hay fever

hay fever or pollen allergy is an allergy to pollen and pollen. Hay fever is particularly common in spring. Typical symptoms are watery eyes, burning eyes, sneezing and runny nose.

Causes of Hay Fever

The current pollen calendar. Click to enlarge. Download here to print.

The cause of hay fever or. pollen allergy found in an allergic reaction triggered by pollen and pollen. If there is contact with the pollen on the mucous membranes such as the eyes and nose, an overreaction of the immune system is triggered. Above all, the defensive substances or antibodies that are then formed then release inflammatory messengers (histamines) very quickly.

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As a rule, this is followed by an enlargement of the blood vessels and a narrowing of the airways, especially the bronchi. The histamines then attract other immune cells, which can then cause inflammation of the eyes, tears, burning eyes, itchy eyes or conjunctivitis of the eye.

Likewise, an urge to sneeze, sneezing fits, itchy nose, runny nose, stuffy nose or dry nasal mucosa are often triggered by the overreaction of the immune system.

Most of the following pollen or flowering plants cause hay fever: rye, birch, alder, hazelnut bushes, and various herbs such as mugwort. However, various foods can also trigger hay fever: Hazelnuts, apples, walnuts, potatoes, dill, celery, carrots, peanuts, kiwi and sometimes cherries.

Symptoms, ailments & signs

Hay fever manifests itself in the form of itching and burning or watery eyes. The eyes swell shortly after contact with the allergen and are sensitive to touch and other stimuli. Conjunctivitis often also occurs. In addition, hay fever causes itching in the nose or in the nasopharynx.

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The nose is blocked or sore and the characteristic runny nose and frequent sneezing attacks occur. In addition, the sick often feel tired and exhausted. The typical "heavy head" is accompanied by poor well-being and the well-known fever symptoms. The symptoms increase as the disease progresses, before they subside after a few days to weeks.

In children, hay fever manifests itself through similar symptoms. Affected children sniff constantly, complain of an itchy nose and noticeably frequent breathing through the mouth. Excessively loud snoring occurs at night. The language is nasal and indistinct as a result of the blocked nose. Affected children also complain of strong thirst in the morning. Typically, the eyes are sticky and the nose is blocked. Parents who notice symptoms should take their child to the pediatrician immediately.

Course of disease

The course of hay fever or. Poell allergy often begins in the early years of life. Statistics show that children and adolescents in particular suffer from hay fever more often than adults.

Furthermore, hay fever can recur or persist throughout your life. Nevertheless, one can alleviate and contain the hyposensitization with its occurring symptoms.

If the hay fever is not treated, the allergic reactions can cause massive symptoms. This can lead to conjunctivitis or asthma, which would not have occurred with treatment.

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The older the affected person gets, the more stable his hay fever becomes and the symptoms remain less intense.

Complications

Hay fever is an allergy that is associated with various complications. However, if you leave a hay fever without any treatment, you must of course expect different complications. Most people experience a stuffy nose, watery eyes and persistent headaches.

Without any treatment, those affected must expect a considerable worsening of the individual symptoms. The following applies: A hay fever can be relieved quickly with the right medication. However, permanent elimination of the symptoms is not possible. Nevertheless, an appropriate doctor should be consulted if you have hay fever.

Only in this way can possible complications be avoided or identified and treated at an early stage. If this is not done, it can even lead to significant sleep disorders in particularly bad cases. The nose becomes clogged with mucus, so that the quality of life of the affected person is immensely restricted.

When should you go to the doctor?

A doctor should be consulted if the person sneezes frequently or experiences sudden sneezing attacks. If you have a persistent cold, a runny nose or a permanent tingling sensation in your nose, a check-up visit with a doctor is recommended. A noticeable cough, scratchy throat or persistent tiredness despite getting enough night's sleep should also be clarified. If your eyes are tearing, itchy, or sting, seek medical advice. A doctor should be consulted if the eyelids are reddened or open. There is a risk of further illnesses.

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If conjunctivitis develops, a doctor should be consulted immediately. Reddened skin, swellings or a rash on the skin should be examined and treated. If you feel exhausted, lose your general level of performance or feel weak, you need to see a doctor. If the person concerned suffers from sleep disorders, poor concentration or impaired attention, a medical examination is necessary. If a loss of smell or taste is noticed, the observations should be discussed with a doctor. Breathing disorders, hoarseness or pressure in the chest must be presented to a doctor. If the symptoms persist for several weeks, if they intensify or if they recur, a doctor's visit is necessary.

Doctors & therapists in your area

Treatment & Therapy

The prick test is an allergy test to check for allergic reactions to pollen or animal hair. Possible allergic substances are dripped onto the skin and then gently pierced with a lancet. After 20 minutes, the reddening of the skin and the size of the wheals are assessed.

If you suspect hay fever a doctor should be consulted. Above all, the annoying accompanying symptoms can be medically alleviated or reduced. The doctor will do an allergy test and determine which pollen, food or plants the person is allergic to.

Therapy should now try to minimize contact with the triggering pollen or to stop it entirely. However, this is not always possible. Nevertheless, it is advisable to get medical advice on what can be done in this regard.

It is also possible to carry out desensitization or desensitization with the help of specific immunotherapy. In this immunotherapy, the doctor injects allergens under the skin. The aim is to adapt the immune system to these substances and stimuli so that strong allergic stimuli no longer occur. This therapy generally lasts up to three years.

Alternatively, this method can also be administered in the form of drops or tablets with pollen solution. The allergens are administered in the form of drops under the tongue. Both methods can lead to harmless side effects such as swelling, itching and reddening of the skin.

Aftercare

An existing hay fever is usually caused by an allergy, so that aftercare is not necessary. People affected often suffer from hay fever since birth. By taking freely available drugs, hay fever and its symptoms can be effectively contained.

The nose stops running and the eyes don't even start to swell. The course is different if the person concerned completely decides against taking such drugs. The symptoms of common hay fever will be greatly increased in such a case.

A strong worsening of the symptoms is to be expected, especially in spring. Meadows and fields should be avoided, especially in spring. Otherwise, you will experience the typical symptoms of hay fever.However, a visit to the doctor is always advisable, because the symptoms can be significantly alleviated with appropriate follow-up care.

Nasal rinsing, for example, is a sensible and effective measure that the affected person can take as follow-up care. Unfortunately, according to the current status, there is no cure by taking a certain drug once.

Outlook & forecast

Patients with hay fever are chronically ill. There is lifelong impairment and permanent treatment to alleviate the symptoms. With early treatment, most complications can be avoided.

The risk of developing further allergies is significantly increased for those affected. In many cases there is an allergic reaction to other substances such as pollen or food. The vulnerability for the development of allergic asthma is given in hay fever. It is estimated that 30-40% of patients develop allergic asthma as the disease progresses.

With medical care, the symptoms of hay fever can be treated and contained well. The airways are adequately protected and can prevent further illness. In addition to conventional medical options, those affected can improve their symptoms by using natural healing methods. The restructuring of the general way of life contributes greatly to an optimal prognosis. The airways should not be subjected to additional stress and stress or bad environmental influences should be avoided.

If no treatment is used, the symptoms will usually increase steadily. The intensity of the existing symptoms increases and the shortness of breath increases. Taking into account the pollen forecast, the patient can avoid severe stress situations in good time.

You can do that yourself

Hay fever sufferers can take some steps to alleviate their suffering. This is especially true of the pollen season.

One of the most important self-help options is consistent allergen avoidance. This means that the allergy sufferer, while the pollen is flying, avoids long stays outdoors as much as possible. An exception is the period after a downpour or thunderstorm. The air is free of pollen during this period. Closing the windows is also recommended when driving. The purchase of a pollen filter is also considered helpful because the ventilation system retains a large part of the pollen.

Correct ventilation of the home is recommended. The main flight times of the pollen must be observed. In rural areas, pollen flies between five and six in the morning and in the city in the morning. The best time to ventilate is therefore 7 p.m. to midnight and in the city between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. If the pollen allergy sufferer wants to be active outdoors, he should also do so at these times.

So that as little pollen as possible gets into the bedroom, it is advisable to wash your hair shortly before going to bed. The clothes worn during the day should be removed outside of the bedroom. Cut flowers and plants in the home are taboo for allergy sufferers.

Another useful self-help method is using nasal rinsing with salt solutions such as Emser salt. It is important to adjust the saline solution to the properties of the nasal mucosa.