the drugs used for the treatment of acute respiratory diseases and chronic exacerbations may well cause undesirable reactions.

For example, pneumonia very often appears in the spring, and it requires treatment with antibiotics. People with systemic autoimmune diseases (eg, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), require hormonal therapy, which also causes allergies.

Thus, allergies in spring are multifaceted and varied in their causes. What are its manifestations?

Symptoms of the disease

Allergy symptoms in spring, as at any other time of the year, are determined by its cause.

Pollinosis is characterized by:

cough;
nasal congestion;
runny nose and sneezing;
conjunctivitis (the eyes turn red, watery eyes begin, and there is a feeling of sand in the eyes);
possible occurrence or increase in frequency of attacks bronchial asthma.

Among the manifestations of contact allergies:

skin itching;
peeling;
redness, inflammation of areas of the skin in contact with the allergen.

Food allergies manifest themselves:

abdominal pain;
nausea, vomiting;
diarrhea;
flatulence,
as well as symptoms from “other groups”.

If we talk about how allergies can worsen in the spring, it is worth noting the high variety of symptoms. Often, allergy sufferers have reactions to several different irritants, so a person whose skin is red and itchy and sneezing while having a sore stomach is not that uncommon.

Allergies in children and pregnant women

Children are the most susceptible category of people. Allergies in children in spring differ in the intensity of symptoms and their diversity. After walking down the street during the period of allergen dust, a child may become worse literally before his eyes:

appears in a few hours severe runny nose,
frequent sneezing,
sore throat, cough,
redness of the eyes and nose.

The main danger of spring allergies for the children's population is that hay fever in them turns into bronchial asthma with incredible ease, especially if there is a hereditary predisposition for this.

Allergies to spring during pregnancy are especially dangerous in the first trimester, when all the main organs and systems of the fetus are developing.

Treatment of “spring allergies”

It is quite difficult to completely get rid of allergic reactions at home. Often (though not always) this requires the use of special immune methods, for example, allergen-specific immunological therapy. This is a kind of “vaccination” against allergens.

However, such treatment is used infrequently. In most cases, symptomatic remedies are used - those that eliminate the main manifestations of allergic reactions. These include antihistamines.

Preparations from 2 and 3 generations of antihistamines, available in the form of tablets and syrups, are easy to use and have a minimum side effects. Effective remedies for spring allergies:

Fenkarol,
Zyrtec,
Xizal.

There are also mast cell stabilizers, but drugs from this group can only be prescribed by a doctor to avoid irreversible consequences.

Enterosorbents are used to eliminate the symptoms of food allergies. For example:

Smecta,
Polyphepan,
Polysorb.

They help quickly remove the allergen from the body.

To relieve skin itching and inflammation, you can use local antihistamine and hormonal ointments.

The first include Fenistin, Gistan;
The second ones are Beloderm, Advantan.

However, uncontrolled use of glucocorticosteroid drugs can lead to a decrease in local immunity and the development of skin pustular infections.

Treatment with folk remedies is also acceptable.

However, it will be effective only in contact forms; it will not be possible to relieve general symptoms; it is only possible to support the body.

So, decoctions of chamomile, string, and bay leaves will help get rid of itching and flaking. They can be used in the form of compresses, lotions, and homemade ointments. Mumiyo, rosehip decoction, improves immunity well.

But extravagant means like vinegar should not be used. And it is important to remember that if you have an “allergy to spring,” folk remedies are not a panacea. After all, they can also cause undesirable effects. The reaction is the same as the original allergens, having exactly the same natural plant origin. Do not get carried away with herbs for coughs and intestinal manifestations.

Treatment of children and pregnant women

Most antihistamines are contraindicated in both categories. There is a very narrow group of medications that can be given to children:

Diphenhydramine,
Suprastin,
Pilpofen,
Fenistil.

They are available in the form of syrups and suppositories, so administering the drug will not cause problems.

Women expecting a baby can only take antihistamines from the 2nd trimester of pregnancy

An earlier appointment can only be made by a doctor and according to vital signs. To cope with allergies, only use local treatment- zinc ointment, nasal rinses, vitamin complexes.

Starting from the 2nd trimester, in serious cases, an antihistamine may be recommended, for example:

Zyrtec,
Allertek,
Pilpofen.

But Zyrtec is contraindicated for women who have already given birth, because it passes into breast milk.

In general, it is difficult to answer the question of what nursing mothers can do for allergies. The optimal solution is to stop breastfeeding for the duration of treatment and then return to it (if possible), or switch to mixed or artificial feeding.

Prevention

How to prevent allergies in spring? There are quite a lot of preventative measures:

Carry out wet cleaning in the house as often as possible;
Maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels in the house;
Wipe your shoes with a damp cloth and wash your clothes every time you go outside;
Wear a medical mask while walking;
Go outside in calm weather;
Walking after the rain;
Ventilate the room only in the evening;
Use air filters;
Comb and wash pets;
Do not wear synthetic clothing;
Minimize the use of cosmetics and household chemicals;
As prescribed by a doctor, take antihistamines or membrane-stabilizing drugs for preventive purposes;
Prevent the development of respiratory diseases, receive timely treatment, preventing diseases from becoming chronic;
Follow a diet.

What should you not eat if you have allergies in spring?

There is no definite answer to this question - it depends on what you are allergic to. However, you should avoid consuming potentially dangerous foods:

chocolate;
citrus fruits;
fish;
nuts;
wheat;
unripe fruits.

Where to go in the spring for allergies?

It is best to go to the northern regions or countries, where plants have not yet begun to bloom, where nature is still in a frozen state.

Thus, allergies in the spring are a serious problem that can cause a lot of inconvenience to susceptible people. She makes her own changes to the usual way of life. However, by following some preventive measures, you can reduce the inconvenience to a minimum.

allergy-center.ru

Insidious spring pollen. Allergies in spring in children

Spring has come, the sun is warming. Mothers are happy that their children will get colds less often. What if, with the arrival of spring and the flowering of plants, the child becomes less active, scratches his eyes, and sneezes?

Such symptoms may indicate a seasonal allergy to the insidious pollen of flowering trees and plants.

What is hay fever and how to live with it?

Today we will talk about spring allergies in children.

What is hay fever?
Signs of spring allergies
Tips for parents: what to do if children have spring allergies

What is hay fever?

Hay fever is allergic disease, which appears at any age. This is the so-called seasonal rhinitis, conjunctevitis, which occurs due to pollen from flowering plants and trees.

Pollen is weightless and is carried by the wind over long distances. In allergy sufferers, it causes inflammation of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract.

Most often, hay fever is observed in the month of April, when most trees begin to bloom.

The child begins to sneeze and has a runny nose. Many parents think that it is a common cold and begin to treat it themselves. And the cause of this condition is seasonal allergies.

What plants cause allergies in children?

One of the common allergens is plant pollen. Seasonal allergies or hay fever are the body's reaction to a protein that is part of plant pollen.

Dangerous plants, causing allergies

Trees and shrubs: birch, oak, alder, ash.

Herbs: ragweed, dandelion, wormwood, chamomile.

Cereals: rye, wheat, buckwheat.

More often, allergies are caused by pollen from wind-pollinated plants. It is small and quickly spread by the wind, entering the respiratory tract. Pollen fruit trees can also cause allergies. But it is larger and is not carried by the wind and does not enter the respiratory tract.

At what age does allergies begin?

In children who are predisposed to allergies, it is usually detected in the first year of life. For those less predisposed - on the second and third.

Much depends on the conditions in which the child lives. If there are animals in the house, cleaning is not done often, and the house is located next to a highway, then the risk of allergies is very high.

Allergies are the body’s response to poor ecology, dust and other harmful factors.

Factors influencing the occurrence of allergies

Parents smoking
Genetic predisposition
Bad ecology
Artificial feeding of a child in childhood
Vitamin D deficiency
Insufficient humidity in the room
Poor ventilation
Child obesity

If one parent suffers from allergies, then the child may also become allergic. By following the recommendations of doctors, you can get rid of allergies.

During pregnancy, a woman should monitor her diet and not overuse foods that cause allergies: chocolate, citrus fruits, honey, halva. Smoking and alcohol are not allowed for expectant mothers. major cities The number of people suffering from allergies is increasing.

Biologists noticed an interesting feature. There are more trees in the villages and there should be more pollen. But there are fewer allergy sufferers in villages than in big cities. Why is that?

Scientists have found that city trees generate dust more intensely and their pollen is “more evil” than village trees.

And the point here is carbon dioxide - ordinary carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide in the air is found in small quantities and is not harmful, but in large quantities it becomes dangerous. There are a lot of cars in cities and exhaust gases increase the concentration of carbon dioxide. And the trees begin to become very dusty; their pollen contains a lot of certain proteins, which are allergens.

Signs of spring allergies

This is severe paroxysmal sneezing, nasal discharge or, conversely, nasal congestion. All this is complemented by itching of the eyes, rashes on the skin, and sometimes a cough.

Such signs are often not accompanied by an increase in temperature and appear spontaneously. Therefore, you need to be careful and not confuse seasonal allergies with acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections.

Allergies usually begin at the same time of year, usually in spring or summer.

If a child has allergies to dust, animals or food, the likelihood of hay fever increases.

How to help a child with a pollen allergy

This is frequent wet cleaning, remove rugs from the floor, Stuffed Toys, change and wash bed linen more often. Be sure to install humidifiers. Hang a net on the windows and wipe it clean.

Children attending childcare centers will need to be given antihistamines.

Avoid contact with flowering plants that cause allergies. In summer, it is better to go to an area where there are no flowering herbs.

Firstly, do not delay contacting a specialist who will conduct research and prescribe treatment.

Many parents expect that hay fever will go away on its own in a couple of days; they treat their children on their own, on the advice of friends.

Only a doctor, based on the examination and tests performed, can prescribe correct treatment.

Therefore, the main advice is to immediately contact an allergist if you have seasonal allergies!

What else needs to be done?

In hot, windy weather, it is better not to go out for a walk, as the pollen concentration is high at this time.

Rinse your child's nose and eyes.

Today we talked about spring allergies in children and looked at its signs.

Be healthy! Write your comments.. Share the information with your friends if the article was useful to you.

Best regards, Olga.

deti-i-vnuki.ru

Spring allergies – to flowers, pollen, treatment, prevention, in the eyes, in the throat, in the nose, diet

We recognize spring allergies and take measures to prevent exacerbations and prevent serious diseases.

Causes

Allergy is a complex and complex immune reaction of the body of an individual nature to some aggressive factors of the external and internal environment.

Upon a quick assessment, it is a rather harmless ailment, and is just a trigger that causes much more dangerous diseases: asthma, edema.

With the active development of the food and chemical industries, the growth of allergic morbidity has increased sharply.

According to doctors, today more than 20% of people worldwide suffer from this disease. A colossal figure.

The causes of its occurrence are a subject of debate among both practitioners and theoreticians around the world.

Some experts assign a large role to genetic factors, others to the nature of potential allergen substances, and still others will say that the root of the problem lies in endogenous causes.

Everyone will be right, but only partly.

Allergies should not be considered as a common disease caused by one specific cause. There is a whole range of reasons involved here.

The combination of reasons is determined by the following factors:

genetics;
frequency of interaction with a particular substance;
psychosomatic factors.

How do allergens affect the human body?

At the cellular level, an allergic reaction looks like this:

Concomitant factors causing exacerbation

Among the factors that initiate the occurrence of an allergic reaction there are many household and environmental components.

Climate component

It is situational in nature.

In a warm climate, the level of ultraviolet radiation is higher, as well as the flowering of local flora is more active and diverse.

When they come into contact with the skin and are exposed to ultraviolet light, they cause an immune reaction.

Flowering activity and a variety of vegetation in warm climates mean many pollen particles, which in themselves are a powerful allergen.

Increased air humidity (in humid climates) can also cause exacerbations.

Region

If the region is characterized by changing seasons, the problem of exacerbation will be seasonal.

It is especially difficult for allergy sufferers in spring and autumn.

Allergies to spring flowering occur most frequently and are almost the most common, along with allergic reactions to animal fur and food irritants.

Environmental component

Industrial emissions of chemically active substances into air and water are one of the main causes of exacerbations in people with chronic allergies.

The impact of the environmental component on residents of large industrial cities is especially significant.

Exhaust gases cause no less harm, about 70% of which are fuel particles.

In regions with significant deposits of peat and other fossil fuels, people are exposed to smoke (especially in the spring and summer).

It is problematic to exclude these aggressive external factors.

Lifestyle and diet

Even a natural product can cause allergies. Honey, nuts, etc.

The problem of consuming allergenic foods is especially pressing in the spring.

To increase yields, unscrupulous producers use dangerous chemical fertilizers.

Salts - nitrates (salts with an acidic NO3 residue) are aggressive and cause severe allergic reactions.

Past illnesses

The immune response may be stronger after a viral illness.

In spring and autumn, human immunity is weakened, and susceptibility to colds increases.

As a result, there is a risk, even after recovering from an acute respiratory infection, of getting a serious complication of an allergic reaction.

Symptoms of manifestation

Before our eyes

Allergic eye damage is a common phenomenon and is due to the openness of the mucous membrane and a small amount of protective tissue.

In spring, the eye most often reacts precisely to plant pollen, which is deposited on the unprotected membranes of the eye.

Among the symptoms:

inflammation of the eyelids The severity of inflammation depends on the degree of individual reaction to the irritating substance;
inflammation of the conjunctiva (can provoke allergic conjunctivitis);
unbearable itching In eyes;
active production of lacrimal gland secretion;
fear of light;
dryness and burning of the eyes caused by drying out of the mucous membrane;
with allergic conjunctivitis, rejection of purulent contents is also possible;

In the throat

Symptoms occur as a result of swallowing or inhaling an allergen substance.

Example: inhaled pollen is partially deposited on the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract.

Or, when swallowed, particles of food and liquid irritate the mucous membranes.

Among the manifestations:

discomfort in the throat;
swelling (including the palate, uvula) and redness;
pain when trying to swallow;
the appearance of dense, painful blisters with liquid on the mucous membrane (ulcers in the throat arise as a result of the massive death of leukocytes and damaged cells, which, when mixed with the cellular fluid, are rejected);
change in voice (up to complete loss);
cough and tickling sensation.

With a strong immune reaction, inflammation of the larynx or trachea is also possible.

As a result, the gaps narrow and suffocation increases. Such swelling is dangerous and requires immediate medical attention.

From the nose

Symptoms:

Are common

In the absence of a serious immune reaction to the allergen, general symptoms are limited increased fatigue, or they are not there at all.

An individual reaction can occur at the level of the whole organism (in case of serious allergic diseases and conditions, such as Quincke's edema or anaphylactic shock)

In this case, the following symptoms may occur:

significant drop in blood pressure. In severe cases - to critical levels, which can lead to collapse;
dizziness and nausea;
difficulty breathing;
slow reaction;
pallor of the skin (or redness, as with Quincke's edema);
confusion;
noise in ears.

The presence of general symptoms indicates a fairly serious allergic reaction, which means immediate medical attention is required.

Diagnostic methods

You can diagnose and determine the allergen either independently or with the help of qualified specialists:

The first and easiest way is to stop coming into contact with the allergen. If, presumably, there is an allergic reaction to a particular substance, you should limit contact with it as much as possible, and based on observations, draw a conclusion about the presence and nature. This is the so-called elimination test;
If we are talking about pollen, it is quite difficult to exclude interaction with it in the spring. Therefore, conclusions must be drawn on the basis of seasonal observations (if in winter the symptoms disappear under the same other conditions, there is reason to assume a reaction to pollen);
conducting skin tests. Damage occurs during testing upper layers dermis (by scarification, or hypodermic injection). Then a solution of various allergens is applied to the damaged areas (or injected subcutaneously) and the nature of the immune reaction is observed.
as a result, if an individual reaction of the body is present, local symptoms: redness and inflammation, and the more intense they are, the higher the degree of immune reaction;
lg E antibody analysis. Allows, based on the analysis of specific antibodies contained in venous blood, to identify types of allergens;
provocative tests. Most dangerous method requiring the constant presence of a doctor in inpatient conditions. It is carried out by introducing a particular allergen into the body in small quantities. Then observation is carried out.

Video: Disease Prevention

Treatment

Drugs

Treatment for spring allergies should only be prescribed by a doctor.

Without the necessary knowledge, the patient is more likely to harm himself than to help:

treatment of allergic eye reactions;
First of all, it is necessary to eliminate contact with the allergen (remove foreign body, rinse eyes with running water, and if contact lenses– remove them first);

Local medications are used to relieve symptoms:

drugs stabilizing mast cell membranes (Cromoglin, Ifiral, Lecrolin, etc.) for local action in the form of drops;
antihistamines for oral administration (Tavegil, Eslotin, Claramax, etc.);
treatment of an allergic reaction from the nose.
contact with the allergen is eliminated;
then you need to restore nasal breathing. For this purpose, drugs of the following classes are used:

to relieve swelling and constriction of blood vessels: Nazivin and others;
topical immunomodulatory drugs: Vilozen, etc.;
hormonal drugs (if severe course or chronic form): Flexonase, Avamys;
Lecrolin spray and Kromhexal drops perform well;
to alleviate the general condition, take antihistamines;
treatment of an allergic reaction from the throat;
due to their danger, they require more serious treatment. First, the allergen that caused the reaction is eliminated;
then it is necessary to relieve the swelling, otherwise the further development of suffocation may threaten a person’s life. Glucocorticoid hormones, as well as MgSo4 (magnesium sulfate), are administered intravenously;
antihistamines are taken.

Folk remedies

If the allergic reaction is mild, it causes more discomfort than danger.

You can relieve such an attack yourself, knowing a few simple folk remedies:

ocular manifestations. The most effective is chamomile infusion. When preparing, the following proportion is used: 1 tablespoon per 400 grams of water. Infusion time is 25 minutes. Rinse 2-3 times a day;
to relieve swelling and redness - lotions made from grated vegetables (potatoes, apples, etc.);
manifestations from the nose:

Bran decoction. A decoction is prepared in the proportion of 1 tablespoon of bran per 400 g of hot water and infused for an hour and a half. Taken on an empty stomach.

Another effective recipe:

calamus root (25 g);
elecampane root (25 g);
mother and stepmother (50 g);
wild rosemary (50 g);
citvar seed (125 g).

Proportion – 1 tablespoon per 400 g of water. Infuse for 12 hours, after which it is taken 2-4 times. You can rinse your nose with chamomile infusion that has been left for 8 hours.

manifestations from the throat. An herbal tincture is used to relieve throat swelling

chamomile (25 g);
St. John's wort (25 g);
sage or string – 25 g.

The crushed collection is brewed in the proportion of 1 tablespoon per 500 g of water and infused for 8 hours.

Use for rinsing 3-5 times a day.

Simple recipes will help relieve mild symptoms.

But you need to be aware that an allergic reaction can be observed on your own medicinal plants, and then the effect will be the opposite.

You should not abuse traditional methods.

Diet for spring allergies

In the spring, when the likelihood of exacerbation is especially high, it is necessary to remove foods that have allergenic properties from the diet. However, if an exacerbation does occur, you need to establish a strict diet.

Of course, the diet must be selected strictly according to the individual characteristics of the body and its specific reactions to allergens. However, general, universal rules still exist.

Acute period

IN acute period You can include the following foods in your diet:

bakery products: wheat bread (not freshly baked);
cereal soups, or soups prepared with vegetable decoctions;
oat and buckwheat porridge with water;
water, weak tea.

As symptoms subside, you can expand your diet to include:

meat dishes: lean beef or poultry. Boiled or baked;
egg dishes: no more than 1 egg per day;
low-fat dairy products;
fruits: fresh or dry. No more than 0.5 kg per day;

Fatty meat products, offal, as well as coffee, chocolate, products that have bright pigmentation or are flavored with artificial colors should be completely excluded.

Prevention

Since the only true and radical treatment Allergy does not exist; prevention is more important in the fight against it.

To prevent the disease from occurring (or exacerbation during remission) in the spring, you need to follow a few simple tips:

Stay outside as little as possible. Spring is the peak of flowering. Consequently, in the presence of a pollen disease, an exacerbation is almost guaranteed. In addition, in the spring, the sun's activity increases, and the level of air humidity fluctuates sharply (it is already undesirable for allergy sufferers to breathe excessively humidified air, but increased humidity also causes the development of mold in the house, the spores of which are the strongest allergen);
Plants most actively spray pollen particles between 20.00 and 11.00. In the late evening and at night. You should not go out during these hours;
exclude brightly pigmented foods and the first fresh fruits and vegetables from the diet, due to the high content of salts and nitrates;
When going outside, it is best to wear sunglasses. Then there will be at least some kind of barrier between the eye and the external environment. This will prevent pollen from settling on the mucous membrane of the eye;
wash your face more often. After each visit to the street, wash yourself thoroughly, rinsing your eyes and nose. Adhering pollen particles may not cause a reaction immediately, but later.

In addition to specific measures to prevent allergies in the spring, it is worth adhering to more general advice:

In spring, it is almost impossible to hide from plant pollen. It is better not to open windows and doors unless necessary. It is better to ventilate in the early morning hours, after covering the openings with gauze soaked in water;
the house should be provided normal level humidity. It shouldn't be too dry or too humid. Special household appliances will help with this;
You should not dry clothes outside;
in the spring, you need to increase the amount of water consumed. When the body is dehydrated, histamine is produced more actively;
Wet cleaning should not be neglected. House dust allergen is no less aggressive;
If possible, avoid using synthetic substances (household chemicals). Its fragrances can act as a secondary allergen;
limit contact with pets. Epidermal allergens can cause an immune reaction;
Under no circumstances should you independently change the dosage or stop taking medications prescribed by your doctor;

Predisposition

An individual's predisposition is genetically determined.

If the parents are allergy sufferers, the probability of the child developing the disease will be from 50 to 75% or more. If one of the parents is susceptible to the disease or has a predisposition to it, the probability is up to 50%.

And even when the parents have no symptoms and are completely healthy, the possibility of having a child predisposed to this disease will be 20%.

This is especially evident when parents have specific allergies.

But even if both the father and mother are allergic, this does not mean that the disease will necessarily manifest itself in the child.

The disease itself is not inherited, only a predisposition is possible, which, with proper prevention, will remain unrealized.

Despite all that has been said, the role of genetic factors on the mechanism of occurrence has not been fully studied.

How to distinguish from a cold

Allergies can be distinguished from colds by the following signs:

speed of symptoms. Incubation period An infectious disease can last from several tens of hours to several days or more. Allergies develop rapidly. It takes several hours;
Allergies cause severe itching in the nose, and the amount of secretion increases sharply;
cough without sputum (not counting manifestations of bronchial asthma). The attacks are obsessive in nature. With a cold, the cough is almost always constant in intensity;
ocular manifestations. During an allergic reaction, the eyelids quickly swell and the mucous membranes take on a reddish tint. Eyes itch and itch;
skin manifestations. Allergies are accompanied by rashes;
symptoms occur situationally, upon contact with an allergen (for example, seasonally);
A cold is characterized by a headache, as well as a “hissing” sore throat;
heat. No allergies;
colds take a long time to heal. Symptoms may persist for up to 2 weeks;
The discharge from a cold has an opaque consistency. Yellow or brown. The nose is unevenly stuffed;

Consequences of self-medication

Treatment of allergies requires special knowledge and a competent, comprehensive approach.

By prescribing treatment for yourself, a person risks encountering a number of problems:

inefficiency. Symptomatic treatment can suppress the main manifestations, while the disease itself will not go away and will develop. At best, allergic symptoms will recur periodically (as a result of an acquired chronic disease); at worst, they may develop serious illness: bronchial asthma, Quincke's edema, etc. And then the disease will not become a temporary spring problem, but a constant companion that complicates life;
the likelihood of complications. Symptoms that seem harmless at first glance can cause complications (for example, with an allergic eye infection, corneal erosion is possible, etc.);
side effects of drugs. Hormonal and other drugs used in the treatment of allergic diseases have serious side effects;
the likelihood of emergency conditions. If symptoms appear, you should urgently seek medical help to avoid the development of emergency conditions;

FAQ

What causes the disease?

As a rule, the basis is an immune reaction, since the immune system switches from solving the problem of combating truly dangerous external factors (viruses, bacteria) to responding to the allergen.

Why is this happening?

Because the immune system of a person of the 21st century is not sufficiently loaded with work.

Is the disease related to vaccination?

There is no such connection.

Is it possible to be completely cured?

To date, no such treatment exists.

General mechanisms of allergies
Seasonal allergies
Treatment
Allergies and pregnancy

Allergies year-round and seasonal

There are no fundamental differences between allergic conditions that occur year-round and those that are seasonal. In the first option, antigens do not depend on the biological rhythms of plants; encountering them is random.

With seasonal manifestations of the disease, allergens (pollen and spores) are associated with the time of year, temperature, air humidity and other natural conditions.

Otherwise, the mechanisms of the pathology are no different from any others - they are based on the same immune reactions of antigen-antibody interaction, so drugs for seasonal allergies are largely universal for all its manifestations.

General mechanisms of allergies

Any allergic disease is caused by the body's hypersensitivity to certain substances or physical factors. Why is this happening?

Emergence of predisposition

There is no single cause for allergies; they are caused by a combination of factors, including:

hereditary predisposition;
chronic infections;
diseases that cause serious metabolic disorders (diabetes mellitus, etc.);
hormonal changes;
intoxication (industrial and household pesticides, alcohol, drugs);
psycho-emotional trauma.

Sensitization

The combination of one or another of the mentioned factors leads to an increased readiness of the immune system for a protective reaction, which can occur without a significant reason - in response to the entry into the body of a completely neutral substance. healthy person antigen.

Against the background of readiness for allergies, penetration of a certain substance into the bloodstream or mucous membranes leads to the synthesis of antibodies, which accumulate and remain in the blood. Subsequent arrivals of the same antigen will provoke an immune attack and the formation of antigen-antibody complexes, which can cause the release of inflammatory mediators from histiocyte cells.

Inflammatory mediators (treatment of seasonal allergies always includes drugs that neutralize their effect) cause external manifestations illnesses (bronchial spasms, skin rashes, copious discharge mucus from the upper respiratory tract, swelling, etc.).

Seasonal allergies

With seasonal allergies, antigens enter the body during breathing, as well as through direct deposition on the skin and mucous membranes. The routes of penetration largely determine the external manifestations of the disease - allergic rhinitis (runny nose) in combination with conjunctivitis, bronchial asthma, etc. Seasonal allergies in children are often “masked” as a cold.

Symptoms:

copious secretion of mucus from the nasal passages;
burning and sore throat and nose, causing coughing and sneezing;
irritation of the conjunctiva, its redness, feeling of “sand” in the eyes, lacrimation and photophobia;
shortness of breath, which can develop into attacks of suffocation;
skin rashes accompanied by itching;
intestinal dysfunction - abdominal pain, diarrhea;
deterioration of general condition - weakness, fatigue, headaches, decreased performance, irritability.

Conjunctivitis due to seasonal allergies

Treatment

Remedies for seasonal allergies, on the one hand, are aimed at general mechanisms this pathology, on the other hand, must take into account the characteristics of a particular disease. Below are the main drugs and organizational events aimed at combating seasonal allergies.

Allergy website

Hay fever or seasonal allergies are the reaction of the immune system to certain irritants that interact with the human body during certain periods and seasons. It is no coincidence that seasonal allergies were called hay fever; this word has the Latin root pollen, which means pollen. People suffered from hay fever before; in ancient Greece they sang the “food of the gods” - ambrosia nectar, which, by the way, was completely unsuitable for either those in power or common people, since it caused them severe skin rashes and suffocation.

Galen also briefly mentioned a disease resembling seasonal allergies; later Dr. Van Helmont associated massive coughing attacks with flowering trees. But the first concrete descriptions of the disease, called hay fever, date back to the beginning of the 19th century. The English healer Bostock officially designated a seasonal allergic reaction, linking it with the provoking factor – hay. More than 50 years later, his compatriot Dr. Blackley proved that seasonal allergies are caused by pollen. A decade later, a message about hay fever appeared in Russia, in St. Petersburg, it was made by Dr. Silich at an open meeting of the organization of Russian doctors. Massive clinical manifestations of seasonal allergies date back to the 50-60s of the last century; the first outbreak of hay fever was noted in Krasnodar region, where ragweed began to multiply, the seeds and pollen of which were imported from the American states along with a cargo of food (grain).

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

Causes of seasonal allergies

In the clinical sense, hay fever has been studied very extensively, fortunately, there was always plenty of material - patients suffering from rhinitis, skin rashes, shortness of breath. But the etiology and causes of seasonal allergies have only recently been determined. Previously, it was believed that the main factor triggering allergies was related 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:

In 25%-30% of cases, a mother suffering from allergies gives birth to children with allergic reactions.
20-25% of allergy sufferers have allergic heredity on their father's side.
50% of children born to fathers and mothers with allergies have a history of allergies.

Scientists have found specific genes that allergic parents pass directly to the baby, literally from the first hours of conception. In such children, a deficiency of the secretory function of immunoglobulin IgA is formed, which further contributes to sensitization of the body and an aggressive immune response to exposure to pollen of plants, trees and grasses.

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

The population of territories where the environmental situation is considered unfavorable.
People with a history of allergies of another type, when the provoking factor is medications, food, chemical compounds. Hay fever in such cases is a secondary disease; an example of this is the reaction to houseplants, unable to produce pollen.
Patients with chronic bronchopulmonary diseases.
People with weakened immune systems.
Workers in professions associated with hazardous 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 at seasonal intervals.

The pathogenetic mechanism for the development of hay fever is due to sensitization, “accustoming” of the immune system to allergens of pollen and fungal spores, of which today there are from 500 to 700 species. It has been established that 50 subspecies of pollen allergens are the most aggressive and widespread; these are, as a rule, plants and trees that grow everywhere, are unpretentious to weather changes and can survive in almost any climate. Each species is capable of acting as an antigenic determinant and provoking an atypical response from the immune system. In addition, pollen allergies can contribute to cross-sensitization, when the trigger is not pollen, but an obligate food allergen.

The causes of seasonal allergies, or more precisely, the culprits of the allergic reaction are the following trees and plants:

Birch and its subspecies.
Alder.
Hazel (hazel).
Linden.
Ash.
Sycamore.
Cypress.
Maple.
Walnut.
Flowering weeds – wormwood, ragweed.
Meadow flowering grasses – clover, timothy, alfalfa.
Cereals – buckwheat, oats, rye, wheat.

Seasonal allergies in spring

Spring is the time for the revival of nature, flowering and reproduction of plants. It is the spring period that is considered the most aggressive in the allergic sense, second only to the beginning of autumn in the number of exacerbations of hay fever, when ragweed comes into its own. Seasonal allergies in the spring most often manifest themselves as rhinoconjunctival symptoms; rashes and urticaria are less common. As such, the spring allergic period starts in early April and ends in May. At the end of April, the most allergic trees, birch and alder, are revived and begin to bloom. Hazel blooms a little later, although it all depends on the area where the trees “reside” and climatic conditions. The pollen produced by birch can spread for many kilometers, so a person suffering from allergies and not having these white-trunked beauties under his window is sometimes perplexed after a diagnosis that determines the birch allergen. In addition, poplar fluff, which is often blamed for all allergic “sins” of which it is not guilty, can also spread pollen. On southern territories poplar blooms quite early; already at the end of May it covers the ground with fluff, which is an excellent transport vehicle for heavier pollen. Nearby flowering trees are often adjacent to poplars, so their pollen settles on the downy seeds and is spread everywhere.

The symptoms that manifest seasonal allergies in the spring can debut long before the actual flowering; about 50% of allergy sufferers begin to notice tearing and redness of the 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’s difficult to breathe. Sneezing attacks are typical, and the mucus secreted from the sinuses has a clear, liquid consistency.
Allergic conjunctivitis - the eyes become red and swollen. Tearfulness, photophobia, and a feeling of “specks” in the eyes appear.
Attacks of shortness of breath, similar to bronchial asthma. The cough is frequent, persistent, exhausting, and it is difficult to exhale.
Dermatitis, most often atopic. The skin itches, a rash appears, and weeping or dry blisters appear.
An exacerbation of symptoms can 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 the spring are accompanied by increased body temperature, headaches, decreased appetite, general poor condition. It is no coincidence that in many developed countries They 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 also their productivity drops by almost half. In addition, European countries have a good tradition of watering the streets early in the morning, this is especially effective in the spring - it’s clean and the pollen is washed away.

Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Hay fever is not much different from other types of allergic reactions in terms of the pathogenetic mechanism; the symptoms of seasonal allergies develop according to the classical pattern - from the nasal, respiratory tract, going lower - into the bronchi and lungs. However, hay allergies also have differences; they are associated with conjunctival symptoms. In addition to the nose, an allergy sufferer’s eyes also suffer; pollen settles on the eyeball, penetrates the mucous membranes and gives rise to aggressive immune processes. The first reaction of the immune system is recognition of the allergen, which is not always functional, 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, and this is how the process of sensitization, a kind of adaptation, occurs.

In order for the symptoms of seasonal allergies to manifest themselves and develop into a recognizable clinical picture, a minimal portion of pollen is sufficient. However, in children, signs of hay fever can be hidden, and sensitization is also asymptomatic. Only after a few weeks or even months does the child develop 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 tearing.
Rhinitis or rhinosinusitis.
Cough and bronchospasm.

The following symptoms are typical for seasonal allergies:

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

Bronchospastic manifestations do not occur in every allergy sufferer; if measures are taken in time, shortness of breath and spasm may not appear, however, in 30% of patients with a history of exacerbations from previous seasons, asthmatic attacks still happen. The most threatening consequence of bronchospasm is considered to be Quincke's edema, which develops in a matter of minutes and requires emergency medical attention.

The general condition of hay fever often resembles the signs of acute respiratory viral infection or a cold, but without fever. In addition, seasonal allergies can manifest themselves in the form of pollen intoxication, when a person begins to have a migraine attack, develops weakness, irritability, and disturbed sleep. If pollen enters the digestive system, which often happens with cross allergies, nausea and abdominal pain occur, which often makes it difficult to primary diagnosis– allergy symptoms can be so nonspecific. 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 similar to an allergic reaction appear, 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 result, decreased immune defense.
Living in an environmentally unfavorable environment.
Violation or sudden change nutrition, especially in infancy.
Late or incorrect vaccination.
Artificial feeding.
Dysfunction of the digestive system.

Seasonal allergies in children can occur nonspecifically, like “masked” hay fever. Allergies can manifest as pain and congestion in the ears in the absence of the classic picture of hay fever symptoms. In some children, the allergic reaction looks like partial and transient redness of the eyes, a habit of constantly touching the nose - doctors figuratively call this symptom “allergic fireworks”. Sometimes children begin to cough and the allergy may be similar to typical bronchial asthma without rhinoconjunctival signs. The exact cause of the illness can only be determined by an allergist using a specific diagnosis that identifies a specific allergen.

Seasonal allergies during pregnancy

Almost all groups of the population are susceptible to hay fever, and pregnant women are no exception. Seasonal allergies during pregnancy follow the same pattern as in other patients, the main triad is lacrimation and conjunctivitis, runny nose, cough and possible bronchospasm. Skin rashes with hay fever 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 special regime, therefore, signs of hay fever may appear in an atypical form. The most indicative criterion for determining the root cause of discomfort is family history. If a pregnant woman's parents have allergies, it is likely that the woman also has a predisposition to allergies. There are also features in the differential diagnosis of hay fever in pregnant women, for example, rhinitis in the third trimester may not be a signal of allergies, but due to the influence of changes in hormonal levels (progesterone). Therefore, as a rule, accurate diagnosis can be established only after childbirth, when the function of the hormonal system is normalized, and during pregnancy only correct symptomatic therapy is carried out.

If seasonal allergies do appear during pregnancy, then the main rules for the patient are constant monitoring by a doctor and maximum elimination of the provoking factor. Dynamic observation by an allergist is necessary to reduce the risk of developmental pathologies in the baby, because if the mother has a persistent cough or nasal congestion, especially in the case of bronchospasm, fetal hypoxia is possible. The expectant mother has a much harder time with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), and 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 allergic parents are predisposed to allergic reactions.
If a seasonal allergy appears 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 possible at 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; it is much more dangerous than exacerbation and pathology of the fetus with untreated hay fever. In addition, in 1.5% of expectant mothers during pregnancy, a reaction to pollen causes severe bronchospasm and angioedema, so refusal of symptomatic treatment at a minimum poses a threat to health, and at maximum to life in general. Currently, there are many gentle methods of antiallergic therapy, safe means that do not affect the course of pregnancy and fetal development. Most often, drugs are prescribed in nasal form; systemic antihistamines can only be prescribed in exceptional cases, with exacerbations and threats to life. Of course, the simplest and most free of complications is the method of elimination, that is, refusal of contact with the provoking situation or factor. Pregnant women prone to allergies need to choose a time and place for walks, after which they must wash their 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. Please note that the trigger may not be pollen, but mold spores, so home hygiene must be observed very carefully. Limiting the use of household chemicals, gentle hypoallergenic diet, a positive attitude and trust in the doctor’s experience and knowledge will help the expectant mother safely survive the pollen flowering season and prepare for childbirth.

Temperature for seasonal allergies

Among the symptoms of hay fever may be an increase in temperature. Temperature in seasonal allergies is not a specific symptom and is quite rare, but if it occurs, it greatly complicates the diagnosis of the disease. This is due to the fact that quite often an allergy to plants is clinically similar to the picture of ARVI, acute respiratory infections, especially in the initial period. A runny nose, malaise, headache, lack of rash - all this can mislead the patients themselves, who begin to treat a false cold on their own. Uncontrolled use of drugs not only erases typical symptoms allergies, but also complicates its course, which can result in hyperthermia as the body’s most aggressive reaction to the inflammatory process.

Most often, fever due to seasonal allergies occurs in young children. Especially when hay fever manifests itself in the form of a rash and urticaria. A febrile state during allergies is an adaptive, compensatory mechanism of the body to the influence of a non-infectious aggressive factor. Main role interleukin (IL), an intercellular mediator that is activated during inflammatory processes, plays a role in the pathogenesis of increased temperature. In children, the level of IL is always slightly higher due to age characteristics, so their hyperthermia lasts quite a long time, sometimes even after it subsides acute symptoms. 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, an increase in temperature is extremely rare, and can serve as a signal of exacerbation of a concomitant infectious disease, but not hay fever. The main medicine that relieves fever is paracetamol and its derivatives. When prescribing an antipyretic, the doctor always takes into account the characteristics of the patient, the course of the allergic reaction and the advisability of taking an antipyretic in principle. Usually, elevated temperature with seasonal allergies, it 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 a survey of the patient and taking into account the special flowering calendar of carminative flora common in a particular area.

In addition to collecting anamnesis, including family history, diagnosing seasonal allergies involves conducting allergy tests, which identify the main “culprit” of the aggressive immune reaction. Determining the “culprit” of sensitization

carried out in several ways:

Endonasal provocative allergy tests.
Conjunctival provocative tests.
Prick-test, microinjection test.
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 immunological analysis of blood serum). At the height of the season, eosinophilia can be detected in nasal mucus, but this is a nonspecific sign indicating a specific type of allergy, much less an allergen.

Diagnosis of seasonal allergies may include the following areas:

General clinical examination - blood and sputum tests.
Instrumental examination of the nasal sinuses, bronchopulmonary system.
Specific allergy tests outside the palination season.
Consultations of related specialists - dermatologist, immunologist, ENT doctor, pulmonologist.

Treatment of seasonal allergies

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

Preventive agents are non-steroidal antihistamines. These medications are able to inhibit the very initial phase of the immune response to the allergen. Preventing the secretion of inflammatory mediators and suppressing the production of histamine 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 the drug can be either tablets or intranasal, in the form of sprays, powders for inhalation, and aerosols. For children there is convenient form- a syrup that is no less effective and is well accepted by children. Ointments and gels, as a rule, contain glucocorticosteroids in their composition. Local corticosteroids are very active against skin rashes, relieve itching and inflammation well, but act in a slow mode (penetrate the skin), so they are combined with dosage forms, capable of quickly stopping the manifestations of allergies.
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 form convenient for administration, both topically and orally. Forms and benefits antihistamines III, IV generations:

Forms - drops, sprays, syrups, suspensions, aerosols, tablets.

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

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

How to relieve seasonal allergies?

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

Avoidance and exclusion of contact with the allergen, that is, pollen. Elimination is 70% of success in the treatment of hay fever, and the patient himself can do this.
Drug therapy, which involves taking antihistamines, most often in the form of ophthalmic or nasal sprays. Glucocorticosteroids can be prescribed during 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 – 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 to the end of the autumn season. The best time for ASIT is winter, when you can receive a full course of treatment and survive the flowering season relatively calmly.

How to relieve seasonal allergies with pharmacotherapy?

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

Antihistamines latest generation, not causing complications or addiction. They are often prescribed even to small children and pregnant women to avoid serious exacerbations or to relieve them.
Sodium cromoglycate preparations. Cromones are often prescribed for allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis in the form of eye, nasal drops, and sprays. They block calcium channels in the mast cell membrane, which reduces the aggressiveness of inflammation.
Vasoconstrictor drugs - decongestants that regulate tone circulatory system and relieve symptoms of rhinitis well.
Glucocorticosteroids are prescribed when the use of antihistamines does not produce results. GCS are taken in a short course until the most severe symptoms are completely relieved. acute symptoms, further 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 provocateurs in case of cross-allergy.

Remedies for seasonal allergies 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.
Combined drugs.
Sodium cromoglycate preparations.
GCS – glucocorticosteroids.
ASIT – specific immunotherapy.
Hemocorrection.

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

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 and 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 3rd and 4th generations.

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, if prescribed by a doctor.

Are vasoconstrictors stimulants? – adrenoreceptors. These may be sanorin, oxymetazoline, otrivin, galazolin and other medications that help neutralize allergic runny nose and congestion in the nasal cavity. 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.
Combination drugs are antihistamines combined with pseudoephedrines - actifed, clarinase.
Cromones are sodium cromoglycates. For hay fever, cromones are prescribed topically in the form of drops - cromoglin, lomuzol, high-chrome, opticrom. Sodium is able to bind membrane proteins and reduce aggressive manifestations of allergies in the eyes and nose.
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 could be betamethasone, nazacort, sintaris, rhinocort, beconase and other drugs from the GCS group.

Seasonal allergy medications

Drug treatment of hay fever is aimed at relieving and controlling symptoms; drugs 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 seasonal allergy medications do not cause drowsiness, are long-lasting, and are not addictive. First generation drugs can be prescribed for itching, rash, when, on the contrary, drowsiness and sedation will be effective. Nasal form - allergodil, histimet help relieve itching in the nose, runny nose and nasal congestion are neutralized by naphthyzin, galazolin and other vasoconstrictor drops.
The average severity of hay fever is controlled by local corticosteroids (glucocorticosteroids); rashes and dermatitis respond well to treatment with such medications. GCS is also effective for lacrimation and eye hyperemia; Oftan or dexamethasone are prescribed. The latest generation antihistamines in combination with GCS ointments give results literally after 1-2 days.
Severe seasonal allergies require the prescription of high doses of hormones to relieve acute symptoms. Antileukotriene drugs that reduce the inflammatory process are also indicated. Hormones are indicated for a short course; as soon as the exacerbation is neutralized, the patient is transferred to a more gentle therapy.

Thus, medications for seasonal allergies are the main groups:

Antihistamines of 4 generations.
Cromons.
GCS - glucocorticosteroids.
Combination drugs (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 monotherapy, but they are also used in complex therapy.

Chronic and subacute forms Conjunctivitis caused by allergies is treated with cromones - sodium cromogicates. These are drugs such as cromohexal, alomide. 2% cromohexal is effective in treating symptoms in children, as it is less likely to cause burning and irritation of the eyes. Alomide is also capable of inducing the release of histamine, in addition, it helps 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 can relieve symptoms within 15 minutes, the effect lasts up to 6 hours, which makes these types of products very popular in the treatment of ophthalmic manifestations of hay fever.

Also effective are such drops prescribed for allergies. inflammatory process In eyes:

Ifiral.
High-chrome.
Lecrolin.
Allergokrom.
Irtan.

Treatment of seasonal allergies with folk remedies

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

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

Infusion of black currant leaves and twigs. You need to prepare 2 tablespoons of dry material or take 4 tablespoons of fresh crushed leaves. They need to be filled with 300 ml of boiling water, left in a thermos for 1 hour, then strained and added with warm boiled water to a volume of 500 ml. Drink a tablespoon of infusion every 2 hours for a week. 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.
Horsetail - 2 tablespoons of dry herb, pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, filter. You need to drink the product every hour during the day, then repeat the course after 2 days. A total of 7 courses are needed, that is, horsetail decoction is taken for two weeks.
Mix 2 tablespoons of first aid kit with a tablespoon of dry nettle. Pour the mixture with 500 ml of boiling water, leave in a thermos for 10 hours (it is convenient to prepare the product in the evening). In the morning, filter the broth, you should get about 400 ml of the finished drug. Take half a glass 30 minutes before each meal for a week.
Celery root juice, which contains amino acids, tyrosine, choline, nicotinic acid. The juice has a good effect on blood composition, normalizes metabolism, and removes toxins. The product 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 monitor the condition of the body, since celery contains Apium graveolens - essential compounds that can cause a secondary allergic reaction.
If you are not allergic to essential oils, you can consume fennel or dill in the form of an oil extract for a week. Essential oil should be dripped onto a piece of sugar, 3-5 drops, the dosage regimen is three times a day, half an hour before meals.
A calcium chloride solution drunk 30-40 minutes after eating effectively prevents exacerbations of hay fever. The recipe is as follows: add a teaspoon of Calcium chloridum to a glass of chilled boiled water.
Taking fresh or dried figs daily 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 strict dosage, but it is recommended to eat one fruit in the morning and evening.
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, adults with allergies 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 preventative and treatment for seasonal allergies every year.
Skin rashes and itching will help relieve special baths; dilute 10 tablespoons of pharmaceutical clay in a liter of warm water, pour the solution into the main solution. warm water. You need to lie in this clay “medicine” for 15-20 minutes, then wash it off your skin in the shower.
A decoction of the string, 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 the string are poured with cold water, after an hour they begin to cook the product over low heat for 15 minutes. The cooled mixture is filtered and divided into 2 parts. The first one needs to be drunk 50 ml every 3 hours, the second one should be poured into a warm bath and lie in this water for 20-25 minutes. Such procedures must be repeated every three days for 2 months in a row.

You should pay attention to recipes containing honey. Many sources advise taking the solution or honey in its pure form, but allergists are categorically against such experiments. Firstly, honey itself is a pollen product and can trigger an allergy attack. Secondly, even if a reaction to honey has not previously been observed, it is likely that it may appear as a symptom of a cross-allergy.

Treatment of seasonal allergies with folk remedies can be quite effective, subject to regular use of recipes, patience and mandatory doctor’s recommendations. Sometimes herbal infusions are taken for years to achieve the effect; some allergy sufferers see a decrease in symptoms after just a few weeks, it all 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 involves a diet that helps alleviate the patient’s condition and reduce the risk of possible exacerbations. Allergy sufferers are, in principle, very sensitive to any food, which is due to the pathogenesis of the disease itself, so the diet for seasonal allergies must be special. You should immediately identify those products that can cause

the same signs as when exposed to pollen allergens:

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 drinks containing weeds (aperitifs) - vermouth, balsam, tinctures.
Mustard.
Greens, especially tarragon, parsley, basil.
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 carefully use herbal remedies containing the following herbs:

Chamomile.
Yarrow.
Dandelion.
Coltsfoot.
Elecampane.
Tansy.

Seasonal allergies to pollen from flowering trees - alder, hazel, birch, apple tree:

All types of nuts.
Fruits growing on flowering trees - pears, apples, apricots, cherries and so on.
Raspberries.
Kiwi.
Olives.
Parsley.
Dill.
Birch juice.
Tomatoes.
Cucumbers.

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

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

Use all baked goods with caution.
Kvass.
Beer.
Oatmeal, rice, wheat porridge.
Coffee.
Smoked products – meat and fish.
Cocoa products.
Citrus.
Strawberry wild-strawberry.

The list of prohibited foods is very long, and the question quite logically arises, what should people suffering from hay fever eat?

Buckwheat grain.
All fermented milk products, yoghurts without fruit additives. Particularly useful is cottage cheese, which contains calcium, which helps strengthen the vascular wall and its “impermeability.”
Brynza.
Lean meats and poultry.
Stewed, boiled cabbage, with caution - zucchini.
Green peas, young beans.
Baked light varieties of apples.
Refined, deodorized vegetable oil.
Use butter with caution.
Boiled, baked potatoes.
Bread, crackers.
Raisin.
Dried fruits compote.
Green tea.

The list of “forbidden” foods is not a dogma; you should limit their consumption during an exacerbation period, for about two weeks, then you can gradually include them in the menu. Diet for seasonal allergies is not a test or torment, you need to take it seriously, just like any other type of treatment. Sometimes it is the adherence to a diet that significantly alleviates the severity of allergic symptoms, which once again demonstrates its importance and significance.

Preventing seasonal allergies

To ensure that the season of flowering and pollen release does not become a period of exacerbation of the allergic reaction, it is necessary to follow certain preventive measures.

Prevention of seasonal allergies includes the following actions and prohibitions:

Contact with offending plants should be avoided. If possible, go outside less often and reduce your walking time, especially in windy or hot, sunny weather.
Indoors, windows and doors should be closed; hanging the windows with a damp transparent cloth that absorbs pollen has a good effect. If a window or window is open at night, it should be closed early in the morning, since pollen production is especially active between 5 and 9 am.
Every time you come home from the street, you should thoroughly wash your hands and entire body, it is advisable to wash your hair as well, since your hair may contain enough pollen to cause an allergy.
After walking, you should change clothes that may contain traces of pollen.
When traveling in a car, you should close the windows, into which pollen can enter along with 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).
We should not forget that grasses also provoke allergies, so no matter how much you like the smell of freshly cut grass or the look of a trimmed lawn, you should avoid these places.
After washing, linens and clothes should be dried indoors, since damp fabric is an excellent “sorbent” for pollen.
A few months before the “hour X”, that is, before the flowering season, care should be taken to strengthen the immune system and normalize the functioning of the digestive organs. It is also necessary to check the body for helminthic infestations, 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 in pharmaceutical preparations and herbal medicines.

Seasonal allergies are a disease of civilization, as many doctors believe, the reasons for this may be related to external and internal factors, which sometimes cannot be curated and treated. However, despite its scale, hay fever still does not affect every inhabitant of the planet. Consequently, the use of timely preventive measures makes it possible to bring hay fever under control - at a minimum, reduce the severity of clinical manifestations of allergies or prolong the period of remission, and at maximum, completely get rid of seasonal allergies.

Source allergy

Seasonal allergies are an allergic reaction that is a protective response of the immune system to various foreign substances in the inhaled air. In most cases, an allergic reaction is observed to allergens that come into contact with the fresh air, this is usually mold and pollen.

Seasonal allergies in children usually manifest themselves at certain times of the year, but occasionally they can occur year-round in the case of constant contact with the provoking allergen. Typically, this allergic reaction manifests itself as seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis (conjunctivitis) and allergic rhinitis, or pollen seasonal bronchial asthma.

If a child has an allergic reaction to fruit juices and purees, you should be especially careful in spring and summer, because in this case, after three years, the baby may develop a seasonal allergy to pollen. If you look superficially, then at first glance there is nothing in common between dandelion and melon, carrots and alder. However, numerous biological studies have proven that the pollen and fruits of plants contain protein molecules with identical sections, which are the cause of the development of cross allergic reactions. If your baby's cheeks turn red from cherry jam, it is possible that he will begin to sneeze and cough after a walk through the birch grove. But if a child is allergic to citrus fruits, then a bouquet of daisies can cause a severe runny nose.

Seasonal allergies - causes

Like all other allergic reactions, seasonal allergies are caused by an attack of the immune defense by allergens entering the body through the skin, with food or inhaled air. With seasonal allergies, the allergens that provoke the reaction, along with the inhaled air, enter the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract (lungs, throat, nose and mouth) and eyes. Most often, it is very difficult to determine a specific allergen. After the provoking allergen begins to come into contact with the mucous membranes, leukocytes begin to produce antibodies to these foreign substances, which subsequently leads to the development of an allergic reaction, which is sometimes called hypersensitivity to inherently harmless substances.

Pollen is the most common allergen in seasonal allergies. Pollen is microscopic particles produced in flowers (the male part of the reproductive organs of all flowering plants). Pollen from wind-pollinated plants is carried by air movement, pollinating (fertilizing) other plants of its species. Depending on the local climate, each plant species has a certain period of pollen release. Some plants pollinate in the spring, others in the summer or early autumn. Moreover, the further north you go, the later the pollination period begins. Pollen from some grasses, trees and weeds (ragweed, etc.) is more likely to cause an allergic reaction than others. Pollen from insect-pollinated plants is much less allergenic than pollen from wind-pollinated plants.

Molds are another fairly common allergen. Mold is a fairly large group of fungal families that do not form fruiting bodies. Fungal spores, unlike pollen, are constantly observed in the air, and their concentration depends on current conditions, and not on the season. Molds are extremely common and can be found outdoors as well as in agricultural and residential environments. They thrive in the soil, on damp wood and rotting plant debris. Indoors, they often live in places where air does not circulate freely (bathrooms, attics, basements, etc.).

Risk factors for the development of seasonal allergies include: the presence of this allergic disease in blood relatives, bronchial asthma, eczema, periodic contact with a provoking allergen, nasal polyps. With age, the type of allergens to which an allergic reaction is observed may change, as well as the symptoms themselves often change.

Periods of development of seasonal allergies:

Spring is the time of flowering of hazel trees, plane trees, maples and birches

Summer is the period of flowering of flowers and cereals

Autumn is the flowering period of asteraceae (wormwood, quinoa, ragweed)

Seasonal allergies - symptoms

The symptoms of seasonal allergies are not always terrible. In some people, the allergic reaction is quite tolerable, without noticeable changes in appearance and profuse runny nose. In this case, there is no need to change the established rhythm of life. However, quite severe cases can also occur allergic manifestations when a mandatory visit to an allergist is required. However, even if the symptoms of seasonal allergies are quite mild, treatment is still necessary, since the implicit picture at first can begin to progress, gradually turning into bronchial asthma and autoimmune diseases.

The main symptoms of seasonal allergies: runny nose with the release of liquid transparent discharge, sneezing, nasopharyngeal drip, nasal congestion, a feeling of congestion in the ears (in the ear), red, watery eyes, insomnia, loss of energy, fatigue, burning and itching in the nose, irritation of the conjunctiva and soft palate, rash on various areas of the skin (between the fingers, lower abdomen, groin, etc.)

If symptoms of seasonal allergies appear, you should not delay visiting a doctor. Using a simple procedure, a qualified allergist can easily determine the type of plant that negatively affects health. The diagnosis itself consists of performing skin tests with a set of the most common pollen allergens in the patient’s place of residence.

Seasonal allergies - treatment

Luckily seasonal allergies specialized treatment does not always require and often it is quite enough to carry out simple hygiene procedures and avoiding contact with the provoking allergen. If these measures were not enough, you can buy an antiallergic drug at any pharmacy.

Contact with suspected or known allergens should be avoided. This is achieved by installing protective air filters in the room. You should also carefully close doors and windows, and if contact with an allergen is unavoidable, you should use protective bandages on your nose and mouth, as well as gloves.

It is necessary to shower as often as possible, change clothes, and carry out wet cleaning. You should also get rid of curtains, rugs, carpets and other things that can accumulate dust in large quantities.

If you have mild symptoms, rinsing your nose and gargling with a lightly salted solution helps quite well. warm water(per 200 ml of water 2 tablespoons table salt). To relieve itching in the throat, eyes and to reduce a runny nose, you can take over-the-counter antihistamines (Diphenhydramine, etc.), but you should be aware that such drugs have an inhibitory effect and their use is strictly contraindicated when driving cars or other vehicles and high-risk mechanisms.

If simple measures are not enough, with acute or persistent symptoms, treatment with medications is necessary, not only to eliminate and alleviate symptoms, but also to prevent them.

Corticosteroid nasal sprays Fluticasone, Triamcinolone, Beclomethasone, in the vast majority of cases, are the most effective. Due to the fact that they are used topically and in small dosages, these sprays are almost completely free of side effects that are typical for corticosteroid drugs. Sprays also successfully relieve swelling, eliminate itching and nasal congestion, and do not cause drowsiness. To achieve a lasting effect, they should be taken daily for several days.

Other common medications prescribed to treat seasonal allergies are antihistamines, which are available without a prescription in most countries (Hydroxyzine, Diphenhydramine, Tripelennamine, Clemastine). All of the listed antihistamines are relatively inexpensive and are freely available, but the achieved effect does not last long and, moreover, they have a strong sedative effect, as a result of which they are strictly contraindicated for people from whom, due to their professional activity quick response required. I would also like to note that in the case of constant use, the sedative effect decreases over time, but this also applies to the anti-allergic effect. As an alternative, it is possible to use long-acting drugs such as Desloratadine, Loratadine, Fexofenadine. Despite the fact that they are more expensive and are usually available only by prescription, they should be taken only once a day, and the sedative effect is practically not felt after taking them.

More details - seasonal disease. Diathesis and allergies in children

Drug treatments

Hay fever (from Latin pollinis - dust, pollen) pollen allergy, hay runny nose, chronic allergic disease caused by plant pollen and manifested by allergic inflammation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, mainly the nose (seasonal runny nose) and eyes (conjunctivitis). Hay fever is one of the most common allergic diseases in children. They affect from 4.8 to 11.8% of children. And although a child may develop a pollen allergy as early as the second year of life, the disease often remains undiagnosed.

Causes

The development of hay fever is determined by sensitization - an increase in the body’s sensitivity to the effects of any environmental factor, including in this case to plant pollen, and depends on what plants grow in a given climate zone. In central Russia there are three main flowering periods:

spring - April-May: pollen from trees (birch, alder, oak, hazel, etc.) is present in the air;
summer - June-July - in the air - pollen of cereal grasses (bluegrass, wheatgrass, fescue, hedgehog, foxtail, timothy, etc.);
late summer, or summer-autumn, associated with the flowering of asteraceae and goosefoot plants (wormwood, quinoa, ragweed).

The pollen of these plants is widespread in our region. Its dimensions are extremely small - from 10 to 50 microns. It is released in huge quantities and is easily carried by the wind.

In the occurrence and development of allergic reactions, heredity plays an important role - the transmission from parents to the child of genes responsible for a predisposition to allergies. If only the mother suffers from hay fever, the gene is transmitted in 25% of cases, if the father and mother - in 50%.

Development

The mechanism for the development of allergic reactions in a child predisposed to them can be started at any age. Pollen enters the body through the respiratory tract or eyes and settles on the mucous membrane of these organs. In order for an allergy to develop, negligible doses of pollen are enough.

First, the body undergoes a process of recognition of the allergen by cells of the immune system and the production of protective substances (antibodies) against this foreign agent - the so-called sensitization phase. Outwardly, it does not manifest itself in any way, and a lot of time can pass from the moment of first contact with pollen until signs of the disease develop.

For example, last year the child did not react to flowering plants, but pollen entered the body. And this spring, with the first buds opening, the baby had a second encounter with the allergen, which is why the cells of his immune system released specific substances (histamine, cytokines, etc.) that cause allergies and inflammation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

Hay fever developed. This is called the resolution or manifestation phase of the disease.

Symptoms

This disease has a clear seasonality, repeating from year to year and coinciding with the flowering period of certain plants. Symptoms of hay fever are most intense in the morning hours during the period of maximum pollen concentration in the air.

Allergic conjunctivitis1 appears (lacrimation, photophobia, severe redness of the mucous membrane, severe itching and swelling of the eyelids, a feeling of sand in the eyes), combined with an allergic runny nose (itching in the nose, impaired nasal breathing, copious amounts of fluid). transparent discharge from the nose, attacks of sneezing - from 10 to 30 sneezes in a row).

The child breathes through his mouth, wrinkles his nose, rubs it with his palm, causing a transverse wrinkle to appear on it.

Damage to the nasal mucosa is usually bilateral. Swelling of the mucous membrane leads to decreased hearing, sense of smell, and headaches. Unlike acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI), with hay fever, fever and weakness are rarely observed, there is no sharp sore throat, redness, and enlarged lymph nodes (ear, submandibular, etc.) are rarely noted.

However, if at this moment the baby gets sick with ARVI, the signs of allergic rhinitis will only intensify, the recovery period will be delayed and the effect of antiallergic drugs will decrease.

A severe manifestation of hay fever is bronchial asthma2, usually combined with allergic runny nose (rhinitis) and allergic conjunctivitis. Signs of pollen asthma are typical for asthma in general: attacks of suffocation, wheezing, wheezing, audible even at a distance, dry cough.

1Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane covering the back surface of the eyelids and the front surface eyeball. 2Bronchial asthma is a chronic infectious-allergic inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract that occurs with attacks of suffocation.

The above-mentioned manifestations of hay fever may include headache, weakness, sweating, drowsiness, irritability and tearfulness, chills, fever, and increased fatigue.

Diagnostics

If you suspect an allergic disease in a child, first of all you should contact your pediatrician to rule out similar but not allergic diseases (ARVI, inflammation of the bronchi - bronchitis).

In case of an allergic disease, it is better to be examined and treated by an allergist-immunologist in a regional or large multidisciplinary children's medical institution.

Diagnosis of the disease consists of two stages. The first stage includes a thorough survey of parents about the child’s development, illnesses he has suffered, etc., then an examination of the child himself, laboratory methods for examining his blood, nasal mucus, etc.

The second stage is identifying the allergen, in this case a plant. It is best to carry it out in winter, after treatment and reduction (or absence of signs) of the disease. At this time, tests are carried out with allergenic substances, the content of specific protective proteins of the immune system (class E immunoglobulins) in the blood is determined.

All allergy testing methods can be performed on an outpatient basis. Admission to hospital is only required in case of an emergency, such as a severe attack of bronchial asthma.

Allergen tests

The simplest and most accessible method of identifying an allergen are prick tests and their variant in the form of a prick test. They are carried out only in winter, no earlier than ten days after the end of taking antiallergic drugs.

1Scarification - from. lat. scarification - scratching, cutting.

The technique is as follows: drops of various industrially prepared allergens are applied to the hands (forearms), and scratches or injections are made. The foreign substance enters the body through damaged skin, and after 20 minutes doctors assess the size of the blisters that have formed at the site of the scratches. The “culprit” allergen will cause the largest blister to form.

Such tests are only possible for children over 5 years of age, since young patients cannot sit still for 20 minutes while the tests last.

An alternative method for identifying the causative allergen is a blood test to determine the content of specific protective proteins of the immune system (class E immunoglobulins) produced in response to a particular pollen.

This method can be carried out year-round, regardless of the child’s condition and the treatment used for another disease, and is the only method that identifies the source of allergies in young children.

In general, an allergy examination of a patient with hay fever p
Attention, TODAY only!

medovgur.ru

Allergies in children in the spring are a very common occurrence. Sneezing and a runny nose in a baby causes concern among parents, and they immediately begin treatment. Having made the diagnosis herself, the worried mother begins giving cold medicine. And the cause of coughing or sneezing may be seasonal allergies. Therefore, it is necessary to learn to distinguish colds from allergic manifestations.

Seasonal allergies mean a disease that occurs during some period of the year. Another name for this type of allergy is hay fever. Seasonal allergies are officially recognized as a disease that negatively affects work performance, school performance and can cause serious complications in the form of bronchial asthma. Most patients experience spring allergies.

Since the spring flowering period, a large amount of pollen is released into the air various plants and trees. For allergy sufferers, spring becomes a real challenge. They cannot walk or sleep freely, and young patients become capricious, restless, and eat poorly, which worries parents even more. Flowering begins in mid or late April. During the warm season, the flowering of some plants ends and the period of others begins. Therefore, the concentration of allergens can be maintained in the air for a long time.

What factors influence the occurrence of allergies?

Sometimes allergies can appear in people who have never had one before. The occurrence of an allergic reaction in a child is influenced by:

genetic predisposition;
bacteriological and viral diseases;
environmental degradation;
artificial feeding;
improper behavior of the mother during pregnancy;
general health;
lack of vitamin D.

With a genetic predisposition, the child is at risk from the same allergens as the parents. But kids can outgrow the allergic age. After 13 years, children’s immunity goes through a developing stage. If the parents followed the doctors' instructions, the disease may disappear. But the problem is that most parents may not know or remember which pollen they had a negative reaction to.

At first, the baby may be prone to an allergy to the pollen of a particular plant. This is called monoallergy. When there is no treatment, a reaction to other allergens occurs (polyallergy). For example, a child develops allergies to food, animal hair, household dust, and chemicals. Clothes washed with powder can cause rashes on the baby's body.

The presence of bacteriological and viral diseases weakens the immunity of children, so they need to be treated on time so that other ailments do not develop. Doctors recommend not switching to artificial feeding unless necessary, as this doubles the risk of seasonal allergies. Breast milk contains many useful substances, which strengthen the body of children, which increases resistance to disease.

During pregnancy, a woman must monitor her diet and routine. You should not overuse certain foods, as they most often cause allergies. Such products include chocolate, nuts, halva, honey, citrus fruits. For the expectant mother You should avoid foods that contain preservatives, flavors, and dyes. It is unacceptable to smoke and abuse alcohol.

Which trees are dangerous for children?

Any tree or plant can become dangerous for a child. But there are trees whose pollen most often annoys people. Birch comes first. In addition, allergies can be caused by:

alder;
maple;
hazel;
ash;
Apple tree;
apricot;
cherries;
ambrosia;
sagebrush;
pine.

The condition of allergy sufferers during flowering vegetation is worsened by weather factors. When it rains, pollen settles and its concentration in the air decreases sharply. In windy, dry weather the reverse process occurs. The wind carries microparticles of flowers to areas where there is no park area.

To make it easier to determine which allergen causes a reaction in the baby, the mother needs to observe what foods she is allergic to even before the flowering period. For example, if a baby has an allergic reaction to fruit puree or juice, then these are prerequisites for the occurrence of hay fever. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that fruits and pollen contain identical protein molecules.

Such a connection is observed between alder and carrots, melon and dandelion, citrus fruits and some types of daisies. If a child has an allergy after eating plum jam, then a walk through a birch grove can cause a cough and runny nose. Avoid apple blossom areas if your child cannot eat kiwi or potatoes. If you are allergic to halva and honey, dandelions and wormwood pose a danger.

Manifestations of seasonal allergies

Symptoms of hay fever vary depending on the stage of the disease, age and health status of the little patient. The main signs of the disease are:

runny nose with clear discharge;
swelling of the nasopharynx;
lacrimation;
redness of the eyes;
insomnia;
itching and burning in the nose (the child rubs his nose);
allergic conjunctivitis;
rashes on various parts of the body;
dry skin;
irritability;
lack of appetite;
slight increase in body temperature (rare).

These signs may also be accompanied by stuffy ears, hyperactivity, coughing, and sneezing. Skin rashes usually appear on the stomach, groin, and between the fingers. Insomnia as a symptom appears when the baby has a stuffy nose and cannot breathe. Breathing may be impaired with the development of bronchial asthma. In this case, treatment must be started immediately.

An allergist will help diagnose the disease. Diagnostic measures include skin tests for allergens and blood tests for antibodies. No tests are carried out during the flowering period. During the examination, it is necessary to inform the doctor about all manifestations of allergies that the child may have had before, but have passed. Since there is a connection between hay fever and food allergies, reactions to certain foods may persist in winter. For example, if you were allergic to buckwheat pollen in the summer, then the reaction to honey collected during this period may persist in the winter.

How is hay fever treated?

Treatment of spring allergies in children requires a serious approach. An advanced disease will lead to complications that may affect the future. All that is required is to avoid contact with allergens. This is easier to do if you have a food allergy. It is enough to remove foods to which you have a reaction from your diet. But in the case of a pollen allergy, this cannot be done.

Therefore, doctors prescribe antihistamines. These can be drops, syrups or tablets. The dose is set individually depending on the age and weight of the baby. For skin rashes, antiallergic gels are used, and for allergic rhinitis, nasal drops that have a vasoconstrictor effect are used.

Children may be advised to take vitamin D, probiotics, and immune-boosting medications. In addition to treatment, parents should take certain measures to reduce the manifestations of the disease. In order not to aggravate the child’s condition, it is necessary to get rid of pets (cats, dogs). Don't get fish or parrots instead. Bird feathers are also allergens.

The baby's room should always be clean. Remove household dust daily. You should not cover the floor in the room with carpet. Pillows should be synthetic, not feather. Wash your baby's clothes with soap without additives and strong odors. Remove all plants from the children's room.

Additional Reminders for Parents

Walking will have to be shortened or taken after rain. You should not walk in parks or through heavily polluted areas.

If possible, change your place of residence during flowering.

Some parents take their children from big cities to the sea. When driving a car, close the windows.

Set a routine for your child. Let him go to bed and get up at the same time. Ensure drinking regime. Water procedures are important during such a period. Rinse your baby every 2 hours. By following these measures, you can significantly influence the patient’s condition.

ProAllergiju.ru

While healthy children enjoy the warm sun and collect bouquets of spring flowers, children with allergies suffer from painful symptoms of hay fever.

Causes of allergies in spring

Hay fever is a seasonal (spring) allergic reaction of the body to flowering plants.

The cause of allergies in the spring is the penetration of allergens into the child’s body.

Plant pollen gets on the skin, the mucous membrane of the eyes and respiratory tract (nose, larynx). Penetrating into the body, allergens irritate the immune system, promote the production of antibodies, and the release of histamine and other biologically active substances into the blood. As a result, symptoms of hay fever appear.

What is the source of spring allergies?

More than 100 types of plant allergens can cause an allergic reaction! Most often, allergies occur to the spring flowering of trees, shrubs, and flowers. For example, in April walnut, oak, alder, birch bloom, in May - poplar, linden, apple tree, dandelions, coltsfoot. From spring to autumn, quinoa, ragweed, and wormwood bloom.

Symptoms of spring allergies in a child

The most common symptoms of spring allergies in a child:

Swelling and nasal congestion;
Frequent sneezing;
Itching and burning in the nose;
Clear and liquid discharge from the nose;
Itching, irritation, redness of the eyes;
lacrimation;
Swelling of the eyelids;
Photophobia, frequent blinking;
Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath;
Cough;
Rashes, redness, swelling, itching of the skin;
Dryness, flaking of the skin;
Moodiness and irritability;
Drowsiness or insomnia;
Lack of appetite.

How to distinguish an allergy from an acute respiratory disease?

Allergies are almost never accompanied by an increase in body temperature;
Symptoms of spring allergies appear annually at approximately the same time;
A child suffering from allergies feels much better at home. His health worsens on the street, especially when surrounded by flowering plants - in the park, in the forest. For a patient with an acute respiratory infection, the location does not matter;
The well-being of a child with allergies worsens on a dry and warm day, improves in rainy weather;
Nasal discharge is thick and thin, as opposed to the thick, cloudy discharge associated with a viral or bacterial infection;
In case of allergies, the cough is not accompanied by sputum production;
The acute respiratory infection lasts no more than a week. Symptoms of hay fever may appear over several spring and summer months;
If you notice that your child has allergies in the spring, consult a doctor immediately. Timely prevention and treatment of hay fever will help make you feel better and prevent the progression of the disease.

Treatment of allergies to spring blooms

The choice of treatment for hay fever depends on the stage of the disease and the flowering season of the plants causing the allergic reaction.

A month before the start of the flowering season, specific immunotherapy is carried out - antibodies that cause symptoms of hay fever are removed from the child’s body;

During the flowering period, drugs are used that protect the body from the effects of allergens and relieve allergy symptoms: Antihistamines;

Antihistamines;
Local hormonal agents (ointments and creams);
Non-hormonal antiallergic drugs.

Important! Only a doctor should prescribe medications for the prevention and treatment of allergies in a child!

Close windows and doors to prevent pollen from flowering plants from entering the premises. Instead of ventilating, use an air purifier;
Frequently do wet cleaning of premises;
Minimize walks in dry, windy weather;
Frequently wash the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes, take a shower - to remove pollen from flowering plants from the body;
Dry bedding and clothes indoors to avoid pollen getting on things.

schoolofcare.ru
Trees and shrubs:

birch, alder, hazel or hazel, oak, maple, poplar, ash, elm and others.

Birch– most common reason the appearance of seasonal allergies. Has very volatile pollen. The season for allergic reactions to birch begins before the snow has melted - in March, April or May, depending on how cold, long and snowy the winter is. In windy weather, pollen can spread tens of kilometers. There are a lot of birch trees in our country, so it is almost impossible to eliminate the allergen from life.

Alder– the second most common allergen.

The tricky thing about shrubs is that they are difficult to identify until the leaves have appeared; for example, it is difficult to distinguish a hazel from an alder.

Cereals and meadow grasses: rye, wheat, timothy, fescue, bluegrass, wheatgrass, bromegrass, buckwheat and others.

The tricky thing about allergenic herbs is that not many people know what these herbs look like.

Allergies can also be caused by ordinary lawn grass. If you don't mow the lawn on time, the grass will bloom and begin to gather dust. Lawns can become dusty several times a year. The juice of freshly cut grass, if it comes into contact with human skin, can also cause an allergic reaction, which is expressed in the form of hives.

Weeds : wormwood, quinoa, dandelion, ragweed, hemp, nettle, buttercup and others.

Dandelions- very allergenic. They have heavy pollen, so for a reaction to occur, you need close contact with the allergen, for example, putting a wreath of dandelions on your head or burying your face in a flower.

Sagebrush- quite allergenic. Grows along ditches and abandoned places.

Mold fungi. They are found in rotten leaves, in potatoes, and in damp rooms. “If a child has an allergic reaction to mold fungi, then the rustling of fallen leaves, which children love so much, will lead to a stuffy nose, cough, and itchy eyes.”- said Nadezhda Magarina.

healthy-kids.ru

Allergy to pollen of trees and other plants (hay fever) is a disease that occurs in the midst of spring and often does not subside until autumn. Allergies to flowers most often manifest as a runny nose and are often combined with allergies to certain foods. How to understand that a child has hay fever? Is it possible to alleviate his condition?

Hay fever is one of the most common allergic diseases in children, which can appear at almost any age. Hay fever is a consequence of the body's increased sensitivity to the effects of certain allergens. When they get on the mucous membranes of the body, inflammation occurs.

Signs of a pollen allergy

If every spring at the same time a child exhibits symptoms of ARVI: nasal congestion, runny nose, redness and itching of the eyes, general malaise, then this may be an allergy. Tree pollen allergies are often disguised as cross-food allergies. There are a number of foods that allergy sufferers react to in the same way as pollen. These are apples, pears, stone fruits (cherries, plums, peaches, etc.). Often, an allergy begins with a reaction to these fruits - discomfort when swallowing, itching of the palate. Pay close attention to your child's complaints.

In children, seasonal allergies are also often combined with household allergies - to house dust mites. If a child has a frequent runny nose without fever, then an allergic disease can also be suspected. With a high concentration of dust, allergies can occur with an increase in temperature to 37.1 - 37.2 °C. If this is a reaction to pollen, then this temperature will remain throughout the entire flowering period.

Experts consider skin allergy tests to be the most reliable method for identifying sensitivity to specific allergens. They are made in the fall, when everything has already faded, starting approximately in October. During flowering, skin tests are not performed, but during this period you can donate blood for specific immunoglobulins. If we compare these two methods, allergy tests are more informative. Ideally, you need to give your child both tests and compare the results.

How to help your child during the flowering period

The best option is to take the child to a different climate zone for the flowering period. For example, at sea. Remember that at this time you are weakened. Even if you are traveling to a visa-free country, do not forget to purchase health insurance. It will protect you from possible expenses for doctors.
If you still remain in the city, then you should not walk with your child in dry, windless weather, and it is also better not to travel outside the city. At home, keep the windows closed, ventilate only in the evening or after rain, when the concentration of pollen in the air is reduced. Do wet cleaning at least once a day. After a walk, be sure to take off your child’s clothes; it is advisable to wash them immediately. Dry washed items only indoors. Also, immediately after a walk, be sure to wash your child’s head, rinse his nose and throat. An air purifier helps (air conditioning is not recommended).
If you are driving with a child in the car, make sure that all windows are tightly closed.
Monitor your diet by eliminating “cross” foods both during the flowering period and a few weeks before and after it. Even if the child usually tolerates apples, pears, stone fruits, nuts (especially hazelnuts), fresh carrots (including in juices), new potatoes, celery, olives, kiwi, during the spring exacerbation of allergies, it is recommended to exclude these products from the diet.
There are websites that publish reports on pollen concentration measurements in the air. They update the data every two days. Review this information periodically. On unfavorable days, it is better not to take children for a walk.

The most unpleasant and dangerous companion to allergies is the risk of bronchial asthma in a child. According to statistics, if a person suffers for 5-6 years and is not treated in any way (taking antihistamines is not considered treatment), then the likelihood that he will develop bronchial asthma is very high - up to 80%.

If you do not carry out high-quality treatment of allergies, then, in addition to the risk of bronchial asthma, there is a danger of expanding the spectrum of allergens (household allergens, allergies to field grasses and weeds).

Discussion

The most correct rule- This is to prevent allergens from entering the child’s body. I personally do the following for this: firstly, I use Prevalin Kids. This spray very well protects the mucous membrane from the penetration of pollen into the body. Secondly, I still try not to walk with the child where there are a lot of flowers (fields and dachas) and thirdly, after the walk, all the clothes, even the underpants, go to the wash, and the child takes a shower and washes his head and puts on clean clothes. This simple approach allows me to protect my child from seasonal allergies, to which he is susceptible from birth.

And I would also like, as a mother, to advise from my experience not to neglect barrier means. If you spray Prevalin Kids on your child's nose during the flowering period, it will greatly make the child's life easier, because... The product protects the body well from allergens.

Yes, I liked the article and find it useful. Allergies are actually not just a mild and passing ailment, as many believe, but still a big threat to our health.

Comment on the article " Spring allergies in a child: rules of behavior for hay fever"