Seasonal Allergies: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

A change in seasons is a welcome relief from monotonous weather conditions. But these changes also bring along a range of health issues like allergies. Seasonal allergies are also called allergic rhinitis or hay fever. It is a set of respiratory problems or symptoms, found in people who are allergic to pollen from certain trees, weeds or grasses. Seasonal allergy is a health concern for almost 35 million people in the United States. Commonly, the term used to describe seasonal allergies is hay fever, but hay actually causes a few allergic issues.

Symptoms

Seasonal allergies mostly affect the respiratory setup, eyes and nose and may also cause problems in lungs, especially for those suffering from asthma. A runny and/or itchy nose, congestion of the nasal passages and watery and itchy eyes. Those who suffer from asthma, show symptoms like wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. People who are severely allergic, show symptoms which result in increased complications like fatigue, headaches or the inability to concentrate and so on.

Causes

Seasonal allergies are not limited to a particular time of the year. These occur whenever there is a drastic change in the environmental conditions and may persist throughout the year. At the beginning of spring, tress show a tendency to pollinate heavily. At such times, people are more susceptible to hay fever and its prevalence is generally high in the country side. It occurs more commonly in childhood, but can strike at any age. 20% of this disorder is attributed to seasonal changes while 40% is caused due to chronic rhinitis. The rest is a combination of these two factors.

If one of the parents has a seasonal allergy, there is almost a 50% chance, of the child getting afflicted to the same. In case, both the parents have a history of seasonal allergy, the chances increase to 75%. People who have a history of certain other ailments are also prone to seasonal allergies. These include children with eczema and people with various food allergies and asthma. Research has conclusively proved that early weaned children and those born in winter months are likely to be more vulnerable to seasonal allergies. Sometimes, it is caused due to medications like decongestants, in which case a patient should immediately refrain from taking those medications and look for alternative treatments.

Treatments

Rhinitis caused due to already prevalent medical complications, should be treated with the help of an expert. The existing disorder must be first dealt with and then seasonal allergies are to be treated. Certain drugs have been found to be very effective for treating mild forms of seasonal allergies like steroids, antihistamine tablets, drugs like leukotriene-antagonists and nasal cromolyn or in case of a severe problem immunotherapy can be quite helpful. Nasal washes, eye drops for itchy eyes and decongestants in a prescribed and measured quantity, can also help in the treatment. It is a mandatory requirement to consult an expert medical practitioner before starting any therapy or medication. In case of children, certain medicines may prove to be too strong and may cause adverse side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to get a doctor's opinion.

With proper care and regular medical treatment, seasonal allergies can be cured easily. But as they say, 'Prevention is better than cure', it is better to take certain precautions, like not exposing oneself to pollen sacks, weeds and grass and practicing healthy eating habits. A small precaution can save a great deal of effort and cut down the risk associated with seasonal allergies.