Home Wisdom teeth How to treat spring allergies in children. Seasonal allergies - spring and summer, symptoms, treatment, pills, prevention

How to treat spring allergies in children. Seasonal allergies - spring and summer, symptoms, treatment, pills, prevention

Today, seasonal allergies occur in every fifth person, regardless of age, gender and climatic conditions.

The true number of people suffering from hay fever is much higher.

This is a fairly serious disease that significantly impairs the quality of life and can lead to dangerous complications.

Why does it occur

Allergies develop due to the high sensitivity of the immune system to certain substances.

In this case, the immune system does not react to viruses or bacteria, but to certain substances that actually do not cause any harm to the body.

Quite often, the development of seasonal allergies is associated with genetic predisposition.

Thus, scientists were able to identify specific antigens that parents with allergic diseases pass on to their child at the time of conception.

As a result, the baby may experience an aggressive immune reaction to the action of plant pollen.

Also, seasonal allergies can develop in the following categories of people:

  1. population of regions with unfavorable environmental conditions;
  2. people with other allergic diseases. In this case, hay fever becomes a secondary pathology;
  3. patients with chronic diseases of the bronchi and lungs;
  4. people with weak immune systems;
  5. people who have hazardous working conditions.

The mechanism of development of hay fever is associated with sensitization of the body to plant pollen and fungal spores.

Each type of pollen allergen can provoke an atypical immune response.

Also, an allergy to pollen sometimes leads to cross-sensitization, in which the food allergen will be the provoking factor.

"Harmful" plants

The following plants are usually responsible for the development of allergic reactions:

  • birch and its varieties;
  • alder;
  • hazel;
  • ash;
  • maple;
  • cypress;
  • Linden;
  • sycamore;
  • Walnut;
  • meadow grasses – alfalfa, clover, timothy;
  • cereal crops – oats, wheat, oats, buckwheat;
  • weeds – ragweed, wormwood.

When it appears

Hay fever most often occurs in spring and autumn.

Significantly less cases of seasonal allergies are recorded in mid-summer.

Quite rarely, symptoms of the disease can be diagnosed in the winter season.

Symptoms

Hay fever has the same symptoms as many other allergic reactions: nasal manifestations appear first, then the process descends lower into the bronchi and lungs.

At the same time, seasonal allergies have certain characteristics.

In addition to the nose, this disease affects the eyes, as pollen penetrates the mucous membranes and triggers aggressive processes.

So, seasonal allergy symptoms include the following:

  • itchy nose and sneezing;
  • swelling of the eyes and lacrimation;
  • itching and redness of the eyes;
  • runny nasal discharge;
  • violation of nasal breathing;
  • pain in the ears;
  • atopic dermatitis;
  • hoarseness of voice;
  • headache;
  • increase in body temperature.

About 30% of allergy sufferers develop bronchospastic symptoms.

The most dangerous complication of bronchospasm is Quincke's edema - this condition develops within a few minutes and requires urgent help doctor

Treatment of seasonal allergies

The choice of treatment regimen depends on the flowering period, severity pathological process and characteristics of the human body.

The main goal of therapy is not only to get rid of allergy symptoms, but also to protect vulnerable organs from the influence of irritating factors.

Drugs

Allergy medications are divided into several groups:

  • antihistamines – such tablets suppress allergic reactions;
  • Cromons– cope with the inflammatory process;
  • glucocorticosteroidshormonal agents, which are used in severe cases.

Drug treatment must be comprehensive.

All medications and their dosage must be determined by a doctor.

Folk remedies

You can also use folk remedies to treat allergies. To prevent recurrence of the pathology, you should consult a doctor before using such recipes.

The most effective means include the following:

  1. blackcurrant infusion. Pour four tablespoons of fresh leaves into 300 ml of boiling water and leave to steep for an hour. Strain, add warm water to get 0.5 liters. Take the infusion every two hours for a week. Single dose – one tablespoon;
  2. celery root juice. It should be made from fresh fruit and taken a teaspoon half an hour before meals. The course of therapy is 14 days. It is very important to carefully monitor the condition of your body;
  3. horsetail infusion. Pour two tablespoons of the herb into a glass of boiling water and leave to infuse for half an hour, then strain. Take the composition throughout the day every hour. Then repeat the treatment every other day. A total of seven courses need to be completed, i.e. total duration- two weeks.

How to reduce symptoms

There are many ways that can help significantly reduce the symptoms of allergies:

  1. during times of high activity of irritating factors, you should avoid traveling outside the city, to the forest and other places with a lot of vegetation;
  2. You should go outside in the evenings or after rain. The maximum amount of pollen in the air is present at 5-10 am;
  3. to protect your eyes you need to wear glasses that fit well to your face;
  4. when reacting to weeds, you need to exclude honey, sunflower seeds and products made from it. Spices, herbs, and melons are also contraindicated;
  5. After a walk, you need to wash your face and rinse your eyes thoroughly with plain water. It is better to use a saline solution for the nose.

Preventive measures

To prevent the development of allergic reactions, you should avoid exposure to the sun in dry, hot weather. It is also advisable to limit your presence in places of chemical contamination.

It is very helpful to use air purifiers that help catch pollen indoors and avoid opening windows.

In the room it is worth turning on the air conditioners and closing the windows with damp curtains. It is very useful to carry out wet cleaning frequently. When allergenic plants bloom, you should not go outdoors.

Contraindicated and cosmetical tools containing plant components or propolis.

Diagnostics

First of all, the doctor must examine and interview the patient. To diagnose the disease and the causes of its development, it is necessary to analyze the symptoms, the presence of provoking factors, and obtain information about the patient’s lifestyle.

If necessary, additional studies may be carried out:


Features of the course of the disease and its treatment in pregnant women

Seasonal allergies occur in all categories of the population, and pregnant women are no exception.

Hay fever in this case proceeds according to the same pattern as in all others, and is characterized by the appearance of:

  1. tearfulness;
  2. runny nose;cough;
  3. and possibly bronchospasm.

Seasonal allergies during pregnancy require a special approach to treatment. First of all, a woman should be under constant medical supervision and avoid exposure to the provoking factor as much as possible.

Today there are many gentle means for antiallergic treatment. Most often, specialists prescribe drugs in nasal form.

Systemic antihistamines are used as a last resort if severe exacerbations occur.

It is very important to avoid walking in sunny, windless weather.

It is advisable to maintain sufficient high level humidity in the room.

Mold spores can also be a provoking factor, and therefore it is necessary to monitor the hygiene of the room.

To prevent allergies or reduce their manifestations, you need to adhere to a gentle hypoallergenic diet and limit the use of household chemicals.

When developing seasonal allergies, it is very important to monitor your diet. The fact is that certain categories of products include proteins that resemble the composition of pollen.

Eating such food can lead to a deterioration in a person’s well-being.

Therefore, during an exacerbation period, you need to avoid the following products:

  1. if you have a reaction to tree pollen, nuts, raspberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, kiwi, parsley, dill are contraindicated;
  2. if you are allergic to weeds, you should not eat seeds, sunflower oil, melon, watermelon, zucchini, eggplant;
  3. in case of reaction to pollen of cereal crops, bread, oatmeal, rice, wheat, kvass, strawberries, coffee, cocoa, citrus fruits are prohibited;
  4. If you are allergic to fungi, you should exclude sugar, wine, beer, and liqueurs.

With this disease, prohibited foods should be excluded for about two weeks - during an exacerbation. After this, they can gradually be included in the diet.

A proper diet will help significantly reduce the symptoms of allergies.

Are there any injections for this form of the disease?

One of the most effective ways to treat this disease is allergen-specific immunotherapy. Thanks to it, it is possible to stimulate the production of antibodies, which will further prevent the development of allergies.

This treatment is usually carried out in a course that includes about forty injections.

Injections are given before the active flowering of plants that provoke pathological reactions.

If necessary, therapy is repeated after flowering.

Handy helpers

To reduce allergies, your doctor may prescribe medications for topical use.

To reduce the symptoms of a runny nose, vasoconstrictors are used - sanorin, otrivin, galazolin, etc.

Thanks to their use, you can neutralize a runny nose and cope with nasal congestion.

The course of treatment with such drugs should not exceed a week. If the desired results cannot be achieved, the doctor must adjust the prescription.

When allergic conjunctivitis develops, a specialist prescribes eye drops - Allergodil or Spersallerg.

Such remedies help eliminate signs of the disease literally within fifteen minutes.

The effect of such drugs lasts for six hours, which allows them to be actively used to eliminate the ophthalmological symptoms of hay fever.

Where can you “escape”

The easiest way to cope with allergy symptoms is to go to an area where dangerous plants do not grow or have already bloomed during the flowering period.

Despite its apparent simplicity, this method of solving the problem is not available to all categories of the population.

Seasonal allergies are a fairly dangerous disease that negatively affects human health.

Therefore, the appearance of any symptoms of this disease - watery eyes, nasal congestion, cough - should be a reason for a visit to the doctor. Remember that self-medication can lead to the development of very dangerous complications.

Hay fever is caused by the body's sensitivity to pollen and flowers. It is customary to distinguish seasonal waves of allergies, which correspond to periods of plant growth and weather conditions. In May, allergens include the flowering of birch, alder and oak. At the beginning of summer comes the period of allergies to poplar, pine, spruce, dandelions, and fescue. In mid-summer it is linden and meadow grasses (timothy, wheatgrass, etc.). And in August - quinoa, wormwood, ambrosia. September is characterized by allergies to hay, dry leaves and grass.

Causes of seasonal allergies

Main causes of seasonal allergies– exposure to plant pollen and substances contained in fruits, berries, vegetables, etc. on the human body. During flowering or when using these products in our menu, the likelihood of seasonal allergies becoming worse increases.

In addition, after the snow melts, a large amount of mold fungi and chemicals accumulated in the snow from car emissions and reagents that contribute to the appearance even before flowering begins: the appearance of red spots on the skin, cutting pain in the eyes, runny nose, discomfort sore throat, sore throat, cough, hives. In addition to allergy sufferers, people at increased risk include: chronic diseases skin and ENT organs. The following reasons contribute to a predisposition to allergies:

  • Hereditary factor (if one or two parents had an allergy, then there is a 70% chance that the child will also develop it);
  • Unfavorable environmental situation (industrial emissions and vehicle emissions);
  • A person's tendency to develop other types of allergies. In this case, seasonal allergy disease is a secondary disease;
  • The body is highly sensitive to certain allergens. The immune system begins to produce antibodies in response to allergens, such as pollen;
  • Chronic diseases of the bronchi and lungs;
  • Weakened immune system;
  • Harmful work (for example, contact with harmful substances through the skin, mucous membranes of the eyes, breathing).

Symptoms of spring-summer allergies in a child

Seasonal allergies (or hay fever) can have various manifestations: runny nose, sneezing, skin inflammation (rashes, pimples, peeling, redness) or even asthma attacks. But most often, the symptoms of hay fever are expressed in the form of a runny nose in combination with redness of the eyes (up to conjunctivitis).

Often a person confuses allergy symptoms with signs of a cold and may begin to self-medicate incorrectly. A number of differences between allergies and ARVI:

  • Rarely is there an increase in temperature;
  • sneezing becomes frequent;
  • nasal discharge is liquid and has a characteristic transparency;
  • headache as a result of intoxication from the effects of pollen on the body;
  • general weakness of the body;
  • insomnia;
  • itching appears in the nose, throat and ears;
  • nasal discharge and itching worsen in dry, windy weather, and weaken during rain;
  • Allergies usually last longer than a cold (the symptoms of a cold, as a rule, do not last longer than one week).

Features of allergies in children

In babies and children preschool age Often seasonal allergies begin with clear snot, sneezing and rashes similar to diathesis (dry patches on the skin, redness, small rash with pimples, peeling of the skin), then the eyes become red, swollen and watery. In the initial stages, the disease can be confused with seasonal diseases.

Depending on the intensity of allergies, there may be purulent discharge eye (conjunctivitis) and asthma attacks. Sometimes asthma goes away as you get older. Some children experience severe ear congestion. A preschooler will complain to his mother about pain in his ears. And baby younger age He will simply cry and experience pain when pressing on the ears. It is impossible to take the street out of the life of an adult, much less a child, from where allergens come en masse. The main danger of seasonal allergies is that they can combine with allergic reactions to dust or pets and lead to dermatitis or asthma.

How to treat seasonal allergies in a child?

Allergies should be treated not only at the time of exacerbation, but also prevention should be carried out on the eve of allergy season. Allergies can be effectively dealt with only through complex treatment; experienced allergy sufferers have already been convinced of this for years.

Allergy to pollen of trees and other plants (hay fever) is a disease that occurs in the midst of spring and often does not subside until autumn. Allergies to flowers most often manifest as a runny nose and are often combined with allergies to certain foods. How to understand that a child has hay fever? Is it possible to alleviate his condition?

Hay fever is one of the most common allergic diseases in children, which can appear at almost any age. Hay fever is a consequence hypersensitivity the body to the effects of certain allergens. When they get on the mucous membranes of the body, inflammation occurs.

Signs of a pollen allergy

If every spring at the same time a child exhibits symptoms of ARVI: nasal congestion, runny nose, redness and itching of the eyes, general malaise, then this may be an allergy. Tree pollen allergies are often disguised as cross-food allergies. There are a number of foods that allergy sufferers react to in the same way as pollen. These are apples, pears, stone fruits (cherries, plums, peaches, etc.). Often, an allergy begins with a reaction to these fruits - discomfort when swallowing, itching of the palate. Pay close attention to your child's complaints.

In children, seasonal allergies are also often combined with household allergies - to house dust mites. If a child has a frequent runny nose without fever, then an allergic disease can also be suspected. With a high concentration of dust, allergies can occur with an increase in temperature to 37.1 - 37.2 °C. If this is a reaction to pollen, then this temperature will remain throughout the entire flowering period.

Experts consider skin allergy tests to be the most reliable method for identifying sensitivity to specific allergens. They are made in the fall, when everything has already faded, starting approximately in October. During flowering skin tests are not carried out, but during this period you can donate blood for specific immunoglobulins. If we compare these two methods, allergy tests are more informative. Ideally, you need to give your child both tests and compare the results.

How to help your child during the flowering period

  1. The best option is to take the child to a different climate zone for the flowering period. For example, at sea. Remember that at this time you are weakened. Even if you are traveling to a visa-free country, do not forget to purchase health insurance. It will protect you from possible expenses for doctors.
  2. If you still remain in the city, then you should not walk with your child in dry, windless weather, and it is also better not to travel outside the city. At home, keep the windows closed, ventilate only in the evening or after rain, when the concentration of pollen in the air is reduced. Do wet cleaning at least once a day. After a walk, be sure to take off your child’s clothes; it is advisable to wash them immediately. Dry washed items only indoors. Also, immediately after a walk, be sure to wash your child’s head, rinse his nose and throat. An air purifier helps (air conditioning is not recommended).
  3. If you are driving with a child in the car, make sure that all windows are tightly closed.
  4. Monitor your diet by eliminating “cross” foods both during the flowering period and a few weeks before and after it. Even if the child usually tolerates apples, pears, stone fruits, nuts (especially hazelnuts), fresh carrots (including in juices), new potatoes, celery, olives, kiwi, during the spring exacerbation of allergies, it is recommended to exclude these products from the diet.
  5. There are websites that publish reports on pollen concentration measurements in the air. They update the data every two days. Review this information periodically. IN unfavorable days It's better not to take your children for a walk.

The most unpleasant and dangerous companion to allergies is the risk of a child developing bronchial asthma. According to statistics, if a person suffers for 5-6 years and is not treated in any way (taking antihistamines is not considered treatment), then the likelihood that he will develop bronchial asthma is very high - up to 80%.

If you do not carry out high-quality treatment of allergies, then, in addition to the risk of bronchial asthma, there is a danger of expanding the spectrum of allergens (household allergens, allergies to field grasses and weeds).

Discussion

The most correct rule is to prevent allergens from entering the child’s body. I personally do the following for this: firstly, I use Prevalin Kids. This spray very well protects the mucous membrane from the penetration of pollen into the body. Secondly, I still try not to walk with the child where there are a lot of flowers (fields and dachas) and thirdly, after the walk, all the clothes, even the underpants, go to the wash, and the child takes a shower and washes his head and puts on clean clothes. This simple approach allows me to protect my child from seasonal allergies, to which he is susceptible from birth.

And I would also like, as a mother, to advise from my experience not to neglect barrier agents. If you spray Prevalin Kids on your child's nose during the flowering period, it will greatly make the child's life easier, because... The product protects the body well from allergens.

Yes, I liked the article and find it useful. Allergies are actually not just a mild and passing ailment, as many believe, but still a big threat to our health.

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Spring allergies in a child: rules of behavior for hay fever. Cross allergy to flowers and products. Hay fever: when to do allergy tests. Vaccination calendar. News feed.

Spring allergies in a child: rules of behavior for hay fever. In children, seasonal allergies are also often combined with household allergies - to house dust mites. If a child has a frequent runny nose without fever...

Spring allergies in a child: rules of behavior for hay fever. In children, seasonal allergies are also often combined with household allergies - to house dust mites. If a child has a frequent runny nose without fever...

Spring allergies in a child: rules of behavior for hay fever. Vaccination calendar. News feed. The most correct rule is to prevent allergens from entering the child’s body.

Spring allergies in a child: rules of behavior for hay fever. Hay fever: when to do allergy tests. There are a number of foods that allergy sufferers react to in the same way as pollen.

Spring allergies in a child: rules of behavior for hay fever. Cross allergy to flowers and products. Hay fever: when to do allergy tests.

Spring allergies in a child: rules of behavior for hay fever. Vaccination calendar. News feed. The most correct rule is to prevent allergens from entering the child’s body.

How to treat seasonal allergies. Spring is the time of awakening of nature: everything around turns green, flowers bloom, birds sing. It would seem, enjoy and be happy. But that was not the case. Along with nature, seasonal allergies “awaken” from hibernation.

Treatment, symptoms and prevention of seasonal allergies in children

Does your baby sneeze at all this beauty? Here are the first symptoms of this disease. It was as if sand had been poured into his eyes, they were watering, his nose was stuffy - that too characteristic features allergies. What to do in this situation, how to help your child?

First, let's try to figure out what kind of thing this allergy is, and for this let's turn to history. Ten centuries ago, Hippocrates in his writings described cases of allergies to certain foods.

Then the concepts of “urticaria” and “ stomach disorders" And Galen, a doctor from Ancient Rome, had a runny nose caused by rose flowers. Much later, already in the nineteenth century, the scientific world announced the appearance of hay fever.

Its appearance was provoked by pollen. In other words, if a person’s body is too sensitive to the environment, then seasonal allergies may arise against this background.

Seasonal allergies in children, otherwise known as hay fever, are a chronic and fairly common disease.

What are the typical allergy symptoms?

1. During flowering of plants, the mucous membranes become inflamed and swollen.

2. Plant pollen provokes the appearance of seasonal runny nose.

3. The eyes turn red, there is dryness, itching and burning, and allergic conjunctivitis may appear.

4. The child constantly coughs and sneezes.

Symptoms of seasonal allergies in children

Before starting treatment for an allergy, it is necessary to diagnose it as early as possible. It will be much more difficult to cure the disease in its advanced form. This is especially true for very young children, in whom the doctor often mistakes hay fever for a common acute respiratory viral infection or some kind of inflammatory disease.

Antibiotic treatment is prescribed accordingly. And they only make the situation worse.

If mom and dad notice that the baby has signs of seasonal allergies, then it is necessary to urgently seek help from an allergist.

Because if measures are not taken in time, then ordinary seasonal allergies will lead to quite serious complications - a weakening of the body’s defenses and even bronchial asthma.

Treatment of seasonal allergies

Treatment of this type of disease, like any other type of allergy, begins with the need to remove the allergen itself. But, if in the case of food allergies everything is much simpler - you just need to exclude from the child’s diet the product that provokes the development of this disease, then in the case of seasonal allergies everything is much more complicated.

You will not be able to remove all the flowering plants, and there is no point in doing so, but you are quite capable of taking the baby to another region for the flowering period, away from this beauty. But if, for some reason, it is not possible to take the child out, then it is necessary to take a number of preventive measures.

  • Avoid traveling outside the city and spending time in nature during this time.
  • If it is very hot outside, then, if possible, try to keep your baby indoors most of the time. In windy weather, the accumulation of pollen in the air is very large.
  • It is best to walk outside with your child in the evening. The ideal option is immediately after rain.
  • In your apartment, place either a special mesh or gauze over the windows. Try to moisturize them systematically. Constantly do wet cleaning throughout the entire room, and especially in the child’s room.
  • There should be no carpets or soft toys in the room where a child with allergies is located.

During seasonal allergies, create a special dietary menu for your child. It will help the baby feel at least a little better.

During periods of exacerbation, completely eliminate chicken meat and eggs.

When fruit trees bloom, it is not advisable to give your child the corresponding fruits.

Completely exclude honey and other bee products, as these are very strong allergens.

The medications you give to your child should not contain herbal ingredients.

Try to give less, or better yet, completely eliminate foods containing food coloring.

Do not treat your child's allergies on your own. By doing this you can harm the health of your little miracle. Treatment should only be prescribed by an allergist. As a rule, antihistamines are prescribed.

They help not only suppress the allergic reaction inside, but also remove it if an allergy appears on the skin. It also significantly alleviates the symptoms of this disease.

To combat seasonal runny nose, the doctor will prescribe nasal drops for the baby containing drugs that constrict blood vessels.

Besides traditional methods There are also naturopathic treatment options.

First of all, you need to get enough vitamin D. The thing is that children with weakened immune systems are usually prone to allergies, and vitamin D plays a major role in the normal functioning of the immune system. Its deficiency leads to the development of asthma and allergies in children.

The next factor that helps protect against this disease is taking probiotics every day. Research by scientists has shown that if a woman takes probiotics during pregnancy and breastfeeding, her baby will be less susceptible to allergic diseases.

And it is not at all necessary to use nutritional supplements for this. Everything you need in in this case– These are healthy fermented foods, such as lightly salted cucumbers, sauerkraut and whole dairy products.

Use lavender oil. This plant has an excellent calming effect and has a very pleasant smell. In addition, lavender is a natural antihistamine and has an anti-inflammatory effect.

It can be dropped into the child’s nose, smeared on the cheeks and forehead. You can also make lavender tea. To do this, add a couple of drops of oil to a cup of warm water, add organic raw honey and give this drink to your baby.

Apply peppermint oil. This oil is an excellent natural analgesic and also has an anti-inflammatory effect. There is no better way to clear a clogged nose.

For many centuries this plant has been used for such purposes. Mix five drops of lavender oil with one drop of peppermint oil. During the height of allergy season, apply this mixture to the base of your child's neck a couple of times a day. You can also drink mint tea.

Be sure to consult your doctor before using these treatments. We hope that all the allergy treatment methods described above will help your baby get rid of this unpleasant disease once and for all. Let him live, rejoice and enjoy not only winter, but the rest of the seasons too.

And in conclusion, I would like to give some advice to caring and loving parents.

If your little one is prone to allergies, adjust a clear daily routine. If Small child does not rest during the day, goes to bed late in the evening, then fatigue accumulates in him, the nervous system is exhausted, the baby becomes capricious and irritable and, as a result, seasonal allergies worsen.

Very great importance have water procedures. When the illness gets worse, try to wash your child every two hours. Maintain drinking regime. It is advisable for the baby to drink a lot throughout the day.

If you have a large library in your home, try to wipe books with a damp cloth as often as possible, as they are excellent dust collectors.
Do not have any pets or fish.

If there are any houseplants, like violet, geranium, rose, primrose, then you will have to part with them too.

Listen to these tips, and then your baby won’t greet spring with tears in his eyes!

  • General mechanisms of allergies
  • Seasonal allergies
  • Treatment
  • Allergies and pregnancy

Allergies year-round and seasonal

There are no fundamental differences between allergic conditions that occur year-round and those that are seasonal. In the first option, antigens do not depend on the biological rhythms of plants; encountering them is random.

With seasonal manifestations of the disease, allergens (pollen and spores) are associated with the time of year, temperature, air humidity and other natural conditions.

Otherwise, the mechanisms of the pathology are no different from any others - they are based on the same immune reactions of antigen-antibody interaction, so drugs for seasonal allergies are largely universal for all its manifestations.

General mechanisms of allergies

Any allergic disease is caused by the body's hypersensitivity to certain substances or physical factors. Why is this happening?

Emergence of predisposition

There is no single cause for allergies; they are caused by a combination of factors, including:

  • hereditary predisposition;
  • chronic infections;
  • diseases causing serious metabolic disorders ( diabetes and etc.);
  • hormonal changes;
  • intoxication (industrial and household pesticides, alcohol, drugs);
  • psycho-emotional trauma.

Sensitization

The combination of one or another of the mentioned factors leads to an increased readiness of the immune system for a protective reaction, which can occur without any significant reason - in response to the entry into the body of an antigen that is completely neutral for a healthy person.

Against the background of readiness for allergies, penetration of a certain substance into the bloodstream or mucous membranes leads to the synthesis of antibodies, which accumulate and remain in the blood. Subsequent arrivals of the same antigen will provoke an immune attack and the formation of antigen-antibody complexes, which can cause the release of inflammatory mediators from histiocyte cells.

Inflammatory mediators (treatment of seasonal allergies always includes drugs that neutralize their effect) cause external manifestations diseases (bronchial spasms, skin rashes, excessive mucus secretion from the upper respiratory tract, swelling, etc.).

Seasonal allergies

With seasonal allergies, antigens enter the body during breathing, as well as through direct deposition on the skin and mucous membranes. The routes of penetration largely determine the external manifestations of the disease - allergic rhinitis (runny nose) in combination with conjunctivitis, bronchial asthma, etc. Seasonal allergies in children are often “masked” as a cold.

Symptoms:

  • copious secretion of mucus from the nasal passages;
  • burning and soreness in the throat and nose, cough-inducing and sneezing;
  • irritation of the conjunctiva, its redness, feeling of “sand” in the eyes, lacrimation and photophobia;
  • shortness of breath, which can develop into attacks of suffocation;
  • skin rashes accompanied by itching;
  • intestinal dysfunction - abdominal pain, diarrhea;
  • deterioration general condition– weakness, fatigue, headaches, decreased performance, irritability.

Conjunctivitis due to seasonal allergies

Treatment

Remedies for seasonal allergies, on the one hand, are aimed at the general mechanisms of this pathology, on the other, they must take into account the characteristics of a particular disease. Below are the main medications and organizational measures aimed at combating seasonal allergies.

Allergy website

Hay fever or seasonal allergies are the reaction of the immune system to certain irritants that interact with the human body during certain periods and seasons. It is no coincidence that seasonal allergies were called hay fever; this word has the Latin root pollen, which means pollen. People suffered from hay fever before; in ancient Greece they sang the “food of the gods” - ambrosia nectar, which, by the way, was completely unsuitable for either those in power or common people, since it caused them severe skin rashes and suffocation.

Galen also briefly mentioned a disease resembling seasonal allergies; later Dr. Van Helmont associated massive coughing attacks with flowering trees. But the first concrete descriptions of the disease, called hay fever, date back to the beginning of the 19th century. The English healer Bostock officially designated a seasonal allergic reaction, linking it with the provoking factor – hay. More than 50 years later, his compatriot Dr. Blackley proved that seasonal allergies are caused by pollen. A decade later, a message about hay fever appeared in Russia, in St. Petersburg, it was made by Dr. Silich at an open meeting of the organization of Russian doctors. Massive clinical manifestations of seasonal allergies date back to the 50-60s of the last century; the first outbreak of hay fever was noted in the Krasnodar region, where ragweed began to multiply, the seeds and pollen of which were imported from the American states along with a cargo of food (grain).


Today, every fifth inhabitant of the planet suffers from hay fever, regardless of age, gender, region and climatic conditions of residence. It is obvious that the true number of people suffering from the flowering season of plants is much higher and this is a serious problem, since every year the statistical indicators inexorably increase, despite the obvious achievements in the study of this disease.

Causes of seasonal allergies

In the clinical sense, hay fever has been studied very extensively, fortunately, there was always plenty of material - patients suffering from rhinitis, skin rashes, shortness of breath. But the etiology and causes of seasonal allergies have only recently been determined. Previously, it was believed that the main factor triggering allergies was related to a possible predisposition associated with a genetic cause. Genetic predisposition does exist, but it has been proven that allergies are directly inherited, this is confirmed by statistics:

  • In 25%-30% of cases, a mother suffering from allergies gives birth to children with allergic reactions.
  • 20-25% of allergy sufferers have allergic heredity on their father's side.
  • 50% of children born to fathers and mothers with allergies have a history of allergies.

Scientists have found specific genes that allergic parents pass directly to the baby, literally from the first hours of conception. Such children develop a deficiency secretory function immunoglobulin IgA, which further promotes sensitization of the body and an aggressive immune response to the effects of pollen from plants, trees and grasses.

In addition, the following groups of people can get hay fever:

  • The population of territories where the environmental situation is considered unfavorable.
  • People with a history of allergies of another type, when the provoking factor is medications, food, chemical compounds. Hay fever in such cases is a secondary disease; an example of this is the reaction to indoor plants that are not capable of producing pollen.
  • Patients with chronic bronchopulmonary diseases.
  • People with weakened immune systems.
  • Workers in professions associated with hazardous working conditions.

The cause of allergies during the flowering period of plants is their pollen; it should be noted that hay fever can also be caused by fungal spores, which also produce them at seasonal intervals.

The pathogenetic mechanism for the development of hay fever is due to sensitization, “accustoming” of the immune system to allergens of pollen and fungal spores, of which today there are from 500 to 700 species. It has been established that 50 subspecies of pollen allergens are the most aggressive and widespread; these are, as a rule, plants and trees that grow everywhere, are unpretentious to weather changes and can survive in almost any climate. Each species is capable of acting as an antigenic determinant and provoking an atypical response from the immune system. In addition, pollen allergies can contribute to cross-sensitization, when the trigger is not pollen, but an obligate food allergen.

The causes of seasonal allergies, or more precisely, the culprits of the allergic reaction are the following trees and plants:

  • Birch and its subspecies.
  • Alder.
  • Hazel (hazel).
  • Linden.
  • Ash.
  • Sycamore.
  • Cypress.
  • Maple.
  • Walnut.
  • Flowering weeds – wormwood, ragweed.
  • Meadow flowering grasses – clover, timothy, alfalfa.
  • Cereals – buckwheat, oats, rye, wheat.

Seasonal allergies in spring

Spring is the time for the revival of nature, flowering and reproduction of plants. It is the spring period that is considered the most aggressive in the allergic sense, second only to the beginning of autumn in the number of exacerbations of hay fever, when ragweed comes into its own. Seasonal allergies in the spring most often manifest themselves as rhinoconjunctival symptoms; rashes and urticaria are less common. As such, the spring allergic period starts in early April and ends in May. At the end of April, the most allergic trees, birch and alder, are revived and begin to bloom. Hazel blooms a little later, although it all depends on the area where the trees “reside” and climatic conditions. The pollen produced by birch can spread for many kilometers, so a person suffering from allergies and not having these white-trunked beauties under his window is sometimes perplexed after a diagnosis that determines the birch allergen. In addition, pollen can be carried by Poplar fluff, who is often accused of all allergic “sins” of which he is not guilty. In the southern territories, poplar blooms quite early; already at the end of May it covers the ground with fluff, which is an excellent transport vehicle for heavier pollen. Nearby flowering trees are often adjacent to poplars, so their pollen settles on the downy seeds and is spread everywhere.

The symptoms that manifest seasonal allergies in the spring can debut long before the actual flowering; about 50% of allergy sufferers begin to notice tearing and redness of the eyes 7-10 days before the “hour X”. During this period, allergies can still be prevented or at least measures can be taken to reduce the severity of symptoms.

Signs of spring hay fever:

  • Typical rhinitis – the nose is stuffy, it’s difficult to breathe. Sneezing attacks are typical, and the mucus secreted from the sinuses has a clear, liquid consistency.
  • Allergic conjunctivitis - the eyes become red and swollen. Tearfulness, photophobia, and a feeling of “specks” in the eyes appear.
  • Attacks of shortness of breath, similar to bronchial asthma. The cough is frequent, persistent, exhausting, and it is difficult to exhale.
  • Dermatitis, most often atopic. The skin itches, a rash appears, and weeping or dry blisters appear.
  • The exacerbation of symptoms may end angioedema, a threatening condition requiring immediate medical attention. Quincke's edema develops in 10% of allergy sufferers who suffer from spring exacerbations.

Often seasonal allergies in the spring are accompanied by increased body temperature, headaches, decreased appetite, general poor condition. It is no coincidence that in many developed countries they are fighting carminative plants and planting only safe types of flora on the streets, since employees with allergies not only have a reduced quality of life, but also their productivity drops by almost half. Besides, European countries have good tradition Water the streets early in the morning, this is especially effective in the spring - it’s clean and the pollen is washed away.

Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Hay fever is not much different from other types of allergic reactions in terms of the pathogenetic mechanism; the symptoms of seasonal allergies develop according to the classical pattern - from the nasal, respiratory tract, going lower - into the bronchi and lungs. However, hay allergies also have differences; they are associated with conjunctival symptoms. In addition to the nose, an allergy sufferer’s eyes also suffer; pollen settles on the eyeball, penetrates the mucous membranes and gives rise to aggressive immune processes. The first reaction of the immune system is recognition of the allergen, which is not always functional, then the body begins to produce specific antibodies to suppress the foreign antigen. Since all typical allergens have a structure containing protein, the immune system interacts with protein elements, and this is how the process of sensitization, a kind of adaptation, occurs.

In order for the symptoms of seasonal allergies to manifest themselves and develop into a recognizable clinical picture, a minimal portion of pollen is sufficient. However, in children, signs of hay fever can be hidden, and sensitization is also asymptomatic. Only after a few weeks or even months does the child develop a rash, his eyes become red and swollen, and allergic rhinitis appears.

The classic development of hay fever is characterized by the so-called allergic triad:

  • Conjunctivitis and tearing.
  • Rhinitis or rhinosinusitis.
  • Cough and bronchospasm.

The following symptoms are typical for seasonal allergies:

  • Itching and redness of the eyes.
  • Puffiness of the eyes and increased tearing.
  • Photophobia.
  • Itching in the nasal cavity, sneezing (“allergic fireworks”).
  • Nasal discharge light color liquid consistency.
  • Nasal congestion, difficulty breathing.
  • Ear pain caused by involvement of the Eustachian tubes.
  • Hoarseness of the voice, change in its timbre.
  • Atopic dermatitis, urticaria.
  • Headache, possible increase in body temperature.
  • A specific type of asthma is pollen asthma and bronchospasm.

Bronchospastic manifestations do not occur in every allergy sufferer; if measures are taken in time, shortness of breath and spasms may not appear, however, in 30% of patients with a history of exacerbations from previous seasons, asthmatic attacks still occur. The most threatening consequence of bronchospasm is considered to be Quincke's edema, which develops in a matter of minutes and requires emergency medical care.

The general condition of hay fever often resembles the signs of acute respiratory viral infection or a cold, but without fever. In addition, seasonal allergies can manifest themselves in the form of pollen intoxication, when a person begins to have a migraine attack, develops weakness, irritability, and disturbed sleep. If pollen enters the digestive system, which often happens with cross allergies, nausea and abdominal pain occur, which often makes it difficult to primary diagnosis– allergy symptoms can be so nonspecific. Such conditions are especially dangerous in children and the elderly, when the symptoms are hidden in the initial period, and exacerbations develop rapidly. Therefore, when the first signs similar to an allergic reaction appear, you should consult a doctor.

Seasonal allergies in children

Hay fever in modern children is a common occurrence that can develop due to the following reasons:

  • Hereditary predisposition, genetic factor.
  • Infectious, viral diseases of the mother during pregnancy.
  • Contact with virus carriers, bacterial infections and, as a result, a decrease in immune defense.
  • Living in an environmentally unfavorable environment.
  • Disorders or sudden changes in nutrition, especially in infancy.
  • Late or incorrect vaccination.
  • Artificial feeding.
  • Dysfunction of the digestive system.

Seasonal allergies in children can occur nonspecifically, like “masked” hay fever. Allergies can manifest as pain and congestion in the ears in the absence of the classic picture of hay fever symptoms. Some children allergic reaction looks like partial and transient redness of the eyes, the habit of constantly touching the nose - doctors figuratively call this symptom “allergic fireworks”. Sometimes children begin to cough and the allergy may be similar to typical bronchial asthma without rhinoconjunctival signs. The exact cause of the illness can only be determined by an allergist using a specific diagnosis that identifies a specific allergen.

Seasonal allergies during pregnancy

Almost all groups of the population are susceptible to hay fever, and pregnant women are no exception. Seasonal allergies during pregnancy follow the same pattern as in other patients, the main triad is lacrimation and conjunctivitis, runny nose, cough and possible bronchospasm. Skin rashes with hay fever are less common; they occur only with direct contact with the provoking factor. It should be noted that the hormonal system of expectant mothers works in a special mode, therefore, signs of hay fever may appear in an atypical form. The most indicative criterion for determining the root cause of discomfort is family history. If a pregnant woman's parents have allergies, it is likely that the woman also has a predisposition to allergies. There are also features in differential diagnosis hay fever in pregnant women, for example, rhinitis in the third trimester may not be a signal of an allergy, but due to the influence of changes in hormonal levels (progesterone). Therefore, as a rule, accurate diagnosis can be established only after childbirth, when the function of the hormonal system is normalized, and during pregnancy only correct symptomatic therapy is carried out.

If seasonal allergies do appear during pregnancy, then the main rules for the patient are constant monitoring by a doctor and maximum elimination of the provoking factor. Dynamic observation by an allergist is necessary to reduce the risk of developmental pathologies in the baby, because if the mother has a persistent cough or nasal congestion, especially in the case of bronchospasm, fetal hypoxia is possible. The expectant mother has a much harder time with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), and exacerbation significantly worsens her condition and quality of life in general.

Confirmed hay fever in the mother practically guarantees a predisposition to allergies in the child, at least statistics define it this way:

  • Half of children born to allergic parents are predisposed to allergic reactions.
  • If a seasonal allergy appears in the expectant mother, and the child’s father is healthy in this sense, the risk of developing an allergic reaction in the child is possible at 25-30%.

Treatment of seasonal allergies during pregnancy is very specific. The opinion about the danger of using antiallergic drugs for pregnant women is completely unfounded; it is much more dangerous than exacerbation and pathology of the fetus with untreated hay fever. In addition, in 1.5% of expectant mothers during pregnancy, a reaction to pollen causes severe bronchospasm and angioedema, so refusal of symptomatic treatment at a minimum poses a threat to health, and at maximum to life in general. Currently, there are many gentle methods of antiallergic therapy, safe means, which do not affect the course of pregnancy and fetal development. Most often, drugs are prescribed in nasal form; systemic antihistamines can be prescribed only in exceptional cases, during exacerbations and a threat to life. Of course, the simplest and most free of complications is the method of elimination, that is, refusal of contact with the provoking situation or factor. Pregnant women prone to allergies need to choose a time and place for walks, after which they must wash their entire body under running water and take a shower. On sunny, windless days, it is better to stay at home with the windows and vents closed. The level of humidity in the room is also important; the higher it is, the lower the risk of coming into contact with pollen allergens. Please note that the trigger may not be pollen, but mold spores, so home hygiene must be observed very carefully. Limiting the use of household chemicals, a gentle hypoallergenic diet, a positive attitude and trust in the experience and knowledge of the doctor will help the expectant mother safely survive the pollen flowering season and prepare for childbirth.

Temperature for seasonal allergies

Among the symptoms of hay fever may be an increase in temperature. Temperature in seasonal allergies is not a specific symptom and is quite rare, but if it occurs, it greatly complicates the diagnosis of the disease. This is due to the fact that quite often an allergy to plants is clinically similar to the picture of ARVI, acute respiratory infections, especially in the initial period. A runny nose, malaise, headache, lack of rash - all this can mislead the patients themselves, who begin to treat a false cold on their own. Uncontrolled use of drugs not only erases typical symptoms allergies, but also complicates its course, which can result in hyperthermia as the body’s most aggressive reaction to the inflammatory process.

Most often, fever due to seasonal allergies occurs in young children. Especially when hay fever manifests itself in the form of a rash and urticaria. A febrile state during allergies is an adaptive, compensatory mechanism of the body to the influence of a non-infectious aggressive factor. The main role in the pathogenesis of fever is played by interleukin (IL), an intercellular mediator that is activated during inflammatory processes. In children, the level of IL is always slightly higher due to age-related characteristics, so their hyperthermia lasts quite a long time, sometimes even after acute symptoms have subsided. It has been established that children aged 2 to 7 years are predisposed to atopic reactions, so the likelihood of fever during various exacerbations is very high. In adult allergy sufferers, an increase in temperature is extremely rare, and can serve as a signal of exacerbation of the accompanying infectious disease, but not hay fever. The main medicine that relieves fever is paracetamol and its derivatives. When prescribing an antipyretic, the doctor always takes into account the characteristics of the patient, the course of the allergic reaction and the advisability of taking an antipyretic in principle. As a rule, the elevated temperature of seasonal allergies subsides after the main symptoms are neutralized, most often immediately after elimination.

Diagnosis of seasonal allergies

Identification of the root cause of an allergic seasonal reaction is based on a survey of the patient and taking into account the special flowering calendar of carminative flora common in a particular area.

In addition to collecting anamnesis, including family history, diagnosing seasonal allergies involves conducting allergy tests, which identify the main “culprit” of the aggressive immune reaction. Determining the “culprit” of sensitization

carried out in several ways:

  • Endonasal provocative allergy tests.
  • Conjunctival provocative tests.
  • Prick-test, microinjection test.
  • Provocative inhalation test.
  • Skin prick tests.
  • Detection of specific antibodies, IgE.

Almost all tests are carried out outside the period of exacerbation and, in principle, outside the flowering season of plants (except for immunological analysis of blood serum). At the height of the season, eosinophilia can be detected in nasal mucus, but this is a nonspecific sign indicating a specific type of allergy, much less an allergen.

Diagnosis of seasonal allergies may include the following areas:

  1. General clinical examination - blood and sputum tests.
  2. Instrumental examination of the nasal sinuses, bronchopulmonary system.
  3. Specific allergy tests outside the palination season.
  4. Consultations of related specialists - dermatologist, immunologist, ENT doctor, pulmonologist.

Treatment of seasonal allergies

Therapeutic measures that involve the treatment of seasonal allergies depend on the flowering period (spring, summer or autumn), the stage of the allergic process and the characteristics of the patient’s body.

The goal of treatment is not only to reduce the severity of symptoms, but also to protect vulnerable organs (targets) from exposure to allergens. In addition to eliminating the provoking factor, one of the main methods is pharmacotherapy, which can be divided into the following groups:

  1. Preventive agents are non-steroidal antihistamines. These medications are able to inhibit the very initial phase of the immune response to the allergen. Preventing the secretion of inflammatory mediators and suppressing the production of histamine helps to reduce the severity of allergies. Antihistamines are indicated throughout the flowering season of trees and plants, even in the absence of obvious symptoms. The forms of the drug can be either tablets or intranasal, in the form of sprays, powders for inhalation, and aerosols. There is a convenient form for children - syrup, which is no less effective and is well accepted by children. Ointments and gels, as a rule, contain glucocorticosteroids in their composition. Local GCS are very active during skin rashes, relieve itching and inflammation well, but act slowly (penetrate into the skin), so they are combined with dosage forms that can quickly relieve allergy symptoms.
  2. Symptomatic treatment of seasonal allergies also involves the use of antihistamines, most often to relieve rhinitis and conjunctivitis. New generation drugs are available in a form convenient for administration, both topically and orally. Forms and benefits antihistamines III, IV generations:
  • Forms - drops, sprays, syrups, suspensions, aerosols, tablets.

Advantages - taken 1-2 times a day, no drowsiness effect, fast action (within 30-60 minutes), duration of action (up to 24 hours), high speed absorption by the digestive organs, no addictive effect.

Symptomatic therapy is effective in the first days of an acute allergic process, then a transition to prophylactic drugs with mandatory adherence to a hypoallergenic diet.

How to relieve seasonal allergies?

In order to answer the question - how to alleviate seasonal allergies, you must first remember the basic therapeutic actions:

  • Avoidance and exclusion of contact with the allergen, that is, pollen. Elimination is 70% of success in the treatment of hay fever, and the patient himself can do this.
  • Drug therapy, which involves taking antihistamines, most often in the form of ophthalmic or nasal sprays. Glucocorticosteroids can be prescribed during exacerbation of the process and only in exceptional cases; GCS are also prescribed to those who suffer from pollen asthma to relieve asthma attacks.
  • ASIT – allergen-specific immunotherapy. This is a whole process that lasts for months, during which the body “learns” to counteract the allergen less aggressively. ASIT is a very effective method, but it cannot be carried out during an exacerbation, that is, from the beginning of spring to the end of the autumn season. The best time for ASIT is winter, when you can receive a full course of treatment and survive the flowering season relatively calmly.

How to relieve seasonal allergies with pharmacotherapy?

Treatment of hay fever involves the use of drugs that can suppress the inflammatory process caused by allergies. The medications should be taken as prescribed by a doctor throughout the season, daily, even in the absence of pronounced signs of a reaction to pollen. What is prescribed for seasonal allergies?

  • Antihistamines of the latest generation, which do not cause complications or addiction. They are often prescribed even to small children and pregnant women to avoid serious exacerbations or to relieve them.
  • Sodium cromoglycate preparations. Cromones are often prescribed for allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis in the form of eye, nasal drops, and sprays. They block calcium channels in the mast cell membrane, which reduces the aggressiveness of inflammation.
  • Vasoconstrictor drugs - decongestants that regulate tone circulatory system and relieve symptoms of rhinitis well.
  • Glucocorticosteroids are prescribed when the use of antihistamines does not produce results. GCS are taken in a short course until the most acute symptoms are completely relieved, then treatment involves more gentle methods.

Seasonal Allergy Remedies

Treatment of hay fever involves complex actions based on the main event - elimination of the pollen trigger and exclusion from the diet of possible food provocateurs in case of cross-allergy.

Remedies for seasonal allergies are divided into different groups and can be as follows:

  • Antihistamines of the latest generation. They are effective and safe, have a long-lasting effect; often it is enough to take one tablet, the effect of which lasts up to 12 hours.
  • Vasoconstrictors.
  • Combined drugs.
  • Sodium cromoglycate preparations.
  • GCS – glucocorticosteroids.
  • ASIT – specific immunotherapy.
  • Hemocorrection.

Let's take a closer look at remedies for seasonal allergies.

  1. Antihistamines, the mechanism of action of which is aimed at preventing exacerbation. In the first hours after taking antihistamines, swelling of the nasal sinuses decreases and nasal discharge stops. Antihistamines are divided into 4 groups, the last 2 of which are considered the most effective and safe, these are drugs of the 3rd and 4th generations.

Previously produced antihistamines had the following complications:

  • Dizziness, drowsiness.
  • Dry mouth.
  • Nausea.
  • Impaired coordination of movements.
  • Decreased or increased appetite.
  • Heart rhythm disturbance.
  • Joint pain.

New generation drugs side effects They are not and are absolutely safe, of course, provided they are prescribed by a doctor.

  1. Are vasoconstrictors stimulants? – adrenoreceptors. These may be sanorin, oxymetazoline, otrivin, galazolin and other medications that help neutralize allergic runny nose and congestion in the nasal cavity. The course of treatment with the nasal form of the drug should not exceed a week; if there is no result, the doctor adjusts the prescription; self-administration of vasoconstrictors can cause complications.
  2. Combination drugs are antihistamines combined with pseudoephedrines - actifed, clarinase.
  3. Cromones are sodium cromoglycates. For hay fever, cromones are prescribed topically in the form of drops - cromoglin, lomuzol, high-chrome, opticrom. Sodium is able to bind membrane proteins and reduce aggressive manifestations of allergies in the eyes and nose.
  4. GCS - glucocorticosteroids can quickly relieve inflammation; they are prescribed locally in the form of ointments, less often in the form of drops, inhalations - for pollen asthma. This could be betamethasone, nazacort, sintaris, rhinocort, beconase and other drugs from the GCS group.

Seasonal allergy medications

Drug treatment of hay fever is aimed at relieving and controlling symptoms; drugs for seasonal allergies are selected in accordance with the clinical manifestations and severity of the process.

  • Mild symptoms, minor manifestations of hay fever. The main treatment is the use of prophylactic non-steroidal antihistamines - Claritin, Zyrtec, Kestin. These seasonal allergy medications do not cause drowsiness, are long-lasting, and are not addictive. First generation drugs can be prescribed for itching, rash, when, on the contrary, drowsiness and sedation will be effective. Nasal form - allergodil, histimet help relieve itching in the nose, runny nose and nasal congestion are neutralized by naphthyzin, galazolin and other vasoconstrictor drops.
  • The average severity of hay fever is controlled by local corticosteroids (glucocorticosteroids); rashes and dermatitis respond well to treatment with such medications. GCS is also effective for lacrimation and eye hyperemia; Oftan or dexamethasone are prescribed. The latest generation antihistamines in combination with GCS ointments give results literally after 1-2 days.
  • Severe seasonal allergies require the prescription of high doses of hormones to relieve acute symptoms. Antileukotriene drugs that reduce the inflammatory process are also indicated. Hormones are indicated for a short course; as soon as the exacerbation is neutralized, the patient is transferred to a more gentle therapy.

Thus, medications for seasonal allergies are the main groups:

  • Antihistamines of 4 generations.
  • Cromons.
  • GCS - glucocorticosteroids.
  • Combination drugs (combination of antihistamines and ephedrines).

Eye drops for seasonal allergies

In the treatment of conjunctival symptoms in hay fever, the main means are 2 groups of drugs - antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers. Eye drops for seasonal allergies can be prescribed as monotherapy, but they are also used in complex therapy.

Chronic and subacute forms Conjunctivitis caused by allergies is treated with cromones - sodium cromogicates. These are drugs such as cromohexal, alomide. 2% cromohexal is effective in treating symptoms in children, as it is less likely to cause burning and irritation of the eyes. Alomide is also capable of inducing the release of histamine, in addition, it helps restore the structure of the cornea of ​​the eye, so it is prescribed for all types of allergies accompanied by ophthalmological symptoms.

Acute allergic conjunctivitis is treated more active drugs. Eye drops for seasonal allergies in this form are Allergodil, Spersallerg. These drops can relieve symptoms within 15 minutes, the effect lasts up to 6 hours, which makes these types of products very popular in the treatment of ophthalmic manifestations of hay fever.

The following drops prescribed for allergic inflammatory processes in the eyes are also effective:

  • Ifiral.
  • High-chrome.
  • Lecrolin.
  • Allergokrom.
  • Irtan.

Treatment of seasonal allergies with folk remedies

In addition to specific therapy, allergies can be treated with so-called folk remedies. Of course, such prescriptions can be used only with the consent of the attending physician, and only during the period of remission to prevent relapses of exacerbation. Natural gifts must be used with caution, since many herbs themselves are allergens.

Treatment of seasonal allergies with folk remedies, safe and tested by many patients, recipes:

  1. Infusion of black currant leaves and twigs. You need to prepare 2 tablespoons of dry material or take 4 tablespoons of fresh crushed leaves. They need to be filled with 300 ml of boiling water, left in a thermos for 1 hour, then strained and added with warm boiled water to a volume of 500 ml. Drink a tablespoon of infusion every 2 hours for a week. If the infusion runs out, it needs to be prepared again; a freshly brewed remedy activates the immune system much better and removes toxins from the body.
  2. Horsetail - 2 tablespoons of dry herb, pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, filter. You need to drink the product every hour during the day, then repeat the course after 2 days. A total of 7 courses are needed, that is, horsetail decoction is taken for two weeks.
  3. Mix 2 tablespoons of first aid kit with a tablespoon of dry nettle. Pour the mixture with 500 ml of boiling water, leave in a thermos for 10 hours (it is convenient to prepare the product in the evening). In the morning, filter the broth, you should get about 400 ml of the finished drug. Take half a glass 30 minutes before each meal for a week.
  4. Celery root juice, which contains amino acids, tyrosine, choline, a nicotinic acid. The juice has a good effect on blood composition, normalizes metabolism, and removes toxins. The product should be made from fresh root vegetables, take one teaspoon before meals, at least half an hour. The course of treatment is 14 days. It is recommended to start taking celery juice with a teaspoon, then monitor the condition of the body, since celery contains Apium graveolens - essential compounds that can cause a secondary allergic reaction.
  5. If you are not allergic to essential oils, you can consume fennel or dill in the form of an oil extract for a week. Essential oil you need to drop 3-5 drops onto a piece of sugar, the dosage regimen is three times a day, half an hour before meals.
  6. A calcium chloride solution drunk 30-40 minutes after eating effectively prevents exacerbations of hay fever. The recipe is as follows: add a teaspoon of Calcium chloridum to a glass of chilled boiled water.
  7. Taking fresh or dried figs daily helps normalize digestion, metabolism and strengthen the immune system. Figs are taken on an empty stomach, in the morning before breakfast, 30-40 minutes before meals. There is no strict dosage, but it is recommended to eat one fruit in the morning and evening.
  8. Avicenna's recipe - taking mumiyo. 1 gram of the product is dissolved in a liter of warm boiled water, taken only in the morning. Children from 3 to 5 years old are recommended to take 30-50 ml of solution, older children under 14 years old - 75 ml daily, adults with allergies can drink 100 ml in the morning. The course of treatment lasts at least three weeks. Doctors are favorable to this recipe and advise using it as a preventative and treatment for seasonal allergies every year.
  9. Skin rashes and itching will help relieve special baths; dilute 10 tablespoons of pharmaceutical clay in a liter of warm water, pour the solution into the main warm water. You need to lie in this clay “medicine” for 15-20 minutes, then wash it off your skin in the shower.
  10. A decoction of the string, combined with bathing in a healing solution of this herb, can significantly alleviate the condition of a person suffering from hay fever. Recipe: 5 tablespoons of the string are poured with cold water, after an hour they begin to cook the product over low heat for 15 minutes. The cooled mixture is filtered and divided into 2 parts. The first one needs to be drunk 50 ml every 3 hours, the second one should be poured into a warm bath and lie in this water for 20-25 minutes. Such procedures must be repeated every three days for 2 months in a row.

You should pay attention to recipes containing honey. Many sources advise taking a solution or honey in pure form, however, allergists are categorically against such experiments. Firstly, honey itself is a pollen product and can trigger an allergy attack. Secondly, even if a reaction to honey has not previously been observed, it is likely that it may appear as a symptom of a cross-allergy.

Treatment of seasonal allergies with folk remedies can be quite effective, subject to regular use of recipes, patience and mandatory doctor’s recommendations. Sometimes herbal infusions are taken for years to achieve the effect; some allergy sufferers see a decrease in symptoms after just a few weeks, it all depends on the intensity of the allergic process and the individual characteristics of the person.

Diet for seasonal allergies

As with any other therapeutic strategy, the treatment of hay fever involves a diet that helps alleviate the patient’s condition and reduce the risk of possible exacerbations. Allergy sufferers are, in principle, very sensitive to any food, which is due to the pathogenesis of the disease itself, so the diet for seasonal allergies must be special. You should immediately identify those products that can cause

the same signs as when exposed to pollen allergens:

  1. An allergy to pollen from flowering weeds (wormwood, chicory, ragweed) can occur when consuming the following products:
  • Seeds – sunflower, pumpkin.
  • Halva.
  • Vegetable oils.
  • Melon.
  • Mayonnaise.
  • Eggplants, zucchini.
  • Watermelon.
  • Alcoholic drinks containing weeds (aperitifs) - vermouth, balsam, tinctures.
  • Mustard.
  • Greens, especially tarragon, parsley, basil.
  • Bananas.
  • Carrots (raw).
  • Garlic.
  • All citrus fruits.

These same products should not be consumed if you are allergic to sunflower or calendula. In addition, you should carefully use herbal remedies containing the following herbs:

  • Chamomile.
  • Yarrow.
  • Dandelion.
  • Coltsfoot.
  • Elecampane.
  • Tansy.
  1. Seasonal allergies to pollen from flowering trees - alder, hazel, birch, apple tree:
  • All types of nuts.
  • Fruits growing on flowering trees - pears, apples, apricots, cherries and so on.
  • Raspberries.
  • Kiwi.
  • Olives.
  • Parsley.
  • Dill.
  • Birch juice.
  • Tomatoes.
  • Cucumbers.

You should not take decoctions of birch buds, alder cones, tansy and calendula.

  1. Allergy to cereal pollen - wheat, buckwheat, corn, oats, rye:
  • Use all baked goods with caution.
  • Kvass.
  • Beer.
  • Oatmeal, rice, wheat porridge.
  • Coffee.
  • Smoked products – meat and fish.
  • Cocoa products.
  • Citrus.
  • Strawberry wild-strawberry.

The list of prohibited foods is very long, and the question quite logically arises, what should people suffering from hay fever eat?

  • Buckwheat grain.
  • All fermented milk products, yoghurts without fruit additives. Cottage cheese is especially useful because it contains calcium, which helps strengthen vascular wall and its "impenetrability".
  • Brynza.
  • Lean meats and poultry.
  • Stewed, boiled cabbage, with caution - zucchini.
  • Green peas, young beans.
  • Baked light varieties of apples.
  • Refined, deodorized vegetable oil.
  • Use butter with caution.
  • Boiled, baked potatoes.
  • Bread, crackers.
  • Raisin.
  • Dried fruits compote.
  • Green tea.

The list of “forbidden” foods is not a dogma; you should limit their consumption during an exacerbation period, for about two weeks, then you can gradually include them in the menu. Diet for seasonal allergies is not a test or torment, you need to take it seriously, just like any other type of treatment. Sometimes it is the adherence to a diet that significantly alleviates the severity of allergic symptoms, which once again demonstrates its importance and significance.

Preventing seasonal allergies

To ensure that the season of flowering and pollen release does not become a period of exacerbation of the allergic reaction, it is necessary to follow certain preventive measures.

Prevention of seasonal allergies includes the following actions and prohibitions:

  • Contact with offending plants should be avoided. If possible, go outside less often and reduce your walking time, especially in windy or hot, sunny weather.
  • Indoors, windows, doors, good effect provides covering the windows with a damp, transparent cloth that absorbs pollen. If a window or window is open at night, it should be closed early in the morning, since pollen production is especially active between 5 and 9 am.
  • Every time you come home from the street, you should thoroughly wash your hands and entire body, it is advisable to wash your hair as well, since your hair may contain enough pollen to cause an allergy.
  • After walking, you should change clothes that may contain traces of pollen.
  • When traveling in a car, you should close the windows, into which pollen can enter along with the air flow.
  • If possible, during the most active period of flowering of trees and plants, it is better to take a vacation and move to areas with humid air (sea or river coast).
  • We should not forget that grasses also provoke allergies, so no matter how much you like the smell of freshly cut grass or the look of a trimmed lawn, you should avoid these places.
  • After washing, linens and clothes should be dried indoors, since damp fabric is an excellent “sorbent” for pollen.
  • A few months before the “hour X”, that is, before the flowering season, care should be taken to strengthen the immune system and normalize the functioning of the digestive organs. It is also necessary to check the body for helminthic infestations, since they significantly increase the rate of sensitization of the body to the allergen.
  • You should familiarize yourself with and remember the list of “prohibited” products that can become obligate allergens in case of cross-allergy. This list includes medicinal herbs, of which there are many among pharmaceutical preparations and herbal medicines.

Seasonal allergies are a disease of civilization, as many doctors believe, the reasons for this may be related to external and internal factors, which sometimes cannot be curated and treated. However, despite its scale, hay fever still does not affect every inhabitant of the planet. Therefore, the use of timely preventive measures makes it possible to take control of hay fever - at least reduce its severity clinical manifestations allergies or extend the period of remission, or, at maximum, completely get rid of seasonal allergies.

Source allergy

Seasonal allergies are an allergic reaction that is a protective response of the immune system to various foreign substances in the inhaled air. In most cases, an allergic reaction is observed to allergens that come into contact with the fresh air, this is usually mold and pollen.

Seasonal allergies in children usually manifest themselves at certain times of the year, but occasionally they can occur year-round in the case of constant contact with the provoking allergen. Typically, this allergic reaction manifests itself as seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis (conjunctivitis) and allergic rhinitis, or pollen seasonal bronchial asthma.

If a child has an allergic reaction to fruit juices and purees, you should be especially careful in spring and summer, because in this case, after three years, the baby may develop a seasonal allergy to pollen. If you look superficially, then at first glance there is nothing in common between dandelion and melon, carrots and alder. However, numerous biological studies have proven that the pollen and fruits of plants contain protein molecules with identical sections, which are the cause of the development of cross allergic reactions. If your baby's cheeks turn red from cherry jam, it is possible that he will begin to sneeze and cough after a walk through the birch grove. But if a child is allergic to citrus fruits, then a bouquet of daisies can cause a severe runny nose.

Seasonal allergies - causes

Like all other allergic reactions, seasonal allergies are caused by an attack of the immune defense by allergens entering the body through the skin, with food or inhaled air. With seasonal allergies, the allergens that provoke the reaction, along with the inhaled air, enter the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract (lungs, throat, nose and mouth) and eyes. Most often, it is very difficult to determine a specific allergen. After the provoking allergen begins to come into contact with the mucous membranes, leukocytes begin to produce antibodies to these foreign substances, which subsequently leads to the development of an allergic reaction, which is sometimes called hypersensitivity to inherently harmless substances.

Pollen is the most common allergen in seasonal allergies. Pollen is microscopic particles produced in flowers (the male part of the reproductive organs of all flowering plants). Pollen from wind-pollinated plants is carried by air movement, pollinating (fertilizing) other plants of its species. Depending on the local climate, each plant species has a certain period of pollen release. Some plants pollinate in the spring, others in the summer or early autumn. Moreover, the further north you go, the later the pollination period begins. Pollen from some grasses, trees and weeds (ragweed, etc.) is more likely to cause an allergic reaction than others. Pollen from insect-pollinated plants is much less allergenic than pollen from wind-pollinated plants.

Molds are another fairly common allergen. Mold is a fairly large group of fungal families that do not form fruiting bodies. Fungal spores, unlike pollen, are constantly observed in the air, and their concentration depends on current conditions, and not on the season. Molds are extremely common and can be found outdoors as well as in agricultural and residential environments. They thrive in the soil, on damp wood and rotting plant debris. Indoors, they often live in places where air does not circulate freely (bathrooms, attics, basements, etc.).

Risk factors for the development of seasonal allergies include: the presence of this allergic disease in blood relatives, bronchial asthma, eczema, periodic contact with a provoking allergen, nasal polyps. With age, the type of allergens to which an allergic reaction is observed may change, as well as the symptoms themselves often change.

Periods of development of seasonal allergies:

Spring is the time of flowering of hazel trees, plane trees, maples and birches

Summer is the period of flowering of flowers and cereals

Autumn is the flowering period of asteraceae (wormwood, quinoa, ragweed)

Seasonal allergies - symptoms

The symptoms of seasonal allergies are not always terrible. In some people, the allergic reaction is quite tolerable, without noticeable changes in appearance and profuse runny nose. In this case, there is no need to change the established rhythm of life. However, quite severe cases can also occur allergic manifestations when a mandatory visit to an allergist is required. However, even if the symptoms of seasonal allergies are quite mild, treatment is still necessary, since the implicit picture at first can begin to progress, gradually turning into bronchial asthma and autoimmune diseases.

The main symptoms of seasonal allergies: runny nose with the release of liquid transparent discharge, sneezing, nasopharyngeal drip, nasal congestion, a feeling of congestion in the ears (in the ear), red, watery eyes, insomnia, loss of energy, fatigue, burning and itching in the nose, irritation of the conjunctiva and soft palate, rash on various areas of the skin (between the fingers, lower abdomen, groin, etc.)

If symptoms of seasonal allergies appear, you should not delay visiting a doctor. Using a simple procedure, a qualified allergist can easily determine the type of plant that negatively affects health. The diagnosis itself consists of performing skin tests with a set of the most common pollen allergens in the patient’s place of residence.

Seasonal allergies - treatment

Fortunately, seasonal allergies do not always require specialized treatment, and simple hygiene procedures and avoiding contact with the provoking allergen are often sufficient. If these measures were not enough, you can buy an antiallergic drug at any pharmacy.

Contact with suspected or known allergens should be avoided. This is achieved by installing protective air filters in the room. You should also carefully close doors and windows, and if contact with an allergen is unavoidable, you should use protective bandages on your nose and mouth, as well as gloves.

It is necessary to shower as often as possible, change clothes, and carry out wet cleaning. You should also get rid of curtains, rugs, carpets and other things that can accumulate dust in large quantities.

If you have mild symptoms, rinsing your nose and gargling with slightly salted warm water (2 tablespoons of table salt per 200 ml of water) helps quite well. To relieve itching in the throat, eyes and to reduce a runny nose, you can take over-the-counter antihistamines (Diphenhydramine, etc.), but you should be aware that such drugs have an inhibitory effect and their use is strictly contraindicated when driving cars or other vehicles and mechanisms of increased danger.

If simple measures are not enough, with acute or persistent symptoms, treatment is necessary medicines, not only to eliminate and alleviate symptoms, but also to prevent them.

Corticosteroid nasal sprays Fluticasone, Triamcinolone, Beclomethasone, in the vast majority of cases, are the most effective. Due to the fact that they are used topically and in small dosages, these sprays are almost completely free of side effects that are typical for corticosteroid drugs. Sprays also successfully relieve swelling, eliminate itching and nasal congestion, and do not cause drowsiness. To achieve a lasting effect, they should be taken daily for several days.

Other common medications prescribed to treat seasonal allergies are antihistamines, which are available without a prescription in most countries (Hydroxyzine, Diphenhydramine, Tripelennamine, Clemastine). All of the listed antihistamines are relatively inexpensive and are freely available, but the achieved effect does not last long and, moreover, they have a strong sedative effect, as a result of which they are strictly contraindicated for people from whom, due to their professional activity quick response required. I would also like to note that in the case of constant use, the sedative effect decreases over time, but this also applies to the anti-allergic effect. As an alternative, it is possible to use such drugs long acting like Desloratadine, Loratadine, Fexofenadine. Despite the fact that they are more expensive and are usually available only by prescription, they should be taken only once a day, and the sedative effect is practically not felt after taking them.

More details - seasonal disease. Diathesis and allergies in children

  • Drug treatments

Hay fever (from Latin pollinis - dust, pollen) pollen allergy, hay runny nose, chronic allergic disease caused by plant pollen and manifested by allergic inflammation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, mainly the nose (seasonal runny nose) and eyes (conjunctivitis). Hay fever is one of the most common allergic diseases in children. They affect from 4.8 to 11.8% of children. And although a child may develop a pollen allergy as early as the second year of life, the disease often remains undiagnosed.

Causes

The development of hay fever is determined by sensitization - an increase in the body’s sensitivity to the effects of any factor. environment, in this case, to plant pollen, and depends on what plants grow in a given climatic zone. In central Russia there are three main flowering periods:

  • spring - April-May: pollen from trees (birch, alder, oak, hazel, etc.) is present in the air;
  • summer - June-July - in the air - pollen of cereal grasses (bluegrass, wheatgrass, fescue, hedgehog, foxtail, timothy, etc.);
  • late summer, or summer-autumn, associated with the flowering of asteraceae and goosefoot plants (wormwood, quinoa, ragweed).

The pollen of these plants is widespread in our region. Its dimensions are extremely small - from 10 to 50 microns. It is released in huge quantities and is easily carried by the wind.

In the occurrence and development of allergic reactions, heredity plays an important role - the transmission from parents to the child of genes responsible for a predisposition to allergies. If only the mother suffers from hay fever, the gene is transmitted in 25% of cases, if the father and mother - in 50%.

Development

The mechanism for the development of allergic reactions in a child predisposed to them can be started at any age. Pollen enters the body through the respiratory tract or eyes and settles on the mucous membrane of these organs. In order for an allergy to develop, negligible doses of pollen are enough.

First, the body undergoes a process of recognition of the allergen by cells of the immune system and the production of protective substances (antibodies) against this foreign agent - the so-called sensitization phase. Outwardly, it does not manifest itself in any way, and a lot of time can pass from the moment of first contact with pollen until signs of the disease develop.

For example, last year the child did not react to flowering plants, but pollen entered the body. And this spring, with the first buds opening, the baby had a second encounter with the allergen, which is why the cells of his immune system released specific substances (histamine, cytokines, etc.) that cause allergies and inflammation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

Hay fever developed. This is called the resolution or manifestation phase of the disease.

Symptoms

This disease has a clear seasonality, repeating from year to year and coinciding with the flowering period of certain plants. Symptoms of hay fever are most intense in the morning hours during the period of maximum pollen concentration in the air.

Allergic conjunctivitis1 appears (lacrimation, photophobia, severe redness of the mucous membrane, severe itching and swelling of the eyelids, a feeling of sand in the eyes), combined with an allergic runny nose (itching in the nose, impaired nasal breathing, copious liquid transparent nasal discharge, bouts of sneezing - from 10 up to 30 sneezes in a row).

The child breathes through his mouth, wrinkles his nose, rubs it with his palm, causing a transverse wrinkle to appear on it.

Damage to the nasal mucosa is usually bilateral. Swelling of the mucous membrane leads to decreased hearing, sense of smell, and headaches. Unlike acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI), with hay fever, fever and weakness are rarely observed, there is no sharp sore throat, redness, and enlarged lymph nodes (ear, submandibular, etc.) are rarely noted.

However, if at this moment the baby gets sick with ARVI, the signs of allergic rhinitis will only intensify, the recovery period will be delayed and the effect of antiallergic drugs will decrease.

A severe manifestation of hay fever is bronchial asthma2, usually combined with allergic runny nose (rhinitis) and allergic conjunctivitis. Signs of pollen asthma are typical for asthma in general: asthma attacks, wheezing, wheezing, audible even at a distance, dry cough.

1Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane covering the back surface of the eyelids and the front surface of the eyeball. 2Bronchial asthma is a chronic infectious-allergic inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract that occurs with attacks of suffocation.

The above manifestations of hay fever may include headache, weakness, sweating, drowsiness, irritability and tearfulness, chills, fever, and increased fatigue.

Diagnostics

If you suspect an allergic disease in a child, first of all you should contact your pediatrician to rule out diseases that are similar in manifestations, but not allergic (ARVI, inflammation of the bronchi - bronchitis).

In case of an allergic disease, it is better to be examined and treated by an allergist-immunologist in a regional or large multidisciplinary children's medical institution.

Diagnosis of the disease consists of two stages. The first stage includes a thorough survey of parents about the child’s development, illnesses he has suffered, etc., then an examination of the child himself, laboratory methods for examining his blood, nasal mucus, etc.

The second stage is identifying the allergen, in this case a plant. It is best to carry it out in winter, after treatment and reduction (or absence of signs) of the disease. At this time, tests are carried out with allergenic substances, the content of specific protective proteins of the immune system (class E immunoglobulins) in the blood is determined.

All allergy testing methods can be performed on an outpatient basis. Admission to hospital is only required in case of an emergency, such as a severe attack of bronchial asthma.

Allergen tests

The simplest and most accessible method of identifying an allergen are prick tests and their variant in the form of a prick test. They are carried out only in winter, no earlier than ten days after the end of taking antiallergic drugs.

1Scarification - from. lat. scarification - scratching, cutting.

The technique is as follows: drops of various industrially prepared allergens are applied to the hands (forearms), and scratches or injections are made. The foreign substance enters the body through damaged skin, and after 20 minutes doctors assess the size of the blisters that have formed at the site of the scratches. The “culprit” allergen will cause the largest blister to form.

Such tests are only possible for children over 5 years of age, since young patients cannot sit still for 20 minutes while the tests last.

An alternative method for identifying the causative allergen is a blood test to determine the content of specific protective proteins of the immune system (class E immunoglobulins) produced in response to a particular pollen.

This method can be carried out year-round, regardless of the child’s condition and the treatment used for another disease, and is the only method that identifies the source of allergies in young children.

In general, an allergy examination of a patient with hay fever p
Attention, TODAY only!

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Allergies in children in the spring are a very common occurrence. Sneezing and a runny nose in a baby causes concern among parents, and they immediately begin treatment. Having made the diagnosis herself, the worried mother begins giving cold medicine. And the cause of coughing or sneezing may be seasonal allergies. Therefore, it is necessary to learn to distinguish colds from allergic manifestations.


Seasonal allergies mean a disease that occurs during some period of the year. Another name for this type of allergy is hay fever. Seasonal allergies are officially recognized as a disease that negatively affects productivity, school performance and can cause serious complications in the form of bronchial asthma. Most patients experience spring allergies.

Starting from the spring flowering period, a large amount of pollen from various plants and trees is released into the air. For allergy sufferers, spring becomes a real challenge. They cannot walk or sleep freely, and young patients become capricious, restless, and eat poorly, which worries parents even more. Flowering begins in mid or late April. During the warm season, the flowering of some plants ends and the period of others begins. Therefore, the concentration of allergens can be maintained in the air for a long time.

What factors influence the occurrence of allergies?

Sometimes allergies can appear in people who have never had one before. The occurrence of an allergic reaction in a child is influenced by:

  • genetic predisposition;
  • bacteriological and viral diseases;
  • environmental degradation;
  • artificial feeding;
  • improper behavior of the mother during pregnancy;
  • general health;
  • lack of vitamin D.

With a genetic predisposition, the child is at risk from the same allergens as the parents. But kids can outgrow the allergic age. After 13 years, children’s immunity goes through a developing stage. If the parents followed the doctors' instructions, the disease may disappear. But the problem is that most parents may not know or remember which pollen they had a negative reaction to.

At first, the baby may be prone to an allergy to the pollen of a particular plant. This is called monoallergy. When there is no treatment, a reaction to other allergens occurs (polyallergy). For example, a child develops an allergy to food products, animal hair, household dust, chemical substances. Clothes washed with powder can cause rashes on the baby's body.

The presence of bacteriological and viral diseases weakens the immunity of children, so they need to be treated on time so that other ailments do not develop. Doctors recommend not switching to artificial feeding unless necessary, as this doubles the risk of seasonal allergies. Breast milk contains many beneficial substances that strengthen the body of children, which increases resistance to disease.

During pregnancy, a woman must monitor her diet and routine. You should not overuse certain foods, as they most often cause allergies. Such products include chocolate, nuts, halva, honey, citrus fruits. The expectant mother should avoid foods that contain preservatives, flavors, and dyes. It is unacceptable to smoke and abuse alcohol.

Which trees are dangerous for children?

Any tree or plant can become dangerous for a child. But there are trees whose pollen most often annoys people. Birch comes first. In addition, allergies can be caused by:

  • alder;
  • maple;
  • hazel;
  • ash;
  • Apple tree;
  • apricot;
  • cherries;
  • ambrosia;
  • sagebrush;
  • pine.

The condition of allergy sufferers during flowering vegetation is worsened by weather factors. When it rains, pollen settles and its concentration in the air decreases sharply. In windy, dry weather the reverse process occurs. The wind carries microparticles of flowers to areas where there is no park area.

To make it easier to determine which allergen causes a reaction in the baby, the mother needs to observe what foods she is allergic to even before the flowering period. For example, if a baby has an allergic reaction to fruit puree or juice, then these are prerequisites for the occurrence of hay fever. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that fruits and pollen contain identical protein molecules.

Such a connection is observed between alder and carrots, melon and dandelion, citrus fruits and some types of daisies. If a child has an allergy after eating plum jam, then a walk through a birch grove can cause a cough and runny nose. Avoid areas where apple trees are blooming if your child cannot eat kiwi or potatoes. If you are allergic to halva and honey, dandelions and wormwood pose a danger.

Manifestations of seasonal allergies

Symptoms of hay fever vary depending on the stage of the disease, age and health status of the little patient. The main signs of the disease are:

  • runny nose with clear discharge;
  • swelling of the nasopharynx;
  • lacrimation;
  • redness of the eyes;
  • insomnia;
  • itching and burning in the nose (the child rubs his nose);
  • allergic conjunctivitis;
  • rashes on various parts of the body;
  • dry skin;
  • irritability;
  • lack of appetite;
  • slight increase in body temperature (rare).

These signs may also be accompanied by stuffy ears, hyperactivity, coughing, and sneezing. Skin rashes usually appear on the stomach, groin, and between the fingers. Insomnia as a symptom appears when the baby has a stuffy nose and cannot breathe. Breathing may be impaired with the development of bronchial asthma. In this case, treatment must be started immediately.

An allergist will help diagnose the disease. Diagnostic measures include skin tests for allergens and blood tests for antibodies. No tests are carried out during the flowering period. During the examination, it is necessary to inform the doctor about all manifestations of allergies that the child may have had before, but have passed. Since there is a connection between hay fever and food allergies, reactions to certain foods may persist in winter. For example, if you were allergic to buckwheat pollen in the summer, then the reaction to honey collected during this period may persist in the winter.

How is hay fever treated?

Treatment of spring allergies in children requires a serious approach. An advanced disease will lead to complications that may affect the future. All that is required is to avoid contact with allergens. At food allergies this is easier to do. It is enough to remove foods to which you have a reaction from your diet. But in the case of a pollen allergy, this cannot be done.

Therefore, doctors prescribe antihistamines. These can be drops, syrups or tablets. The dose is set individually depending on the age and weight of the baby. For skin rashes, antiallergic gels are used, and for allergic rhinitis- nasal drops with a vasoconstrictor effect.

Children may be advised to take vitamin D, probiotics, and immune-boosting medications. In addition to treatment, parents should take certain measures to reduce the manifestations of the disease. In order not to aggravate the child’s condition, it is necessary to get rid of pets (cats, dogs). Don't get fish or parrots instead. Bird feathers are also allergens.

The baby's room should always be clean. Remove household dust daily. You should not cover the floor in the room with carpet. Pillows should be synthetic, not feather. Wash your baby's clothes with soap without additives or strong odors. Remove all plants from the children's room.

Additional Reminders for Parents

Walking will have to be shortened or taken after rain. You should not walk in parks or through heavily polluted areas.

If possible, change your place of residence during flowering.

Some parents take their children from big cities to the sea. When driving a car, close the windows.

Set a routine for your child. Let him go to bed and get up at the same time. Ensure drinking regime. Water procedures are important during such a period. Rinse your baby every 2 hours. By following these measures, you can significantly influence the patient’s condition.

ProAllergiju.ru

While healthy children enjoy the warm sun and collect bouquets of spring flowers, children with allergies suffer from painful symptoms of hay fever.

Causes of allergies in spring

Hay fever is a seasonal (spring) allergic reaction of the body to flowering plants.

The cause of allergies in the spring is the penetration of allergens into the child’s body.

Plant pollen gets on the skin, the mucous membrane of the eyes and respiratory tract (nose, larynx). Penetrating into the body, allergens irritate the immune system, promote the production of antibodies, the release of histamine and other biological factors into the blood. active substances. As a result, symptoms of hay fever appear.

What is the source of spring allergies?

More than 100 types of allergens plant origin may cause an allergic reaction! Most often, allergies occur to the spring flowering of trees, shrubs, and flowers. For example, in April walnut, oak, alder, birch bloom, in May - poplar, linden, apple tree, dandelions, coltsfoot. From spring to autumn, quinoa, ragweed, and wormwood bloom.

Symptoms of spring allergies in a child

The most common symptoms of spring allergies in a child:

  • Swelling and nasal congestion;
  • Frequent sneezing;
  • Itching and burning in the nose;
  • Clear and liquid discharge from the nose;
  • Itching, irritation, redness of the eyes;
  • lacrimation;
  • Swelling of the eyelids;
  • Photophobia, frequent blinking;
  • Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath;
  • Cough;
  • Rashes, redness, swelling, itching of the skin;
  • Dryness, flaking of the skin;
  • Moodiness and irritability;
  • Drowsiness or insomnia;
  • Lack of appetite.

How to distinguish an allergy from an acute respiratory disease?

  1. Allergies are almost never accompanied by an increase in body temperature;
  2. Symptoms of spring allergies appear annually at approximately the same time;
  3. A child suffering from allergies feels much better at home. His health worsens on the street, especially when surrounded by flowering plants - in the park, in the forest. For a patient with an acute respiratory infection, the location does not matter;
  4. The well-being of a child with allergies worsens on a dry and warm day, improves in rainy weather;
  5. Nasal discharge is thick and thin, as opposed to the thick, cloudy discharge associated with a viral or bacterial infection;
  6. In case of allergies, the cough is not accompanied by sputum production;
  7. The acute respiratory infection lasts no more than a week. Symptoms of hay fever may appear over several spring and summer months;
  8. If you notice that your child has allergies in the spring, consult a doctor immediately. Timely prevention and treatment of hay fever will help make you feel better and prevent the progression of the disease.

Treatment of allergies to spring blooms

The choice of treatment for hay fever depends on the stage of the disease and the flowering season of the plants causing the allergic reaction.

A month before the start of the flowering season, specific immunotherapy is carried out - antibodies are removed from the child’s body, causing symptoms hay fever;

During the flowering period, drugs are used that protect the body from the effects of allergens and relieve allergy symptoms: Antihistamines;

  1. Antihistamines;
  2. Local hormonal agents (ointments and creams);
  3. Non-hormonal antiallergic drugs.

Important! Only a doctor should prescribe medications for the prevention and treatment of allergies in a child!

  • Close windows and doors to prevent pollen from flowering plants from entering the premises. Instead of ventilating, use an air purifier;
  • Frequently do wet cleaning of premises;
  • Minimize walks in dry, windy weather;
  • Frequently wash the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes, take a shower - to remove pollen from flowering plants from the body;
  • Dry bedding and clothes indoors to avoid pollen getting on things.

schoolofcare.ru
Trees and shrubs:

birch, alder, hazel or hazel, oak, maple, poplar, ash, elm and others.

Birch– most common reason the appearance of seasonal allergies. Has very volatile pollen. The season for allergic reactions to birch begins before the snow has melted - in March, April or May, depending on how cold, long and snowy the winter is. In windy weather, pollen can spread tens of kilometers. There are a lot of birch trees in our country, so it is almost impossible to eliminate the allergen from life.

Alder– the second most common allergen.

The tricky thing about shrubs is that they are difficult to identify until the leaves have appeared; for example, it is difficult to distinguish a hazel from an alder.

Cereals and meadow grasses: rye, wheat, timothy, fescue, bluegrass, wheatgrass, bromegrass, buckwheat and others.

The tricky thing about allergenic herbs is that not many people know what these herbs look like.

Allergies can also be caused by ordinary lawn grass. If you don't mow the lawn on time, the grass will bloom and begin to gather dust. Lawns can become dusty several times a year. The juice of freshly cut grass, if it comes into contact with human skin, can also cause an allergic reaction, which is expressed in the form of hives.

Weeds : wormwood, quinoa, dandelion, ragweed, hemp, nettle, buttercup and others.

Dandelions- very allergenic. They have heavy pollen, so for a reaction to occur, you need close contact with the allergen, for example, putting a wreath of dandelions on your head or burying your face in a flower.

Sagebrush- quite allergenic. Grows along ditches and abandoned places.

Mold fungi. They are found in rotten leaves, in potatoes, and in damp rooms. “If a child has an allergic reaction to mold fungi, then the rustling of fallen leaves, which children love so much, will lead to a stuffy nose, cough, and itchy eyes.”- said Nadezhda Magarina.

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