The cause of spring allergies is pollen. With the arrival of spring, nature awakens and vegetation becomes richer. During this period, meadow grasses, many wild grasses, and many trees such as cypresses and olives release their invisible pollen into the atmosphere. These pollen circulate freely in the air and can be carried long distances by winds. When individuals with spring allergies go out of the house or open their windows at home or at work during these months, they encounter pollen that circulates freely in the air. As a result of this encounter, pollen travels to our airways and eyes through breathing, causing symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal itching, nasal congestion, itching in the ears and palate, watery eyes, itching and redness in both eyes. These symptoms are called spring allergy, pollen allergy, hay fever, allergic rhinitis. As the name suggests, the patient thinks he has a cold. Patients express their complaints as follows: "My cold/flu never goes away, I catch a cold even in summer, I sneeze all day long, I walk around with toilet paper in my hand all day to wipe my runny nose." Allergic rhinitis is often confused with influenza due to infection by healthcare professionals and patients. Therefore, it leads to unnecessary antibiotic use and delays in diagnosis. Unfortunately, many cold and flu medications contain allergy medications called antihistamines and decongestants, which increase diagnostic confusion as these medications reduce allergic flu symptoms. Do not forget that there is no fever in allergic rhinitis because there is no causative microorganism.
Pollen allergy occurs in the spring and summer, and when the pollen season ends, all disease symptoms completely resolve, but the symptoms of the disease begin again in similar seasons every year, and allergic reactions usually occur each year. The severity of the cold may increase and/or its duration may increase. Allergic asthma may develop in one third of patients. Symptoms of allergic asthma are cough, wheezing in the chest, shortness of breath, chest pressure and white phlegm. Patients describe the wheezing sound in the chest as "it's like a cat is purring on my chest." These complaints occur in the evening and at night, and in the early morning. increases during hours. It can be triggered by cigarette smoke, deodorant, perfume, exercise, upper respiratory tract infections, laughter.
Pollen allergy is diagnosed by skin test (skin prick test). During the treatment, patients are informed about pollen and protection methods are explained. Those with allergies should keep doors and windows closed during spring and summer. Early mornings and afternoons are the hours when pollen is highest. Also, having a picnic in these seasons, doing sports outdoors, and opening the car window while traveling by car will result in heavy pollen exposure. Those who are allergic to pollen should not go to bed without washing their hair when they get home, and should change their daily clothes and throw their clothes into the laundry basket. Despite all these measures, since pollen is a part of nature, it is not possible to completely protect from pollen, and although the patient's complaints decrease, they continue to occur. Although the medications are very effective, they work as long as they are used; when the medications are stopped, all symptoms return. For this reason, patients are recommended to use medications without interruption until the pollen season is over. Since medications cannot eradicate the disease or prevent the allergy from progressing over time or turning into asthma, vaccine treatment can be started in suitable patients. Vaccine treatment can reduce or improve the severity of pollen allergy and allergic asthma and prevent the development of new allergies. Vaccines contain the allergen that you are allergic to. If the allergen you are allergic to is given under the skin or under the tongue at regular intervals and in small and increasing doses, you will react less or not at all when you encounter that allergen naturally. Today, there are two types of vaccines: subcutaneous and sublingual. Subcutaneous vaccines are administered once a week for the first 2-4 months, then every 4 weeks with an insulin injector in the arm. Sublingual vaccines are placed under the tongue every day. The treatment period for both vaccination methods is 3-5 years. Vaccines have a late onset of action, it may take weeks or months for the effect to begin. The protection of vaccines continues for many years after vaccinations are discontinued. The longer the treatment period, the longer the protection period of the vaccines after discontinuation. Although both vaccination methods are effective, Subcutaneous vaccines, which are an older vaccination method, are more effective. For this reason, subcutaneous vaccine treatment is more suitable for children and adults who do not have a fear of injection. Sublingual vaccine treatment may be preferred for people with a fear of needles. Responses to vaccine treatment vary depending on the person and the number of allergens they are allergic to. Vaccine therapy is an old treatment method approved by the World Health Organization and applied in many European countries and America. The vaccines do not contain cortisone, and vaccine treatment is continued without interruption in patients who become pregnant. Vaccines have no side effects other than allergic reactions. If an allergic reaction is observed, this effect can be eliminated by changing the vaccine dose. If the allergic reaction cannot be corrected, the treatment is terminated.
In summary, for a successful treatment, you should learn about your allergy, avoid pollens as much as you can, and get vaccination treatment along with medication if you are suitable. In patients who benefit from vaccines, the number and/or doses of medications may be reduced or discontinued. If you think you have spring allergies, do not underestimate your disease and be sure to consult an allergist. Because the symptoms of the disease may be mild at first, have a chronic course, progress over time and turn into allergic asthma.
I wish you healthy days…
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