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

Pollinosis is caused by the body's sensitivity to pollen and flowering. It is customary to distinguish seasonal allergy waves that correspond to plant growth periods and weather conditions. In May, the allergens are the flowering of birch, alder and oak. At the beginning of summer comes a period of allergy to poplar, pine, spruce, dandelions, fescue. In the middle of summer, it is linden and meadow grasses (timothy grass, couch grass, 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 found in fruits, berries, vegetables, etc. on the human body. During flowering or when using these products in our menu, the likelihood of an exacerbation of seasonal allergies increases.

In addition, after the snow melts, a large amount of mold fungi and chemicals accumulated in the snow from vehicle emissions and reagents that contribute to the appearance even before the start of flowering enter the air along with dust: the appearance of red spots on the skin, cutting pain in the eyes, runny nose, unpleasant sensation in the throat, sore throat, cough, urticaria. In addition to allergies, people with chronic diseases of the skin and ENT organs are at increased risk. The following causes contribute to a predisposition to allergies:

Hereditary factor (if one or two parents had an allergy, then the child with a 70% probability will also have it);
Unfavorable ecological situation (production emissions and car exhausts);
The tendency of a person to other types of allergies. In this case, seasonal allergy disease is a secondary disease;
Strong sensitivity of the body to certain allergens. The immune system begins to produce antibodies in response to the appearance of 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 pollinosis) can have various manifestations: runny nose, sneezing, skin inflammation (rashes, acne, peeling, redness) or even asthma attacks. But most often the symptoms of pollinosis 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 start self-medicating incorrectly. A number of differences between allergies and SARS:

fever is rarely observed;
sneezing becomes frequent;
discharge from the nose 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;
there is itching in the nose, throat and ears;
nasal discharge and itching are aggravated in dry windy weather, and weaken during rain;
allergies usually last longer than a cold (cold symptoms usually do not last longer than one week).

Features of allergies in children

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

Depending on the intensity of the allergy, there may be purulent discharge from the eyes (conjunctivitis) and asthma attacks. Sometimes asthma goes away as we get older. Some children develop severe ear congestion. A preschooler complains of earache to his mother. And a younger baby will simply cry and experience pain when you press the auricles. It is impossible to take the street from the life of an adult, and even more so a child, from where allergens come from in large quantities. 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 to carry out prophylaxis on the eve of the allergy season. It is possible to effectively cope with allergies only with complex treatment, experienced allergy sufferers have already managed to verify this for years.

Scoliosis prevention.

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

While healthy children rejoice in the warm sun and collect bouquets of spring flowers, allergic children suffer from painful symptoms of hay fever.

Causes of allergies in the spring

Pollinosis 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 body of a child.

Pollen from plants gets on the skin, on the mucous membrane of the eyes and respiratory tract (nose, larynx). Penetrating into the body, allergens irritate the immune system, contribute to the production of antibodies, the release of histamine and other biologically active substances into the blood. As a result, symptoms of pollinosis appear.

What is the source of spring allergies?

Over 100 types of plant allergens can cause an allergic reaction! Most often there is an allergy to the spring flowering of trees, shrubs, flowers. For example, walnut, oak, alder, birch bloom in April, poplar, linden, apple tree, dandelions, coltsfoot in May. Quinoa, ragweed, and wormwood bloom from spring to autumn.

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;
Puffiness of the eyelids;
Photophobia, frequent blinking;
Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath;
Cough;
Rashes, redness, swelling, itching of the skin;
Dryness, peeling of the skin;
Capriciousness and irritability;
Drowsiness or insomnia;
Lack of appetite.

How to distinguish an allergy from an acute respiratory disease?

Allergies are almost never accompanied by fever;
Symptoms of spring allergies appear annually, at about the same time;
An allergic child 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 acute respiratory infections, the location does not matter;
The well-being of a child with allergies worsens on a dry and warm day, improves on rainy weather;
Discharge from the nose is profuse and thin, unlike the thick, cloudy discharge characteristic of a viral or bacterial infection;
With allergies, cough is not accompanied by sputum;
ARI 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 an allergy in the spring, contact your doctor immediately. Timely prevention and treatment of pollinosis will help alleviate the state of health and prevent the progression of the disease.

Treatment of allergies to spring flowering

The choice of treatment for pollinosis depends on the stage of the disease and the flowering season of plants that cause an allergic reaction.

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

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

Antihistamines;
Hormonal agents of local influence (ointments and creams);
Non-hormonal antiallergic drugs.

Important! Preparations for the prevention and treatment of allergies in a child should be prescribed only by a doctor!

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

While healthy children rejoice in the warm sun and collect bouquets of spring flowers, allergic children suffer from painful symptoms of hay fever.

Pollinosis 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 body of a child.

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;
Puffiness of the eyelids;
Photophobia, frequent blinking;
Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath;
Cough;
Rashes, redness, swelling, itching of the skin;
Dryness, peeling of the skin;
Capriciousness and irritability;
Drowsiness or insomnia;
Lack of appetite.

How to distinguish an allergy from an acute respiratory disease?

Allergies are almost never accompanied by fever;
Symptoms of spring allergies appear annually, at about the same time;
An allergic child 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 acute respiratory infections, the location does not matter;
The well-being of a child with allergies worsens on a dry and warm day, improves on rainy weather;
Discharge from the nose is profuse and thin, unlike the thick, cloudy discharge characteristic of a viral or bacterial infection;
With allergies, cough is not accompanied by sputum;
ARI 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 an allergy in the spring, contact your doctor immediately. Timely prevention and treatment of pollinosis will help alleviate the state of health and prevent the progression of the disease.

Treatment of allergies to spring flowering

The choice of treatment for pollinosis depends on the stage of the disease and the flowering season of plants that cause an allergic reaction.

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

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

Antihistamines;
Hormonal agents of local influence (ointments and creams);
Non-hormonal antiallergic drugs.

Important! Preparations for the prevention and treatment of allergies in a child should be prescribed only by a doctor!

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

schoolofcare.com

What are allergies in spring - an overview of allergens and treatments

Allergies in spring are more pronounced than in any other season of the year. According to statistics, 85% of all allergy sufferers suffer from its exacerbation during this period. About why this happens, what threatens and how to deal with the manifestations of this disease, we will talk in this article.

Seasonal allergies are a serious problem. Each season has its own list of the most aggressive allergens that cause the most 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 effects of any stimuli.

The immune system is in a rather deplorable state, with a "half a turn" colds come, exacerbations of any chronic diseases.

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

And so, what can you be allergic to in the spring?

spring allergens

Flowering plants cause a lot of trouble for allergy sufferers

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

plant pollen (flowers, herbs, trees);
Pets;
food allergens;
medicines;
contact allergy (both to clothing and household chemicals);
mold fungus (activated by mid-May);
insects (also appear towards the end of spring).

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

hay fever

First of all, people are worried about reactions to plant pollen in spring. Pollinoses bring maximum inconvenience: allergy in the spring to flowering is rightfully considered by the WHO as a pathology that disrupts the usual way of life to a greater extent. To find out what blooms in the spring during this period, you need to refer to the allergy calendar.

It should be remembered that for each region of the Russian Federation this document is compiled 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, it is possible to identify the most generalized flowering schedule:

Spring-autumn plant flowering calendar (can be enlarged)

hazel;
alder;
cypress.

Birch tree;
ash;
maple;
dandelion;
Cherry;
poplar;
lilac.

Birch tree;
maple;
alder;
lilac;
beet;
Pine;
Linden;
chestnut;
dandelion.

Despite the fact that there are quite a lot of allergens, there is a gratifying fact: weeds, which are the most powerful irritants, begin to bloom only in the middle of 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 both in spring, and in summer, and in autumn.

However, it is at this time of the year that cross-allergy becomes most relevant.

So, with a hypersensitivity reaction to birch, symptoms may occur when used:

Photo: Rash on the hands as a symptom of a food allergy

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

Under "normal conditions" a strong allergy to these products does not develop. But as soon as birch pollen begins to soar 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 spring as in autumn. The fact is that fungi begin to become active only by the end of spring, and the process of sporulation starts even later. Therefore, “mold allergy” is more of a year end problem.

But dust mites have an autumn-spring seasonality. People, "clearing debris" in the corners after winter, inhale a large amount of dust. As a result, many of them become more allergic.

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 wool flying all over the apartment, they enter the respiratory tract and mucous membranes.

In addition, spring is a period of searching for a breeding partner. And this means that all the hormonal and enzyme systems of the animal are activated in order to attract a "spouse". The substances excreted by the animal become more active and "aggressive".

contact allergy

The seasonality of this disease, of course, is very arbitrary, but there is a place to be. On the one hand, people begin to clean their houses, wash windows, someone makes repairs - hence a lot of household chemicals, cleaning products and even building materials.

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

In addition, people change clothes from woolen to something that is easier. But it's still too cold to wear cotton blouses. Hence the abundance of synthetics. And it very often causes manifestations of allergies on the skin.

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 starting to become more active, but this problem is not so relevant for this time of year.

But drugs used to treat acute respiratory diseases and chronic exacerbations may well cause unwanted reactions.

For example, pneumonia very often appears in the spring, and it requires antibiotic treatment. People suffering from systemic autoimmune diseases (eg, lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis) need hormone therapy, which also causes allergies.

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

Symptoms of the disease

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

Pollinoses are characterized by:

cough;
nasal congestion;
runny nose and sneezing;
conjunctivitis (eyes redden, lacrimation begins, there is a feeling of sand in the eyes);
possible occurrence or increase in attacks of bronchial asthma.

Among the manifestations of contact allergies:

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

Food allergy manifests itself:

pain in the abdomen;
nausea, vomiting;
diarrhea
flatulence,
as well as symptoms from "other groups".

If we talk about how allergies can worsen in the spring, then it is worth noting the high variety of signs. Allergy sufferers often have reactions to several different irritants, so a person who has reddened and itchy skin, sneezing at the same time and with a sore stomach is not such a rarity.

Allergies in children and pregnant women

Children are the most susceptible category of people. Allergy in the spring in children is characterized by the intensity of symptoms, their diversity. After walking down the street during the dusting of the allergen, the child may become worse literally before our eyes:

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

The main danger of spring allergies for the children's population is that they have pollinosis with incredible ease turn into bronchial asthma, especially if there is a hereditary predisposition for this.

An allergy to spring during pregnancy is especially dangerous in the first trimester, when all the main organs and systems are laid in the fetus.

Spring Allergy Treatment

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

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

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

Fenkarol,
Zyrtec,
Ksizal.

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 to quickly remove the allergen from the body.

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

The former include Festinistin, Gistan;
To the second - Beloderm, Advantan.

However, the 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 with contact forms, general symptoms cannot be removed, it is only possible to support the body.

So, decoctions of chamomile, string, bay leaf will help get rid of itching and peeling. You can use them in the form of compresses, lotions, homemade ointments. Immunity is well raised by mummy, rosehip broth.

But extravagant means like vinegar should not be used. And it is important to remember that if there is an “allergy to spring”, folk remedies are not a panacea. After all, they can just as well cause undesirable. Reaction, like 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 drugs that can be given to children:

Diphenhydramine,
Suprastin,
Pilpofen,
Fenistil.

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

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

An earlier appointment can be made exclusively by a doctor and for health reasons. To cope with allergies, only local treatment is used - zinc ointment, nasal rinses, vitamin complexes.

Starting in the 2nd trimester, in severe cases, an antihistamine may be recommended, such as:

Zyrtec,
Allertec,
Pilpofen.

But Zirtek 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 is possible for lactating from allergies. The optimal way out is to stop breastfeeding for the duration of treatment, followed by a return to it (if possible), or with the transition to mixed or artificial feeding.

Prevention

How to prevent allergies in spring? There are many preventive measures:

As often as possible, carry out wet cleaning in the house;
Maintain optimal temperature and humidity in the house;
Wipe shoes with a damp cloth and wash clothes every time after going out;
Wear a medical mask while walking;
Go outside in calm weather;
Walk after the rain;
Ventilate the room only in the evening;
Use air filters;
Combing and washing pets;
Do not wear synthetic clothing;
Minimize the use of cosmetics, household chemicals;
As prescribed by a doctor - for preventive purposes, take antihistamines or membrane-stabilizing drugs;
To prevent the development of respiratory diseases, to be treated in time, not allowing diseases to become chronic;
Follow a diet.

What can not be eaten with allergies in the spring?

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

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

Where to go in the spring from allergies?

Best of all in the northern regions or countries, where the flowering of plants has not yet begun, where nature is still in a frozen state.

Thus, allergies in the spring are a serious problem that can bring many inconveniences to susceptible people. She brings changes to the usual way of life. However, by following some preventive measures, you can minimize the inconvenience.

Allergy-center.com

Insidious spring pollen. Allergies in the spring in children

Spring has come, the sun is shining. Mothers rejoice that children will be less likely to get colds. What if, with the advent of spring and the flowering of plants, the child becomes less active, scratches his eyes, sneezes?

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

What is pollinosis and how to live with it?

Today we will talk about spring allergies in children.

What is pollinosis?
Signs of spring allergies
Tips for parents: what to do with spring allergies in children

What is pollinosis?

Pollinosis is an allergic disease that appears at any age. This is the so-called seasonal rhinitis, conjunctivitis, which occurs due to the pollen of flowering plants and trees.

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

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

The child begins to sneeze, he has a runny nose. Many parents think that this is a common cold and begin to treat it on their own. And the reason for this condition is seasonal allergies.

What Plants Cause Allergies in Children?

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

Dangerous plants that cause allergies

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

Herbs: ambrosia, dandelion, wormwood, chamomile.

Grains: rye, wheat, buckwheat.

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

At what age do allergies start?

In children who are predisposed to allergies, it is usually detected in the first year of life. In 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 carried out often, the house is located next to the highway, then the risk of allergies is very high.

Allergy is the body's response to bad ecology, dust and other harmful factors.

Factors affecting the occurrence of allergies

Smoking parents
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 of the parents suffers from allergies, then the child can become allergic. By following the recommendations of doctors, you can get rid of allergies.

During pregnancy, a woman should monitor her diet, not abuse foods that cause allergies: chocolate, citrus fruits, honey, halva. Expectant mothers are not allowed to smoke and alcohol. In large cities, the number of people suffering from allergies is increasing.

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

Scientists have found that city trees are dusting more intensively and their pollen is "angrier" than village trees.

And the point here is carbon dioxide - ordinary carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide in the air is present 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 dust a lot, there are a lot of certain proteins in their pollen, which are allergens.

Signs of spring allergies

This is a strong paroxysmal sneezing, discharge from the nose, or vice versa, its congestion. All this is complemented by itching of the eyes, rashes on the skin, sometimes there may be a cough.

Such signs are often not accompanied by fever and appear spontaneously. Therefore, you need to be careful not to confuse seasonal allergies with acute respiratory infections or SARS.

Usually, allergies begin at the same time of the year, more often in spring or summer.

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

How to help a child with a pollen allergy

This is frequent wet cleaning, remove rugs, soft toys from the floor, change and wash bedding more often. Be sure to install humidifiers. Hang screens on windows and wipe them down.

Children attending institutions will have 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.

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

Many parents expect pollinosis to go away by itself, 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, can prescribe the right treatment.

Therefore, the main advice - in case of seasonal allergies, contact an allergist immediately!

What else needs to be done?

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

Rinse your child's nose and eyes.

Today we talked about spring allergies in children, examined its signs.

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

Best regards, Olga.

deti-i-vnuki.ru

Spring allergy - to flowering, pollen, treatment, prevention, on the eyes, in the throat, in the nose, diet

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

Causes

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

At a cursory assessment, a rather harmless ailment, and is just a trigger that causes much more dangerous diseases: asthma, swelling.

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

According to doctors, today more than 20% of people suffer from this disease worldwide. Colossal number.

The causes of occurrence are the subject of discussion, both by practitioners and medical theorists around the world.

Some experts attribute a large role to genetic factors, others to the nature of substances that are potential allergens, others will say that the root of the problem lies in endogenous causes.

Everyone will be right, but only partly.

Allergy cannot be considered as a common disease caused by one specific cause. There is a whole range of reasons involved.

The set 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:

Associated factors causing exacerbation

Among the factors initiating the occurrence of an allergic reaction, there are many domestic and environmental components.

Climate component

Has a situational character.

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

When exposed to the skin and exposed to ultraviolet light, they cause an immune response.

The activity of flowering and the diversity of vegetation in warm climates means a lot of pollen particles, which in itself is a powerful allergen.

Exacerbations can also cause high humidity (in a humid climate).

Region

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

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

Allergy to spring flowering is the most common, and is almost the first in prevalence, along with allergic reactions to animal dander and food irritants.

Environmental component

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

The impact of the environmental component on the 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 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.

Especially relevant is the problem of consumption of allergenic products in the spring.

To increase yields, unscrupulous growers use hazardous 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, a person's immunity is weakened, susceptibility to colds increases.

As a result, there is a risk, even after recovering from acute respiratory infections, to get a severe complication of an allergic reaction.

Symptoms of manifestation

Before our eyes

Allergic damage to the eyes is a frequent 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:

eyelid inflammation. The significance of inflammation depends on the degree of individual reaction to the irritating substance;
inflammation of the conjunctiva (may cause allergic conjunctivitis);
unbearable itching in the eyes;
active secretion of the lacrimal gland;
fear of light;
dryness and burning of the eyes caused by drying of the mucous membrane;
with allergic conjunctivitis, rejection of purulent contents is also possible;

In the throat

Symptoms are manifested as a result of swallowing or inhaling the 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:

throat discomfort;
swelling (including the palate, tongue) and redness;
pain when trying to swallow;
the appearance on the mucous membrane of dense painful vesicles with liquid (abscesses in the throat occur as a result of the mass death of leukocytes and damaged cells, which, mixed with the cellular fluid, are rejected);
voice change (up to complete loss);
cough and feeling of itching.

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

As a result, the gaps narrow, and suffocation increases. These swellings are dangerous and require immediate medical attention.

From the side of the nose

Symptoms:

General

In the absence of a serious immune reaction to the allergen, general symptoms are limited to increased fatigue, or none at all.

An individual reaction can occur at the level of the whole organism (with 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 - to critical levels, which can lead to collapse;
dizziness and nausea;
difficulty breathing;
inhibition of the 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 that immediate medical attention is required.

Diagnostic methods

You can diagnose and determine the allergen both independently and 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, contact with it should be limited as much as possible, and based on observations, a conclusion should be drawn 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 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);
performing skin tests. During the tests, the upper layers of the dermis are damaged (by scarification or subcutaneous injection). Then, a solution of preparations of various allergens is applied to the damaged areas (or injected subcutaneously) and the nature of the immune response is observed.
as a result, if the individual reaction of the body is present, local symptoms appear: redness and inflammation, and the more intense they are, the higher the degree of the immune response;
analysis of lg E antibodies. Allows, based on the analysis of specific antibodies contained in venous blood, to identify types of allergens;
provocative tests. The most dangerous method that requires the constant presence of a doctor in a hospital. It is carried out by introducing into the body of one or another allergen in a small amount. Then there is observation.

Video: Disease Prevention

Treatment

drugs

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

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

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

To relieve symptoms, local drugs are used:

preparations stabilizing mast cell membranes (Kromoglin, Ifiral, Lekrolin, etc.) of local action in the form of drops;
antihistamines for oral administration (Tavegil, Eslotin, Claramax, etc.);
treatment of an allergic reaction from the nose.
eliminates contact with the allergen;
further it is necessary to restore nasal breathing. For this, drugs of the following classes are used:

to relieve swelling and vasoconstriction: Nazivin and others;
topical immunomodulatory drugs: Vilozen, etc.;
hormonal drugs (in severe or chronic form): Flexonase, Avamys;
Lekrolin spray shows itself well, Kromhexal drops;
to alleviate the general condition, take antihistamines;
treatment of an allergic reaction from the throat;
due to their danger, they require more serious treatment. To begin with, the allergen that caused the reaction is eliminated;
then it is necessary to remove the edema, otherwise the further development of suffocation can threaten a person's life. Glucocorticoid hormones are administered intravenously, as well as MgSo4 (magnesium sulfate);
taking antihistamines.

Folk remedies

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

Such an attack can be removed independently, knowing a few simple folk remedies:

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

Bran decoction. In the proportion of 1 tablespoon of bran per 400 g of hot water, a decoction is prepared and infused for an hour and a half. It is 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).

The proportion is 1 tablespoon per 400 g of water. It is infused for 12 hours, after which it is taken 2-4 times. You can wash your nose with chamomile decoction that has stood for 8 hours.

throat manifestations. Herbal tincture is used to relieve swelling of the throat.

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.

It is used 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 the medicinal plants themselves, and then the effect will be the opposite.

Abuse of folk methods is not worth it.

Diet for spring allergies

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

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

Acute period

In the acute period, you can include the following foods in the diet:

bakery products: wheat bread (not freshly baked);
cereal soups, or soups cooked on decoctions of vegetables;
oatmeal and buckwheat porridge on the water;
water, weak tea.

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

meat dishes: lean beef or poultry. In boiled or baked form;
egg dishes: no more than 1 egg per day;
low-fat dairy products;
fruits: fresh or dry. Not more than 0.5 kg per day;

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

Prevention

Since there is no single correct and radical treatment for allergies, prevention is more important in the fight against it.

In order to prevent the onset of the disease (or exacerbation during remission) in the spring, you need to follow a few simple tips:

as little as possible to be on the street. Spring is the peak of flowering. Therefore, in the presence of pollen disease, exacerbation is practically guaranteed. In addition, in the spring, the activity of the sun increases, and the level of air humidity fluctuates sharply (it is already undesirable for allergy sufferers to breathe excessively humidified air, but high humidity also causes the development of mold in the house, the spores of which are the strongest allergen);
The most active plants spray pollen particles at 20.00 to 11.00. Late evening and night time. It is not worth going out during these hours;
exclude brightly pigmented foods and the first fresh fruits and vegetables from the diet, due to the high content of nitrate salts;
When going out, 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 more often. After each visit to the street, wash your face thoroughly, rinsing your eyes and nose. Adhering pollen particles may cause a reaction not immediately, but later.

In addition to specific measures for the prevention of allergies in the spring, it is worth adhering to more general tips:

in the spring, it is almost impossible to hide from plant pollen. Windows and doors should not be opened unnecessarily. It is better to ventilate in the pre-dawn hours, having previously hung openings soaked in water with gauze;
the house should be provided with a normal level of humidity. It shouldn't be too dry or too wet. This will help special household appliances;
clothes should not be dried on the street;
in the spring, you need to increase the amount of water consumed. When the body is dehydrated, histamine is produced more actively;
Do not neglect wet cleaning. House dust allergen is no less aggressive;
if possible, do not use synthetic substances (household chemicals). Its fragrances can act as a secondary allergen;
limit contact with pets. Epidermal allergens can trigger an immune response;
in no case should you independently change the dosage and do not cancel the medication prescribed by your doctor;

Predisposition

The predisposition of the individual is genetically determined.

If the parents are allergic, the probability of the disease in the child 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 are asymptomatic and completely healthy, the possibility of having a child predisposed to this disease will be 20%.

This is especially pronounced in the presence of specific allergies in parents.

But even if both the father and mother have an allergic mood, 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 the above, the role of genetic factors in the mechanism of occurrence is not fully understood.

How to distinguish from a cold

An allergy can be distinguished from a cold by the following signs:

the speed of symptoms. The incubation period of an infectious disease can last from several tens of hours to several days or more. Allergies develop rapidly. It takes several hours;
with allergies, severe itching occurs in the nose, and the amount of secretion secreted increases sharply;
cough without sputum (not counting the manifestations of bronchial asthma). Seizures are compulsive. With a cold, the cough is almost always constant in intensity;
eye manifestations. With an allergic reaction, the eyelids quickly swell, the mucous membranes take on a reddish tint. Eyes itch and itch;
skin manifestations. Allergy is 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. With allergies absent;
colds are treated for a long time. Symptoms may persist for up to 2 weeks;
discharge with a cold has an opaque consistency. Yellow or brown. Nose blocked unevenly;

Consequences of self-medication

Allergy treatment requires special knowledge and a competent integrated approach.

When prescribing treatment for oneself, a person runs the risk of encountering a number of problems:

inefficiency. Symptomatic treatment can drown out the main manifestations, while she herself will not go anywhere, and will develop. At best, allergic symptoms will recur periodically (as a result of an acquired chronic disease), at worst, a serious illness may develop: 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. Harmless at first glance, symptoms can cause complications (for example, with allergic eye damage, corneal erosion is possible, etc.);
side effects of drugs. Hormonal and other drugs used in the treatment of allergic diseases have serious side effects;
likelihood of emergencies. If symptoms appear, you need to urgently seek medical help, in order to avoid the development of emergency conditions;

FAQ

What is the cause of the disease?

As a rule, the immune response is the basis, since the immune system switches from solving the problem of fighting really dangerous external factors (viruses, bacteria) to the response to the allergen.

Why it happens?

Because immunity in a person of the 21st century is not sufficiently loaded with work.

Is the disease related to vaccination?

There is no such connection.

Whether it is possible to recover completely?

To date, no such treatment exists.

General Mechanisms of Allergy
seasonal allergies
Treatment
allergies and pregnancy

Allergy year-round and seasonal

There are no fundamental differences between allergic conditions that appear all year round and those that are seasonal. In the first variant, the antigens do not depend on the biological rhythms of plants, the meeting with them is random.

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

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

General Mechanisms of Allergy

Any allergic disease is due to the presence of increased sensitivity of the body to certain substances or physical factors. Why is this happening?

The emergence of predisposition

In the occurrence of allergies, there is no one reason, it is caused by a combination of factors, among which are:

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 these or those mentioned factors leads to the emergence of an increased readiness of the immune system for a protective reaction, which can occur without a significant reason - in response to the intake of an antigen that is completely neutral for a healthy person.

Against the background of readiness for allergies, penetration into the bloodstream or mucous membranes of a certain substance leads to the synthesis of antibodies that accumulate and remain in the blood. Subsequent intakes 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 action) cause external manifestations of the disease (bronchospasm, skin rashes, copious secretion of mucus from the upper respiratory tract, swelling, etc.).

seasonal allergies

With seasonal allergies, antigens enter the body during breathing, as well as due to direct deposition on the skin and mucous membranes. Ways of penetration largely determine the external manifestations of the disease - this is allergic rhinitis (runny nose) in combination with conjunctivitis, bronchial asthma, etc. Seasonal allergies in children are often "disguised" as a cold.

Symptoms:

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

Conjunctivitis with seasonal allergies

Treatment

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

Site allergy

Pollinosis or seasonal allergy is a reaction of the immune system to certain irritants that interact with the human body at certain periods, seasons. Seasonal allergies are not accidentally 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 the powers that be or the common people, because it caused them severe skin rashes and suffocation.

There is also a brief mention of a disease resembling seasonal allergies in Galen, 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 Bostok officially designated a seasonal allergic reaction, linking it to the provoking factor - hay. After more than 50 years, his compatriot Dr. Blackley proved that seasonal allergies are caused by plant pollen. A decade later, a message about pollinosis appeared in Russia, in St. Petersburg, it was made by Dr. Silich at an open meeting of the organization of Russian doctors. Mass clinical manifestations of seasonal allergies date back to the 50-60s of the last century, the first outbreak of pollinosis was noted in the Krasnodar Territory, where ragweed began to multiply, the seeds and pollen of which were brought 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 is much higher and this is a serious problem, as every year the statistics increase inexorably, despite the clear advances in the study of this disease.

Causes of seasonal allergies

In the clinical sense, hay fever has been studied very extensively, since there was always plenty of material - patients suffering from rhinitis, skin rashes, shortness of breath. But the etiology, the causes of seasonal allergies were determined quite recently. Previously, it was believed that the main factor that provokes allergies refers to a possible predisposition associated with a genetic cause. A genetic predisposition does exist, but it has been proven that allergies are directly inherited, this is confirmed by statistics:

In a mother with allergies, in 25% -30% of cases, children are born with allergic reactions.
20-25% of allergy sufferers have an allergic heredity through their father.
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 the sensitization of the body and an aggressive immune response to the effects of pollen from plants, trees and grasses.

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

The population of territories where the ecological situation is recognized as unfavorable.
People who have a history of another type of allergy, when the provoking factor is medicines, food, chemical compounds. Pollinosis in such cases is a secondary disease, an example of this is the reaction to indoor plants that are not able to produce pollen.
Patients with chronic broncho-pulmonary diseases.
People with weakened immune systems.
Workers in professions associated with harmful working conditions.

The reason for the appearance 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 in seasonal periodicity.

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

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

Birch and its subspecies.
Alder.
Hazel (hazel).
Linden.
Ash.
Sycamore.
Cypress.
Maple.
Walnut.
Weed flowering herbs - wormwood, ragweed.
Meadow flowering herbs - clover, timothy, alfalfa.
Cereal crops - buckwheat, oats, rye, wheat.

seasonal allergies in spring

Spring is the time of the revival of nature, flowering and reproduction of plants. It is the spring period that is considered the most aggressive in the allergic sense, yielding in the number of exacerbations of hay fever only to the beginning of autumn, when ragweed comes into its own. Seasonal allergies in the spring are most often manifested by 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 aggressive trees in the allergic sense - birch and alder - are reborn and begin to bloom. Hazel blooms a little later, although it all depends on the territory of the "residence" of trees and climatic conditions. The pollen produced by birch can spread for many kilometers, so a person suffering from allergies and not having these white-bodied beauties under the window is sometimes perplexed after a diagnosis that determines the birch allergen. In addition, poplar fluff can also carry pollen, which is often blamed for all allergic "sins" of which it is not guilty. In the southern territories, poplar blooms quite early, already at the end of May it showers the ground with fluff, which is an excellent vehicle for heavier pollen. Nearby flowering trees often coexist with poplars, so their pollen settles on downy seeds and spreads everywhere.

Symptoms that manifest seasonal allergies in the spring can debut long before the very fact of flowering, about 50% of allergy sufferers begin to notice tearing, redness of the eyes 7-10 days before “hour X”. During this period, allergies can still be prevented or at least taken measures to reduce the severity of symptoms.

Signs of spring hay fever:

Typical rhinitis - stuffy nose, difficult to breathe. Attacks of sneezing are characteristic, and the mucus secreted from the sinuses has a clear, liquid consistency.
Allergic conjunctivitis - eyes redden, swell. There is tearing, photophobia, a feeling of "mote" in the eyes.
Attacks of shortness of breath, similar to bronchial asthma. Cough frequent, persistent, exhausting, difficult to exhale.
Dermatitis, most often atopic. The skin is itchy, a rash appears, weeping or dry blisters.
Exacerbation of symptoms may result in angioedema, a threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. Quincke's edema develops in 10% of allergy sufferers suffering from spring exacerbations.

Often, seasonal allergies in the spring are accompanied by fever, headaches, decreased appetite, and a general poor condition. It is no coincidence that in many developed countries they are fighting against carminative plants and planting only safe types of flora on the streets, since allergy sufferers not only have a reduced quality of life, but their working capacity is almost halved. In addition, European countries have a good tradition of watering the streets early in the morning, this is especially effective in the spring - it is clean and the pollen is washed off.

seasonal allergy symptoms

Pollinosis 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, descending lower - into the bronchi and lungs. However, hay allergy also has differences, they are associated with conjunctival symptoms. In addition to the nose of an allergic person, the eyes also suffer, pollen settles on the eyeball, penetrates the mucous membranes and starts aggressive immune processes. The first reaction of the immune system is the 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 protein-containing structure, the immune system interacts with protein elements, 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 enough. However, in children, signs of hay fever may be hidden, and sensitization is also asymptomatic. Only after a few weeks or even months, the child becomes covered with a rash, his eyes turn red and swollen, and allergic rhinitis appears.

For the classical development of pollinosis, the so-called allergic triad is characteristic:

Conjunctivitis and lacrimation.
Rhinitis or rhinosinusitis.
Cough and bronchospasm.

Typical symptoms of seasonal allergies include:

Itching and redness of the eyes.
Puffiness of the eyes and increased tearing.
Photophobia.
Itching in the nasal cavity, sneezing ("allergic salutes").
Nasal discharge light color liquid consistency.
Nasal congestion, difficulty breathing.
Ear pain due to involvement of the Eustachian tubes.
Hoarseness of voice, change in its timbre.
Atopic dermatitis, urticaria.
Headache, possible fever.
A specific type of asthma is pollen asthma and bronchospasm.

Not every allergic person has bronchospastic manifestations, if measures are taken in time, shortness of breath and spasm may not appear, however, asthmatic attacks still occur in 30% of patients with a history of past seasons of exacerbation. The most threatening consequence of bronchospasm is Quincke's edema, which develops in a matter of minutes and requires emergency medical care.

The general condition with hay fever often resembles signs of SARS, colds, but without fever. In addition, seasonal allergies can manifest themselves in the form of pollen intoxication, when a person has a migraine attack, weakness, irritability develops, and sleep is disturbed. If pollen enters the digestive system, which often happens with cross-allergies, nausea and abdominal pain appear, which often makes initial diagnosis difficult - allergy symptoms can be so non-specific. 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

Pollinosis in modern children is a frequent occurrence that can develop due to such reasons:

Hereditary predisposition, genetic factor.
Infectious, viral diseases of the mother during pregnancy.
Contact with virus carriers, bacterial infections and, as a result, a decrease in immune defense.
Living in an environmentally unfavorable environment.
Violation or abrupt change in nutrition, especially in infancy.
Untimely or incorrect vaccination.
Artificial feeding.
Dysfunction of the digestive system.

Seasonal allergies in children can proceed non-specifically, according to the type of "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, an allergic reaction looks like a partial and transient reddening of the eyes, a habit of constantly touching the nose - doctors figuratively call this symptom “allergic salute”. Sometimes children begin to cough and allergies can be similar to typical bronchial asthma without rhinoconjunctival signs. The exact cause of the ailment can only be established by an allergist using specific diagnostics that determines a specific allergen.

Seasonal allergies during pregnancy

Almost all population groups are susceptible to hay fever, and pregnant women are no exception. Seasonal allergies during pregnancy proceed in the same way 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 a provoking factor. It should be noted that the hormonal system of expectant mothers works in a special mode, therefore, signs of pollinosis may appear in an atypical form. The most indicative criterion for determining the root cause of discomfort may be a family history. If the parents of the pregnant woman are allergic, 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 an allergy signal, but due to the influence of changes in the hormonal background (progesterone). Therefore, as a rule, an accurate diagnosis can be made only after childbirth, when the function of the hormonal system returns to normal, and during gestation, only correct symptomatic therapy is carried out.

If seasonal allergies nevertheless manifest themselves during pregnancy, then the main rules for the patient are the constant monitoring of the doctor and the maximum elimination of the provoking factor. Dynamic observation by an allergist is necessary to reduce the risk of pathologies in the development of the baby, because with persistent cough or nasal congestion in the mother, especially in the case of bronchospasm, fetal hypoxia is possible. The expectant mother is much more difficult to tolerate seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), and exacerbation significantly worsens her condition and quality of life in general.

Confirmed pollinosis in the mother practically guarantees a predisposition to allergies in the child, at least the statistics determine this in this way:

Half of the children born to allergic parents have a predisposition to allergic reactions.
If a seasonal allergy manifested itself in a future mother, and the father of the child is healthy in this sense, the risk of developing an allergic reaction in a child is possible in 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 unreasonable, it is much more dangerous than exacerbation and pathology of the fetus in untreated hay fever. In addition, in 1.5% of expectant mothers during pregnancy, the reaction to pollen causes severe bronchospasm and Quincke's edema, so the refusal of symptomatic treatment is at least a threat to health, and at most to life in general. Currently, there are quite a few sparing 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 be prescribed only in exceptional cases, with exacerbations and a threat to life. Of course, the most simple and not carrying complications is the method of elimination, that is, the refusal to contact with a provoking situation, a factor. Pregnant women who are prone to allergies need to choose the time and place for walking, after which it is imperative to wash the whole body under running water and take a shower. On sunny windless days, it is better to stay at home with closed windows and vents. The level of humidity in the room is also important, the higher it is, the less the risk of coming into contact with pollen allergens. It should be noted that the trigger may not be pollen, but mold spores, so home hygiene must be observed very carefully. Limiting the use of household chemicals, a gentle hypoallergenic diet, a positive attitude and trust in the experience and knowledge of a doctor will help the expectant mother to safely survive the pollen season and prepare for childbirth.

temperature for seasonal allergies

Among the symptoms that manifest pollinosis, there may be an increase in temperature. The temperature in seasonal allergies is not a specific symptom and is quite rare, but if it is noted, it makes it very difficult to diagnose the disease. This is due to the fact that quite often an allergy to plants is similar in clinical picture to the picture of SARS, acute respiratory infections, especially in the initial period. A runny nose, malaise, headache, lack of a rash - all this can mislead the patients themselves, who begin to treat a false cold on their own. Uncontrolled intake of drugs not only erases the typical symptoms of allergies, but also complicates its course, which can be expressed in hyperthermia as the most aggressive reaction of the body to the inflammatory process.

Most often, the temperature with seasonal allergies is observed in young children. Especially when pollinosis manifests itself in the form of a rash, urticaria. A feverish state with allergies is an adaptive, compensatory mechanism of the body to the impact of a non-infectious aggressive factor. The main role in the pathogenesis of fever is played by interleukin (IL), an intercellular mediator that is activated during inflammatory processes. In children, the level of IL is always somewhat higher due to age characteristics, so hyperthermia lasts for quite a long time, sometimes even after acute symptoms subside. 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 adults with allergies, fever is extremely rare, and can serve as a signal of an exacerbation of a concomitant infectious disease, but not hay fever. Paracetamol and its derivatives are the main drug that relieves fever, fever. 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. As a rule, fever with seasonal allergies 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 patient interview and taking into account a special flowering calendar of carminative flora common in a particular area.

In addition to collecting an anamnesis, including family history, the diagnosis of seasonal allergies involves allergy tests, which reveal the main "culprit" of the aggressive immune response. Definition of the "culprit" of sensitization

carried out in several ways:

Endonasal provocative allergy tests.
Conjunctival provocation tests.
Rrick-test, microinjection test.
Provocative inhalation test.
Skin scarification 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 the immunological analysis of blood serum). In the high season, eosinophilia in nasal mucus can be detected, but this is a non-specific sign that indicates 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, broncho-pulmonary system.
Specific allergy tests outside the palination season.
Consultations of related specialists - dermatologist, immunologist, ENT doctor, pulmonologist.

Seasonal Allergy Treatment

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 task 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 the elimination of the provoking factor, one of the main methods is pharmacotherapy, which can be divided into the following groups:

Prophylactic agents are non-steroidal antihistamines. These drugs are able to inhibit the very initial phase of the immune response to the allergen. Prevention of the secretion of inflammatory mediators, inhibition of the production of histamine helps to reduce the severity of the manifestation of allergies. Antihistamines are indicated throughout the flowering season of trees and plants, even in the absence of obvious symptoms. Forms of funds can be both tableted and intranasal, in the form of sprays, powders for inhalation, aerosols. For children, there is a convenient form - syrup, which is no less effective and well perceived by kids. Ointments and gels, as a rule, contain GCS - glucocorticosteroids. Local corticosteroids are very active in skin rashes, they relieve itching and inflammation well, but they act in a slow mode (penetrate the skin), so they are combined with dosage forms that can quickly stop the manifestations of allergies.
Symptomatic treatment of seasonal allergies also involves the use of antihistamines, most often for the relief of rhinitis and conjunctivitis. New generation drugs are available in a form that is convenient for taking, both locally and orally. Forms and benefits of antihistamines III, IV generation:

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

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

Symptomatic therapy is effective in the first days of an acute allergic process, then a transition to prophylactic drugs is indicated with the obligatory observance of a hypoallergenic diet.

How to relieve seasonal allergies?

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

Avoidance and exclusion of contact with the allergen, that is, with pollen. Elimination is 70% of success in the treatment of hay fever, and the patient himself can do this.
Drug therapy, which includes taking antihistamines, most often in the form of sprays, ophthalmic or nasal. Glucocorticosteroids can be prescribed during an exacerbation of the process and only in exceptional cases, GCS is also prescribed for those who suffer from pollen asthma to stop 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 until the end of the autumn season. The best time for ASIT is winter, when you can get a full course of treatment and relatively calmly survive the flowering season.

How to alleviate seasonal allergies with pharmacotherapy?

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

Antihistamines of the latest generation, not causing complications, addiction. Often they are prescribed even to young children and pregnant women in order to avoid serious exacerbations or to stop them.
Sodium cromoglycate preparations. Cromones are more often prescribed for allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis in the form of eye drops, nasal drops, sprays. They block the calcium channels of the mast cell membrane, which reduces the aggressiveness of inflammation.
Vasoconstrictor drugs are decongestants that regulate the tone of the circulatory system and relieve the symptoms of rhinitis well.
Glucocorticosteroids are prescribed when the use of antihistamines does not work. GCS are taken in a short course until the most acute symptoms are completely relieved, then treatment involves more gentle methods.

Remedies for seasonal allergies

The treatment of pollinosis involves complex actions based on the main event - the elimination of the pollen trigger and the 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-term effect, often taking one tablet is enough, the effect of which lasts up to 12 hours.
Vasoconstrictors.
Combined drugs.
Sodium cromoglycate preparations.
GCS - glucocorticosteroids.
ASIT - specific immunotherapy.
Hemocorrection.

Consider in more detail the means 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, nasal discharge stops. Antihistamines are divided into 4 groups, the last 2 of them are considered the most effective and safe, these are III and IV generation drugs.

Previously produced antihistamines had the following complications:

Dizziness, drowsiness.
Dryness in the mouth.
Nausea.
Violation of coordination of movements.
Decreased or increased appetite.
Violation of the heart rhythm.
Joint pain.

New generation drugs do not have such side effects and are absolutely safe, of course, provided that they are prescribed by a doctor.

Vasoconstrictors - stimulants? - adrenoreceptors. These can be sanorin, oxymetazoline, otrivin, galazolin and other drugs that help neutralize allergic rhinitis and nasal congestion. The course of treatment with the nasal form of the drug should not exceed a week, in the absence of a result, the doctor corrects the prescription, self-administration of vasoconstrictors can cause complications.
Combined drugs are antihistamines in alliance with pseudoephedrines - actifed, clarinase.
Cromones are sodium cromoglycates. With pollinosis, cromones are prescribed locally in the form of drops - cromoglin, lomuzol, high-krom, optikr. Sodium is able to bind membrane protein and reduce the aggressive manifestations of allergies in the eyes and nose.
GCS - glucocorticosteroids can quickly relieve inflammation, they are prescribed topically in the form of ointments, less often in the form of drops, inhalations - for pollen asthma. This may be betamethasone, nazacort, syntaris, rinocort, baconase and other drugs from the GCS group.

Seasonal allergy medications

Drug treatment of pollinosis is aimed at relief and control of symptoms, drugs for seasonal allergies are selected in accordance with the clinical manifestations and severity of the process.

Mild symptoms, slight manifestation 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, last long, and are not addictive. Preparations of the 1st generation can be prescribed for itching, rashes, when, on the contrary, drowsiness and sedation will be effective. The nasal form - allergodil, histimet help relieve itching in the nose, runny nose and nasal congestion neutralize naphthyzinum, galazolin and other vasoconstrictor drops.
The average severity of pollinosis is supervised by local GCS (glucocorticosteroids), rashes, dermatitis respond well to treatment with such drugs. GCS is also effective for lacrimation and hyperemia of the eyes, oftan or dexamethasone are prescribed. Antihistamines of the latest generation in combination with GCS ointments give results literally after 1-2 days.
The severe course of seasonal allergies involves the appointment of high doses of hormones to relieve acute symptoms. Anti-leukotriene agents that reduce the inflammatory process are also shown. Hormones are shown in a short course, as soon as the exacerbation is neutralized, the patient is transferred to a more gentle therapy.

Thus, drugs for seasonal allergies are the main groups:

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

Chronic and subacute forms of conjunctivitis caused by allergies are treated with cromones - sodium cromogynates. These are drugs such as cromohexal, alomid. Cromohexal 2% is effective in the treatment of symptoms in children, as it rarely causes burning and irritation of the eyes. Alomid is also able to induce the release of histamine, in addition, it helps to restore the structure of the cornea of the eye, so it is prescribed for all types of allergies, accompanied by ophthalmic symptoms.

Acute allergic conjunctivitis is treated with more active drugs. Eye drops for seasonal allergies in this form are allergodil, spersallerg. These drops are able to relieve the symptom within 15 minutes, the action lasts up to 6 hours, which makes these types of drugs very popular in the treatment of ophthalmic manifestations of hay fever.

Also effective are such drops prescribed for an allergic inflammatory process in the eyes:

Ifiral.
Hi-krom.
Lecrolin.
Allergochrom.
Irtan.

Treatment of seasonal allergies 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 should be used with caution, as many herbs themselves are allergens.

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

Infusion of leaves and twigs of black currant. You need to prepare 2 tablespoons of dry material or take 4 tablespoons of fresh chopped leaves. They need to pour 300 ml of boiling water, insist in a thermos for 1 hour, then strain and add warm boiled water to a volume of 500 ml. Infusion drink for a week every 2 hours for a tablespoon. If the infusion ends, it must be prepared again, a freshly brewed remedy activates the immune system much better and removes toxins from the body.
Field horsetail - 2 tablespoons of dry grass pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, filter. You need to drink the remedy every hour during the day, then repeat the course after 2 days. In total, you need to conduct 7 courses, that is, a decoction of horsetail is taken within two weeks.
Mix 2 tablespoons of the first-aid kit with a tablespoon of dry nettle. Pour the mixture with 500 ml of boiling water, insist in a thermos for 10 hours (it is convenient to prepare the remedy in the evening). In the morning, the broth is filtered, about 400 ml of the finished product should be obtained. Take half a glass 30 minutes before each meal for a week.
Celery root juice, which includes amino acids, tyrosine, choline, nicotinic acid. Juice has a good effect on the composition of the blood, normalizes metabolism, removes toxins. The tool should be made from a fresh root crop, 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 observe the state of the body, since celery contains Apium graveolens, essential compounds that can cause a secondary allergic reaction.
If there is no allergy to essential oils, then you can use fennel or dill in the form of an oil extract for a week. Essential oil should be dripped on a piece of sugar 3-5 drops, the intake regimen is three times a day half an hour before meals.
Effectively prevents exacerbations in hay fever solution of calcium chloride, drunk 30-40 minutes after eating. The recipe is as follows - add a teaspoon of Calcium chloridum to a glass of chilled boiled water.
Daily intake of fresh or dried figs helps to 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 dosage system, but it is recommended to eat one fruit in the morning and evening.
Avicenna's recipe - taking mummy. 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 the solution, older children under the age of 14 - 75 ml daily, adults with allergies can drink 100 ml in the morning. The course of treatment lasts at least three weeks. Doctors favorably treat this recipe and advise using it as a preventive measure and treatment for seasonal allergies annually.
Skin rashes and itching will help to remove special baths, dilute 10 tablespoons of pharmacy clay in a liter of warm water, pour the solution into the main warm water. You need to lie in such a clay "medicine" for 15-20 minutes, then wash it off the skin under the shower.
A decoction of a string, combined with bathing in a healing solution of this herb, can greatly 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 composition is filtered and divided into 2 parts. First you need to drink 50 ml every 3 hours, pour the second into a warm bath and lie down in this water for 20-25 minutes. Such procedures must be repeated every three days for 2 months in a row.

Pay attention to recipes containing honey. Many sources advise taking a solution or honey in its pure form, but allergists are categorically against such experiments. First, honey itself is a pollen product and can provoke an allergy attack. Second, even if a reaction to honey has not been observed before, 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 the regular use of prescriptions, the presence of patience and the obligatory recommendations of a doctor. Sometimes herbal preparations are drunk for years to achieve an effect, some allergy sufferers see a decrease in symptoms after 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 in any other therapeutic strategy, a diet is present in the treatment of hay fever, which helps to alleviate the patient's condition and reduce the risk of possible exacerbations. Allergy sufferers, in principle, are very sensitive to any food, which is due to the pathogenesis of the disease itself, so the diet for seasonal allergies should be special. You should immediately identify those products that can cause

the same signs as in contact with pollen allergens:

An allergy to the pollen of flowering weeds (wormwood, chicory, ragweed) can occur when using such products:

Seeds - sunflower, pumpkin.
Halva.
Vegetable oils.
Melon.
Mayonnaise.
Eggplant, zucchini.
Watermelon.
Alcoholic drinks containing weeds (aperitifs) - vermouth, balm, tinctures.
Mustard.
Greens, especially tarragon, parsley, basil.
Bananas.
Carrots (raw).
Garlic.
All citrus.

These same products should not be used for allergies to sunflower, calendula. In addition, you should carefully use herbal remedies containing such herbs:

Chamomile.
Yarrow.
Dandelion.
Mother and stepmother.
Elecampane.
Tansy.

Seasonal allergy to the pollen of flowering trees - alder, hazel, birch, apple tree:

All kinds of nuts.
The fruits that grow on flowering trees are pears, apples, apricots, cherries, and so on.
Raspberries.
Kiwi.
Olives.
Parsley.
Dill.
Birch juice.
Tomatoes.
Cucumbers.

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

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

Be careful with all baked goods.
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 large, and the question arises quite logically, what should people suffering from hay fever eat?

Buckwheat.
All fermented milk products, yoghurts without fruit additives. Especially useful is cottage cheese, which contains calcium, which helps to strengthen the vascular wall and its "impenetrability".
Cheese.
Lean meats, poultry.
Stewed, boiled cabbage, with caution - zucchini.
Green peas, young beans.
Light varieties of baked apples.
Refined, deodorized vegetable oil.
Be careful with butter.
Boiled, baked potatoes.
Bread, crackers.
Raisin.
Dried fruits compote.
Green tea.

The list of “forbidden” foodstuffs is not a dogma, their use should be limited during the period of exacerbation, 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 observance of the diet that significantly alleviates the severity of allergic symptoms, which once again indicates its importance and significance.

Prevention of seasonal allergies

In order for the season of flowering and pollen release not to become a period of exacerbation of an allergic reaction, certain preventive measures must be observed.

Prevention of seasonal allergies includes such actions and prohibitions:

Contact with provoking plants should be avoided. If possible, go out less often, reduce walking time, especially in windy or hot, sunny weather.
Indoors, windows and doors should be closed; hanging windows with a damp transparent cloth that absorbs pollen gives 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 the whole body, it is advisable to wash your hair as well, since the hair may contain enough pollen for allergies.
After walking, you should change clothes, which may have traces of pollen.
When driving in a car, close the windows, which can get pollen along with the air flow.
If possible, during the most active period of flowering 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 herbs provoke allergies, so no matter how you like the smell of freshly cut grass or the look of a mowed lawn, these places should be avoided.
After washing, linen and clothes must be dried indoors, as a damp cloth is an excellent “sorbent” for pollen.
A few months before the "hour X", that is, before the flowering season, you should take care of strengthening the immune system, normalizing the work of the digestive organs. It is also necessary to check the body for helminthic invasions, since they significantly increase the rate of sensitization of the body to the allergen.
You should read and remember the list of "forbidden" foods that can become obligate allergens in case of cross-allergy. This list also includes medicinal herbs, which are many among pharmacy fees and in phytopreparations.

Seasonal allergies are a disease of civilization, as many doctors believe, the reasons for this may be associated with external and internal factors that are sometimes not amenable to curation and treatment. However, for all its scale, pollinosis still affects far from every inhabitant of the planet. Therefore, the use of timely preventive measures makes it possible to take hay fever under control - at least reduce the severity of the clinical manifestations of allergies or extend the period of remission, as a maximum - completely get rid of seasonal allergies.

Source allergy

Seasonal allergy is an allergic reaction, which is a protective response of the immune system to various foreign inclusions in the inhaled air. In most cases, an allergic reaction occurs to allergens that occur in the open air, these are 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 case of constant contact with a provocative allergen. Usually this allergic reaction is manifested by 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 the age of three, 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, carrot and alder. However, numerous biological studies have shown that the composition of pollen and fruits of plants contains protein molecules that have the same sections, which are the cause of the development of cross-allergic reactions. If the baby's cheeks turn red from cherry jam, it is possible that he will sneeze and cough after walking through the birch grove. But if a child has an allergy to citrus fruits, then a strong runny nose can cause a bouquet of daisies

Seasonal allergies - causes

Like all other allergic reactions, seasonal allergies are caused by the attack of the immune defense by allergens that enter the body through the skin, with food or inhaled air. With seasonal allergies, the allergens that provoke the reaction, together 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 start of contact of the provoking allergen with the mucous membranes, leukocytes to these foreign substances begin to produce antibodies, which subsequently leads to the development of an allergic reaction, which is sometimes also called hypersensitivity to inherently harmless substances.

Pollen is the most common allergen in seasonal allergies. Pollen - microscopic particles formed in flowers (the male part of the reproductive organs of all flowering plants). The pollen of wind-pollinated plants is spread with the movement of air, pollinating (fertilizing) other plants of its species. Depending on the local climate, a certain period of pollen release can be traced for each plant species. Some plants are pollinated in spring, others in summer or early autumn. Moreover, the farther north, the pollination period comes later. The pollen of some grasses, trees and weeds (ragweed, etc.) is more likely to cause an allergic reaction than others. The pollen of insect-pollinated plants is much less allergenic than the pollen of 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 both outdoors and in agricultural and residential areas. They thrive in soil, 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, and nasal polyps. With age, the type of allergens to which an allergic reaction is observed may change, as well as the symptoms themselves.

Periods of development of seasonal allergies:

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

Summer - the period of flowering flowers and cereals

Autumn - the period of flowering of Compositae (wormwood, quinoa, ragweed)

Seasonal allergies - symptoms

Manifestations of seasonal allergies are not always terrible. In some people, the allergic reaction proceeds quite tolerably, without noticeable changes in appearance and profuse rhinitis. In this case, it is not worth changing the established rhythm of life. However, quite severe cases of allergic manifestations can also be observed, when a mandatory visit to an allergist is required. Nevertheless, even if the symptoms of seasonal allergies are rather mild, treatment is still necessary, since an implicit picture at the beginning may begin to progress, gradually turning into bronchial asthma and autoimmune diseases.

The main symptoms of seasonal allergies: a runny nose with a liquid clear discharge, sneezing, nasopharyngeal numbness, nasal congestion, a feeling of congestion in the ears (in the ear), reddened watery eyes, insomnia, loss of strength, 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.)

In case of symptoms of seasonal allergies that appear, it is not worth delaying visiting a doctor. With the help of a simple procedure, a qualified allergist can easily determine the type of plant that adversely affects health. The diagnosis itself consists in conducting skin tests with a set of the most common pollen allergens in the patient's place of residence.

Seasonal allergies - treatment

Fortunately, seasonal allergies do not always require specialized treatment, and it is often quite enough to carry out simple hygiene procedures and avoid contact with a provoking allergen. If these measures were not enough, you can buy an antiallergic drug in any pharmacy.

Avoid contact with suspected or known allergens. This is achieved by installing protective air filters in the room. Doors and windows should also be carefully closed, and if contact with an allergen is inevitable, protective bandages on the nose and mouth, as well as gloves, should be used.

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

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

If simple measures are not enough, with acute or persistent symptoms, drug treatment 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 applied topically and in low dosage, these sprays are almost completely devoid of the side effects that are characteristic of corticosteroid drugs. Also, sprays successfully relieve swelling, eliminate itching and nasal congestion, and do not cause drowsiness. To achieve a sustainable effect, they should be taken daily for several days.

Other common medications prescribed to treat seasonal allergies are antihistamines, which are available over the counter in most countries (Hydroxysine, Diphenhydramine, Tripelennamin, Clemastine). All of the listed antihistamines are relatively inexpensive and are freely available, but the effect achieved is relatively short-lived and, moreover, they have a strong sedative effect, as a result of which they are categorically contraindicated for people who, due to their professional activities, require a quick reaction. I would also like to note that in the case of continuous use, the sedative effect decreases over time, but this also applies to the anti-allergic effect. Alternatively, it is possible to use long-acting drugs such as Desloratadine, Loratadine, Fexofenadine. Despite the fact that they are more expensive and are usually only available by prescription, they should be taken only once a day, and there is practically no sedative effect after taking.

More specifically, seasonal illness. Diathesis and allergies in children

Medical methods of treatment

Pollinosis (from Latin pollinis - dust, pollen) pollen allergy, hay runny nose, a 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 suffer from 4.8 to 11.8% of children. And although pollen allergy can appear in a child 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, in this case, plant pollen, and depends on which plants grow in a given climatic zone. In central Russia, there are three main flowering periods:

spring - April-May: there is pollen of trees (birch, alder, oak, hazel, etc.) in the air;
summer - June-July - in the air - pollen of cereal grasses (bluegrass, couch grass, fescue, hedgehogs, foxtail, timothy, etc.);
late summer, or summer-autumn, associated with the flowering of composite and haze plants (wormwood, quinoa, ragweed).

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

In the occurrence and development of an allergic reaction, heredity plays an important role - the transfer from parents to a 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 of development of an allergic reaction 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 process of recognition of the allergen by the cells of the immune system and the production of protective substances (antibodies) against this foreign agent takes place in the body - the so-called sensitization phase. Outwardly, it does not manifest itself in any way, and it can take a long time from the moment of first contact with pollen to the development of signs of the disease.

For example, last year the child did not react to flowering plants, but the pollen got into the body. And this spring, with the first blooming buds, the baby had a second meeting with the allergen, because of which 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.

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

Symptoms

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

Allergic conjunctivitis appears1 (lacrimation, photophobia, severe reddening of the mucous membrane, severe itching and swelling of the eyelids, a feeling of sand in the eyes), combined with allergic rhinitis (itchy nose, impaired nasal breathing, abundant liquid clear discharge from the nose, sneezing attacks - from 10 up to 30 sneezes in a row).

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

The lesion of the nasal mucosa is usually bilateral. Swelling of the mucous membrane leads to a decrease in hearing, smell, and the appearance of a headache. In contrast to acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI), with hay fever, fever and weakness are rarely noted, there is no sharp sore throat, redness, and swollen lymph nodes (ear, submandibular, etc.) are rarely noted.

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

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

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

Headache, weakness, sweating, drowsiness, irritability and tearfulness, chills, fever, increased fatigue can join the above manifestations of hay fever.

Diagnostics

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

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

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

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

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

Allergen testing

The simplest and most affordable method for detecting an allergen are scarification tests 1 and their variant in the form of a prick test. They are carried out only in the winter, not earlier than ten days after the end of taking antiallergic drugs.

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

The technique is as follows: droplets of various industrially prepared allergens are applied to the hands (forearms), and scratches or injections are made. Through the damaged skin, a foreign substance enters the body, and after 20 minutes, doctors evaluate the size of the blisters formed at the site of the scratches. The "guilty" allergen will cause the largest blister to form.

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

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

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

In general, an allergic examination of a patient with pollinosis p
Attention, only TODAY!

medovgur.ru

Allergies in children in the spring - a very common phenomenon. Sneezing and the appearance of a runny nose in a baby causes anxiety in parents, and they immediately begin treatment. After making a self-diagnosis, the worried mother starts giving cold medicine. And the cause of coughing or sneezing can be seasonal allergies. Therefore, it is necessary to learn to distinguish colds from allergic manifestations.

Seasonal allergy refers to a disease that manifests itself at some time of the year. Another name for this type of allergy is hay fever. Officially, seasonal allergies are recognized as a disease that negatively affects performance, school performance and can cause serious complications in the form of bronchial asthma. Most patients have spring allergies.

Starting from the spring flowering period, a large amount of pollen from various plants and trees is released into the air. For allergy sufferers, spring becomes a real test. They cannot walk freely, sleep, and little patients are capricious, become restless, eat poorly, which even more alarms the parents. 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 show up in people who have never had them before. The occurrence of an allergic reaction in a child is affected 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 threatened by the same allergens as the parents. But toddlers can outgrow the allergic age. After 13 years, the immunity of children goes through the stage of formation. If the parents followed the instructions of the doctors, the disease may disappear. But the problem is that most parents may not know or remember what kind of pollen they had a negative reaction to.

At first, the baby may be prone to allergies to the pollen of a single plant. This is called monoallergy. When there is no treatment, a reaction to other allergens (polyallergy) occurs. For example, a child develops an allergy to food, animal hair, household dust, chemicals. Clothes washed with powder can provoke 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 to switch to artificial feeding unnecessarily, as this doubles the risk of seasonal allergies. Breast milk contains many beneficial substances that strengthen the body of children, which increases resistance to disease.

During pregnancy, a woman should monitor her diet and regimen. Some foods should not be abused, as they most often cause allergies. These products include chocolate, nuts, halva, honey, citrus fruits. The expectant mother should avoid food that contains preservatives, flavors, dyes. It is unacceptable to smoke and abuse alcohol.

What 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. In the first place is birch. In addition to it, allergies can cause:

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

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

To make it easier to determine which allergen is causing the 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, juice, then these are prerequisites for the occurrence of hay fever. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that identical protein molecules are included in fruits and pollen.

Such a relationship is observed between alder and carrots, melon and dandelion, citrus fruits and some types of chamomile. If an allergy in a child occurs after eating plum jam, then a walk through a birch grove can provoke a cough and runny nose. Avoid apple blossoms unless your child is allowed kiwi or potatoes. If you are allergic to halva and honey, dandelions and wormwood are dangerous.

Seasonal allergy symptoms

Symptoms of pollinosis differ depending on the stage of the disease, the age and health of the small patient. The main signs of the disease are:

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

These signs may be accompanied by ear congestion, hyperactivity, coughing, sneezing. Skin rashes usually appear on the abdomen, in the groin, between the fingers on the hands. Insomnia as a symptom appears when the baby has a stuffy nose and cannot breathe. Breathing can be disturbed with the development of bronchial asthma. In this case, immediate treatment is required.

An allergist will help diagnose the disease. Diagnostic measures include skin tests for allergens and blood tests for antibodies. During the flowering period, tests are not carried out. During the examination, it is necessary to inform the doctor about all the manifestations of allergies that the child could have had before, but have passed. Since there is a link between pollinosis and food allergies, the reaction to some foods may persist in winter. For example, if the allergy was 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. A neglected disease will lead to complications that may affect the future. All that is required is to avoid contact with allergens. With food allergies, this is easier to do. It is enough to remove from the diet foods to which there is a reaction. But in the case of an allergy to pollen, this cannot be done.

Therefore, doctors prescribe antihistamines. It can be drops, syrups or tablets. The dose is set individually depending on the age and weight of the baby. For skin rashes, anti-allergic gels are used, and for allergic rhinitis, nasal drops with a vasoconstrictive effect are used.

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

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

Additional Reminders for Parents

Walks will have to be shortened or made after rain. Do not walk in parks or heavily polluted areas.

If possible, change your place of residence during flowering.

Some parents take their children from cities to the sea. Close windows while driving.

Set a mode for the child. Let him go to bed and get up at the same time. Provide drinking regimen. Water procedures are important in such a period. Rinse your baby every 2 hours. By following these measures, you can significantly affect the patient's condition.

ProAllergiju.ru

While healthy children rejoice in the warm sun and collect bouquets of spring flowers, allergic children suffer from painful symptoms of hay fever.

Causes of allergies in the spring

Pollinosis 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 body of a child.

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;
Puffiness of the eyelids;
Photophobia, frequent blinking;
Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath;
Cough;
Rashes, redness, swelling, itching of the skin;
Dryness, peeling of the skin;
Capriciousness and irritability;
Drowsiness or insomnia;
Lack of appetite.

How to distinguish an allergy from an acute respiratory disease?

Allergies are almost never accompanied by fever;
Symptoms of spring allergies appear annually, at about the same time;
An allergic child 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 acute respiratory infections, the location does not matter;
The well-being of a child with allergies worsens on a dry and warm day, improves on rainy weather;
Discharge from the nose is profuse and thin, unlike the thick, cloudy discharge characteristic of a viral or bacterial infection;
With allergies, cough is not accompanied by sputum;
ARI 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 an allergy in the spring, contact your doctor immediately. Timely prevention and treatment of pollinosis will help alleviate the state of health and prevent the progression of the disease.

Treatment of allergies to spring flowering

The choice of treatment for pollinosis depends on the stage of the disease and the flowering season of plants that cause an allergic reaction.

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

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

Antihistamines;
Hormonal agents of local influence (ointments and creams);
Non-hormonal antiallergic drugs.

Important! Preparations for the prevention and treatment of allergies in a child should be prescribed only by a doctor!

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

schoolofcare.com
Trees and shrubs:

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

Birch is the most common cause of seasonal allergies. It has very volatile pollen. The season for allergic reactions to birch begins even 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 for tens of kilometers. There are a lot of birches in our country, so it is almost impossible to exclude the allergen from life.

Alder is the second most common allergen.

The insidiousness of shrubs lies in the fact that they are difficult to identify until the leaves appear, for example, it is difficult to distinguish hazel from alder.

Cereal and meadow grasses: rye, wheat, timothy, fescue, bluegrass, wheatgrass, bonfire, buckwheat and others.

The insidiousness of allergenic herbs is that not many people know what these herbs look like.

The cause of allergies can also be ordinary lawn grass. If the lawn is not mowed in time, the grass will bloom and begin to dust. Lawns can dust several times a year. The juice of freshly cut grass, when it comes into contact with human skin, can also cause an allergic reaction, which is expressed in the form of urticaria.

weeds : wormwood, quinoa, dandelion, ambrosia, hemp, nettle, buttercup and others.

Dandelions- very allergenic. They have heavy pollen, so close contact with the allergen is needed to start the reaction, 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 mushrooms. They are found in rotten foliage, in potatoes, 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 eyes will start to itch”- said Nadezhda Magarina.

healthy-kids.ru

Allergy to the pollen of trees and other plants (hay fever) is a disease that comes in the middle of spring and often does not recede until autumn. Allergy to flowering is most often manifested by a runny nose and is often combined with allergies to individual products. How to understand that a child has hay fever? Is it possible to alleviate his condition?

Pollinosis is one of the most common allergic diseases in children, which can manifest itself at almost any age. Pollinosis is a consequence of the increased sensitivity of the body to the effects of certain allergens. When they enter the mucous membranes of the body, inflammation occurs.

Signs of pollen allergy

If every year in the spring at the same time the child shows symptoms of SARS: nasal congestion, runny nose, redness and itching of the eyes, general malaise, then this may be an allergy. Tree pollen allergy often masquerades as a cross-food allergy. There are a number of foods that allergy sufferers react to in the same way they do to pollen. These are apples, pears, stone fruits (cherries, plums, peaches, etc.). Often, an allergy begins with a reaction to these fruits - there is 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 here. With a high concentration of dust, allergies can also occur with an increase in temperature up to 37.1 - 37.2 ° C. If this is a reaction to pollen, then this temperature will be maintained throughout the entire flowering period.

The most reliable method for detecting sensitivity to specific allergens is considered by experts to be skin allergy tests. They are made in the fall, when everything is already fading, starting approximately from October. During flowering, skin tests are not carried out, but during this period you can donate blood for specific immunoglobulins. If we compare these two methods, then allergy tests are more informative. Ideally, you should give your child both tests and compare the results.

How to help a 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 weakened. Even if you are traveling to a visa-free country, do not forget to purchase health insurance. It will protect against possible expenses for doctors.
If you still stay in the city, then you should not walk with your child in dry calm weather, it is also better not to leave the city. At home, keep the windows closed, air out 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 remove clothes from the child, it is advisable to wash them immediately. Dry washed items only indoors. Also, immediately after the walk, be sure to wash the child with his head, rinse his nose and throat. An air purifier helps a lot (air conditioning is not recommended).
If you are traveling with a child in a car, then make sure that all windows are tightly closed.
Monitor your diet by eliminating cross-products both during the flowering period and in the weeks before and after it. Even if the child normally tolerates apples, pears, stone fruits, nuts (especially hazelnuts), fresh carrots (including in juices), new potatoes, celery, olives, kiwi, during the spring exacerbation of allergies, these products are recommended to be excluded from the diet.
There are websites that publish reports on measurements of pollen concentrations 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 of an allergy is the risk of a child developing bronchial asthma. According to statistics, if a person suffers for 5-6 years and is not treated in any way (taking antihistamines is not considered a treatment), then the likelihood that he will develop bronchial asthma is very high - up to 80%.

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

Discussion

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

And I would also like to advise, as a mother, from my own experience not to neglect barrier means. If you spray Prevalin Kids in the nose during the flowering period, then this will greatly facilitate the life of the child, because. the tool well protects the body from the ingress of allergens into it.

Yes, I liked the article and consider it useful for myself. Allergy is actually not just a mild and passing ailment, as many people think, but still a big threat to our health.

Comment on the article "Spring allergy in a child: rules of conduct for hay fever"