Hay fever is a specific allergy that causes symptoms similar to that of the common cold. Most patients with hay fever develop worsening symptoms during the spring and fall months, when the pollen count is elevated and often can go through the winter months with few if any symptoms at all. Sometimes hay fever can be triggered by pet dander and mold, although most sufferers of hay fever experience allergies based on pollen and ragweed. A small percentage of patients who suffer from hay fever find their symptoms are triggered by cockroaches as well. There are treatment options available for those who suffer from hay fever.
Symptoms of hay fever typically include runny nose, congestion in either the chest or sinuses, cough, increased asthma attacks, itching and discomfort of the eyes, roof of the mouth, tongue, throat, and nose, watery eyes, pressure behind the face, head, or pain related to such pressure, disrupted sleep, fatigue, irritability, and allergy shiners—swelling and a blueness under the eyes. While the common cold and hay fever are nearly identical in their symptoms, cold sufferers tend to run a low fever and begin to improve within 3 to 5 days. Hay fever does not improve unless treated for the duration that the patient is exposed to allergies.
Regardless of what the patient is allergic to, hay fever is always caused by the presence of an allergen. Allergens are substances that the patient’s body does not recognize at friendly and produces a histamine reaction to the presence of that substance. The body’s natural defense system, the immune system, launches into overdrive and tries to both protect the body from as well as rid the body of the allergen. Most seasonal hay fever sufferers are most commonly allergic to grass pollen, weed pollen, tree pollen, and the spores which fungus and mold release in order to reproduce. Most constant hay fever sufferers are allergic to pet dander, dust mites, cockroaches, and the spores from both indoor and outdoor molds and fungi. A patient can suffer from both seasonal and constant allergies.
Risk factors for developing hay fever include being the first born child in the family, being male, being born during a high pollen season, family history, exposure to dust mites, and exposure to second hand cigarette smoke during the first year to eighteen months of life on a consistent basis.
Diagnosing hay fever begins with a physical examination as well as an accurate description of the symptoms and if the symptoms worsen during particular times. With signs of developing hay fever, a skin allergy test is recommended. This involves lightly scratching the skin (usually on the back) and determining which allergens the skin reacts to. This test is simple and basically painless and can help determine what allergens that the patient’s body is responding to. Once the allergens are identified, treatment options become clearer.
Complications related to chronic, untreated hay fever may include the development of asthma, susceptibility to sinusitis, the development of eczema, middle ear infections in children with hay fever, as well as a compromised quality of life and the constant feeling of being ill.
Treatment options for hay fever vary and can be determined by the severity of the allergies, the patient’s need, and the specific allergens which cause the reaction. Some patients can simply purchase over the counter antihistamines to control their symptoms. However, most patients require more aggressive treatment. An allergy shot, also known as immunotherapy, which is the gradual introduction of the allergen into the body to retrain the immune system, has been proven relatively effective for most hay fever patients. Prescription medications including corticosteroids, decongestants, antihistamines, nasal atropine, chromolyn sodium, and leukotriene modifiers often help to relieve the symptoms of hay fever.
Patients with hay fever are urged to discover the source of their allergies, as it is recommended that patients avoid situations which are likely to expose them to their allergens. Some patients need to take ore extreme precautions than others, depending on the severity of the allergy. Some patients can simply keep the dog out of their sleeping area while others need to find new homes for their pets. Some patients should stay indoors when the wind is blowing around dry, warm air while others simply need to use air conditioning in their homes. Air purifiers work well for those with airborne allergies.
Find out more by viewing the Human Anatomy page:
Lymphatic system
Respiratory System
Sensory organs
Medication commonly used for these disease:
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Allegra, which is generically prescribed as fexofenadine, is commonly used to treat the symptoms of allergies. It blocks the histamine that causes itching, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, and coughing. It is a member of the family of medication more...
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Allegra D 24 hour is generically prescribed as fexofenadine and psudoephedrine. Allegra D 24 hour is commonly used to treat the symptoms of allergies such as sneezing, coughing, runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes. Allegra D 24 hour is both an antihistamin more...
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Claritin-D, which is generically prescribed as loratadine and psudoephedrine, is commonly used to treat the symptoms of allergies. Claritin-D is part of the family of medications known as antihistamines which block the histamine reaction in the bod more...
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Flextra DS, which is commonly prescribed as acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine, is commonly used to treat the aches, pains, fever, sneezing, cough, stuffy nose, and congestion associated with allergies and hay fever. Flextra DS contains a fever reducer an more...
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Rhinocort Aqua may also be prescribed as Rhinocort nasal spray, Rhinocort turbuhaler, and Rhinalar, and is considered part of the corticosteroid family. Rhinocort Aqua is a steroidal, anti-inflammatory medication commonly used to treat the symptoms of hay more...
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Zyrtec, which is generically prescribed as cetirizine, is commonly used to treat the symptoms of allergies, such as runny nose, cough, sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, tearing, and hives. Zyrtec is an antihistamine. Antihistamines block the reaction that his more...
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Pulmicort is generically prescribed as budesonide inhalation and is commonly used to treat the inflammation that causes asthma attacks. Pulmicort is used to prevent asthma attacks and is not considered a rescue inhaler. Pulmicort can lower the more...
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Clarinex, which is generically prescribed as desloratadine, is commonly used to treat the symptoms of allergies, such as itchy, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing and coughing. Clarinex is part of the family of drugs known as antihistamines more...
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Claritin, also known as Alavert, Claritin, and Claritin Reditab and generically known as loratadine, is used as antihistamine to prevent or lessen the symptoms of allergies such as runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, hives and itching. The tablet form of more...
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Although it’s not a household name, Promethazin is a great medication that has many different uses. Promethazin is what is known as an antihistamine and anti-emetic drug. It blocks the effects caused by the naturally produced histamine in your body. It ha more...
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