After winter comes spring which tries to lift our spirits and fills our appetite for life! And yet, for a large percentage of people – about 20% of the population – who suffer from seasonal allergies, spring is a time of daily hardship and stress. This is because most plants bloom at this time and pollen grains spread with the help of air in a large radius.
We talked to allergist Myrto Potika about everything you would like to know about spring allergies.
Spring allergies mainly affect children and young adults but can also occur at older ages and are usually present. hereditary predisposition.
The main allergies of spring are allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis.
The first is manifested by congestion (sneezing), sneezing, runny nose and itching in the nose and ears, easy fatigue, headache, and the second depending on its severity with itching, redness of the eyes, tearing and photophobia. Failure to treat the above symptoms can lead to a number of other complications, such as sinusitis, otitis media, keratoconus, and allergic asthma. Allergic asthma occurs with intense, paroxysmal cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest heaviness, symptoms that worsen with exercise, can wake the patient from sleep and significantly impair his quality of life.
In the spring, skin manifestations may occur, such as contact urticaria after contact with grass or caterpillars, as well as eczema. The skin diseases they are characterized by intense and annoying itching. These symptoms occur or, if pre-existing, worsen each year at the same time.
Finally, in the spring, allergic reactions are more common after a bee or wasp sting. People who are allergic to the venom of these insects can show a strong and large reaction at the site of the sting, as well as rashes, shortness of breath, dizziness, tachycardia, fainting. These episodes should be treated immediately as they can be life threatening.
The most common allergens in spring in Greece are pollen from grasses and cereals, pollen from weeds such as partridge and wormwood and pollen from trees such as olive, cypress and others. Even perennial allergens such as moisture fungi and house dust mites multiply faster due to the increased humidity, temperature and vegetation that prevail this season making spring the most torturous season for allergic patients.
The diagnosis of spring allergies includes the history, the clinical examination as well as the allergy tests.
These are done by the specialist Allergist quickly and reliably for the determination of the culprit substance, while in some cases the determination of IgE antibodies in the blood and the spirometry for the control of the respiratory function also contribute to the diagnosis.
THE Treatment of allergic diseases aims to prevent allergens, relieve symptoms, and treat them definitively.
Complete avoidance of allergens that cause respiratory allergies is practically impossible since in terms of these pollens travel by air miles away from where they are released. However, minimizing exposure is only possible by following these guidelines:
- Close the windows of the house during the day and ventilate the house in the evening.
- Close the car windows when driving, turn on the air conditioner and indoor air recycling.
- Find out about pollen levels in the atmosphere in your area. On hot, dry and windy days when pollen is at its highest, limit movement.
- Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. Motorcyclists must wear a helmet.
- Rinse your skin and hair in the bathroom after a long stay outdoors to remove the pollen that has settled on you.
Fortunately, there are safe and effective medications to relieve allergic symptoms.
Spring allergy medication includes classes of medications such as antihistamines, anti-inflammatory, bronchodilators that significantly improve the quality of life of the allergic person, and allow him to have a very good level of daily activities.
The most effective treatment for the eradication of symptoms is immunotherapy which is the only causal treatment for allergic diseases and a percentage of well-selected patients can benefit significantly. It is based on the administration of gradually increasing doses of the responsible allergens, either in the form of vaccines in the Allergy Clinic, or in the form of sublingual drops at home.
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