How to treat seasonal allergies in children. How to treat seasonal allergies in children

Seasonal allergies are the body's response to external irritants. Our the immune system perceives certain substances surrounding a person as danger, and in response develops a defense that manifests itself various symptoms. Most often, allergic manifestations occur during the flowering of plants, for example, ragweed (begins in the second half of August and lasts until early September), and various flowers.

What triggers seasonal allergies?

When symptoms of seasonal allergies appear, it is not always possible to determine the substance that provoked this reaction immunity. When a person comes into direct contact with an allergen, the immune system releases antibodies that contribute to the manifestation of seasonal allergy symptoms in both children and adults in the form of rhinitis, skin rashes, and others.

Important! For most people with allergies, the dangerous period is flowering time. This is due to the fact that pollen is the most common allergen affecting the human body.

Pollen spreads through the air to fertilize all plants of its kind, but the time of pollination of plants varies and is determined by climatic conditions. Thus, some plant varieties pollinate in early spring, others in mid- and late summer.

Some plants (shrubs, herbs) have a much stronger effect on the body and more often provoke allergic reactions. But based on numerous observations, we can conclude that plants that are pollinated with the help of insects are several times less likely to cause allergies than self-pollinating ones.

Attention! Big Negative influence mold produces on people with hypersensitivity and low immunity.

Mold particles and spores, spreading through the air, can make it difficult for a person to breathe and cause a protective reaction in the body, which manifests itself in the form of allergic reactions. Mold spores are mainly found in rooms with high dampness and moisture, but particles can also be found in the open air.

Quite often, symptoms of seasonal allergies appear in people whose close relatives also suffer from this disease.

There are periods of flowering of certain plants that are especially dangerous for allergy sufferers: the beginning of autumn (ragweed, wormwood), the spring season (maple trees, hazel trees, plane trees), and the summer period (blooming of various flowers and cereals).

How do seasonal allergic reactions manifest?

Symptoms of seasonal allergies in adults and children are similar. In general, the immune system's response to external stimuli does not affect too detrimentally, and with the help medicines easy to relieve symptoms. In this case, you should not completely change your usual lifestyle.

But it happens that some people have too much trouble with the flowering periods, and medications do not cope well with the symptoms of seasonal allergies. Therefore, before self-medicating, you should make an appointment with an allergist for a thorough examination.

Advice: Even with mildly manifested symptoms, treatment should be carried out, otherwise a simple allergy, which occurs only during the dangerous flowering season, can provoke bronchial asthma or severe disruptions in the functioning of the immune system.

Symptoms of seasonal allergies:

• the nose is stuffy, clear fluid is released;
• frequent sneezing (especially if a person often walks in an area where there are flowering plants);
• Ear congestion (one or both) often occurs;
• redness (rashes) on the skin;
• the eyeballs become red, watery, itchy, and a burning sensation may occur;
• a state of weakness and lethargy appears;

If, with the onset of the flowering period, you notice one or more of the listed symptoms, seek help from a specialist. After a survey and tests, the doctor will be able to determine the type of plant that causes allergic reactions and prescribe the most effective treatment.

What should you do about allergies in children?

Important! In order for the treatment to be correct, it is initially important to pay attention to your child’s symptoms in a timely manner and contact a specialist who can diagnose allergies.

If the symptoms of seasonal allergies begin to interfere with the child’s breathing and begin to manifest themselves more aggressively, it is extremely difficult to cure the disease during this period. This mainly applies to children under 3 years of age, in whom doctors often confuse allergies with colds. Sometimes antibiotics are prescribed, which only make the child’s condition even worse.

Therefore, at the slightest sign of allergy, you should immediately consult a doctor, because this disease can subsequently significantly lower the baby’s immune system and even lead to bronchial asthma.

What are the treatment measures to combat seasonal allergies?

For minor symptoms of seasonal allergies, it is enough to avoid the plant that causes the allergy. In more severe cases, you should take medications with antihistamine action prescribed by an allergist.

The stages of dealing with allergies include the following:

• taking medications in the required dosage;
• avoiding contact with the allergen;
• therapy, in which small quantities of the allergen are introduced into the body of a person suffering from allergies, so that the immune system can gradually get used to this substance and the manifestations of allergic symptoms will completely stop.

To alleviate the condition, you should follow some recommendations: if symptoms worsen, it is better to avoid long walks in the fresh air; Windows should be kept closed if there is wind and very hot weather outside; When traveling in a vehicle, close the windows and turn on the air conditioning; use caution with foods that are allergenic (citrus fruits, strawberries, fish and others); upon arriving home, it is recommended to wash your face and, if possible, take a shower; use sunglasses when outdoors; Avoid areas with excessive concentrations of flowering plants and herbs.

Depending on the symptoms they use different means to combat seasonal allergies, these include:

• medications in tablet form;
• anti-inflammatory eye drops;
• nasal sprays;
• inhalations and external medications;
• preparations in the form of solutions for allergic manifestations of a seasonal nature.

Typically, medications against seasonal allergies have an antihistamine effect and a sedative effect. Stronger drugs contain hormones that significantly reduce inflammation and can prevent infections.

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. 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.

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 (polyallergies). For example, a child develops an allergy to food products, animal hair, household dust, chemicals. 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 it occurs after eating plum jam, then a walk through a birch grove can provoke a cough and runny nose. Avoid apple blossom areas if your child cannot eat kiwi or potatoes. Dandelions and wormwood pose a danger to honey.

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 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 that have a vasoconstrictor effect are used.

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. Provide 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.

Seasonal allergies are a protective reaction of the immune system to certain irritants. external environment, which occurs in the warm season. This disease has another well-known name - hay fever, which comes from the Latin word with the root pollen, and this is not accidental, since the cause of intolerance to seasonal allergies is various parts of plants and their components released during their growth or flowering. ICD 10 code J30.2.

Seasonal allergies Most often it is expressed in the form of rhinitis and conjunctivitis; in some patients, skin manifestations of the disease are recorded; in severe cases, bronchial asthma is formed.

The disease was first described by the English physician John Bostock in 1819. It received an official name - seasonal fever. At first it was assumed that the symptoms characteristic of a cold were caused by hay, but as it turned out later, plant pollen caused sneezing and nasal congestion. But this was proven only 54 years later in 1873, also by a doctor from Great Britain, David Blackley.

In Russia, people first started talking about seasonal allergies in 1889. This happened in St. Petersburg at a meeting of the society of Russian doctors. Dr. Silich L. gave a report on this topic. At the same time, he was the first to draw attention to the relationship between allergies and nervous system person.

In the late 50s and early 60s, wheat and other grain crops from the USA began to be imported en masse to the USSR. Together with them, ambrosia was first brought to the territory of Russia, and then to other republics.

Pollen from this particular plant caused massive allergy attacks in the Krasnodar region in 1960.

Nowadays, there are more and more people suffering from seasonal hay fever every year. According to official data, 20% of the world's population suffers from this disease. But according to unofficial data, there are much more of them.

And despite the fact that modern medicine has achieved some success in the fight against eliminating the symptoms of seasonal allergies, but this pathology has not yet been completely overcome.

Causes of hay fever

The main reason the development of an atypical reaction of the body are pollen components; about 50 subspecies of trees, grasses, shrubs and flowers have been identified, widespread everywhere and capable of causing hay fever.

Flowering of plants begins in mid-spring and ends at the end of August. A list of them is presented later in the article.

Therefore, the likelihood of seasonal allergies occurring during this period is very high. In some patients suffering from hay fever, the disease also develops on rare plants, including indoor plants, which can bloom several times a year.

Due to the high prevalence and severity of seasonal allergies, numerous studies have been carried out; during their conduct, it was possible to find out that the pathology most often develops in people with genetic heredity. In these cases, hay fever can occur in the first years of the baby’s life.

It also happens that the disease first begins to manifest itself already in mature age, wherein specific reaction immune system may be caused by the following provoking factors:

• Changes in the body's defense reactions under the influence of others allergic diseases. Hay fever can occur in people who have suffered for a number of years from intolerance to a certain type of food, medicine, cosmetics, or household chemicals.
• Deterioration of the environmental situation.
• Chronic diseases of the broncho-pulmonary system.
• Production factors.
• Significant weakening of the immune system after suffering infectious and inflammatory diseases, due to poor nutrition, disorders in the nervous system.

When does it most often appear?

Symptoms of seasonal allergies are most pronounced in spring and autumn, and are less severe in mid-summer. In the spring, the disease develops during the flowering of birch, maple, hazel, sycamore, and alder trees.

In summer, allergies intensify with intolerance to cereals, wildflowers and garden flowers. At the end of summer and beginning of autumn, wormwood and quinoa begin to bloom profusely and produce seeds.

At the same time, you need to understand that the pollen of some plants, for example, ragweed, can be carried very far in a strong wind, so if it does not grow in your region, this does not mean that you will not sneeze.

Flowering plants per year by month:

1. Spring – maple, birch, willow, hazel, poplar (May), oak, acacia, alder, hazel, wildflowers (May);
2. Summer - rye, sorrel, fescue, pine needles, other cereals.
3. August, early autumn – ragweed, quinoa, wormwood.

Influence of weather conditions

Weather conditions have a significant impact on the well-being of patients with hay fever. In rainy weather, pollen remains on the ground and overall health improves. On windy and hot days, pollen components are carried through the air, easily enter rooms and provoke the occurrence of rhinitis and conjunctivitis.

The pollen of some plants has minimal weight and can be carried by the wind for tens of kilometers, which explains the development of hay fever in response to a certain irritant, even if it does not grow in the patient’s area of ​​residence.

Seasonal allergies develop not only to pollen, but also to fungal spores, which are also quite easily carried by the wind. Fungi also include mold that forms in damp areas.

Mold hay fever can occur year-round, since in residential buildings it multiplies and grows regardless of the season.

Symptoms of hay fever

Seasonal allergies manifest themselves in different forms - it can be a slight deterioration in health or a rapidly developing picture of the disease with all the ensuing symptoms.

It is always necessary to treat any hay fever, since mild forms of the disease quickly turn into severe ones; only timely therapy with specially selected groups of drugs can prevent this process.

Seasonal allergies manifest themselves in the form of damage to the respiratory organs, eyes and skin:

• occurs when pollen enters the nasopharyngeal mucosa. Sneezing, itching in the nasal passages, congestion, and the release of copious mucous secretions appear. Without the use of antihistamines, this condition can occur throughout the entire warm season, with periods of subsidence and exacerbation of the process.
• Conjunctivitis is manifested by redness and lacrimation, itching, and a sensation of a foreign body in the eyes.
• Rashes on the skin can be either small pinpoints or large blisters. The rash itches, which leads to irritation.

The most severe manifestations of hay fever include bronchial asthma, a disease manifested by attacks of shortness of breath. The general well-being of patients also suffers - insomnia, irritation, and decreased performance.

Sometimes seasonal allergies, along with characteristic symptoms, can manifest as an increase in temperature, which makes diagnosing the disease difficult.

Fever usually stops when it goes down acute manifestations diseases.

Temperature for seasonal allergies

Let's take a closer look at temperature for seasonal allergies. It can either be completely absent or increase.

A slight increase in temperature during hay fever to 37.5 degrees indicates that the immune system is trying to fight the allergen. As a rule, this temperature does not change.

Here it is important not to panic, but to figure out whether the temperature is provoked by ARVI or another disease. If not, then it will be enough to take an antihistamine and in 1-2 hours everything will return to normal.

Diagnosis of hay fever

It is not difficult for an experienced allergist to diagnose seasonal allergies. The patient is examined and interviewed, other ailments are excluded. To confirm the disease and to accurately determine the allergen, special skin tests.

The doctor can suggest testing only in those months when there is no influence of the suspected allergen, that is, in late autumn or winter.

For a more accurate diagnosis and identification of the causes of allergies, additional medications may be prescribed.

Treatment of seasonal allergies

Seasonal allergies should be treated both during the period of exacerbation and in other seasons to prevent relapse. During an exacerbation, antihistamines are used in the form of tablets, drops, sprays, ointments.

Groups and lists of drugs

To treat seasonal allergies, medications from one of three groups may be prescribed:

1. Antihistamines are divided into drugs of 1, 2, 3 (4) generations. Available in the form of tablets, drops, sprays, syrups. They block the release of histamine in the body - a reaction to an allergen irritant, which is manifested by the symptoms described above.
2. Corticosteroids are hormonal agents. Available in the form of ointments, sprays, drops. They are very effective, but are prescribed in severe cases when conventional medications are unable to suppress the symptoms of seasonal allergies. Children, pregnant and lactating mothers are prescribed very rarely in particularly severe cases (, Quincke's edema) since they have many side effects.
3. Stabilizers - histamine, which causes unpleasant symptoms, is produced as a result of the destruction of cell membranes. Drugs from this group strengthen cell membranes and prevent the release of histamine.

List of effective antihistamines that quickly relieve the symptoms of seasonal allergies:

1. Suprastin;
2. Tavegil;
3. Diazolin;
4. Loratadine;
5. Zodak;
6. Fenistil;
7. Pipolfen;
8. Diphenhydramine;
9. Xymelin (spray);
10. Fenistil;
11. Blogger 3;
12. Ezlor;
13. Cetrin;
14. Astemizole (Gismanal);
15. Terfenadine;
16. Aqua Maris Sense (for rinsing).

Despite their good effectiveness, some of them cause drowsiness (especially the first five points), so they are best taken before bed.

If the symptoms of seasonal allergies manifest themselves as bronchial asthma, then they can be relieved with the help of Salbutamol, Farmoterol, Budesonite.

List of cell membrane stabilizers, available in the form of drops and tablets:

1. Ifiral;
2. Intal;
3. Cromolyn;
4. Ketotifen;
5. Tailed.

New generation antihistamines

Drops and sprays

Since the symptoms of seasonal allergies are often manifested by rhinorrhea, swelling of the nasal mucosa, and redness of the eyes, doctors attach special importance to drops and sprays in its treatment.

We have prepared two materials on this topic in detail:

1. List of nasal drops for allergies, instructions for use.
2. List of sprays.
3. List of eye drops for allergies. For example, Azelastine has good effectiveness.

1. Vasoconstrictors - Navtizin, Noxprey, Nazivin, Nazospray, Galazolin, Tizin Xylo, Otrivin and others.
2. Antihistamines - Allergodil, Levocabastine, Fenistil, Kromhexal, Levocabastine, Sanorin (Analergin), Vibrocil.
3. Immunomodulatory – IRS 19, Derinat.

It is important to understand that it is not recommended to take vasoconstrictor nasal drops for more than 5-7 days, as they become addictive and burn out the nasal mucosa, which is then difficult to restore.

List of eye drops for seasonal allergies:

1. Vasoconstrictors - Okumetil, Visin, Octilia, Polinadim, Visomitin, Tsipromed, Tobrex, Alomid.
2. Antihistamines - Azelastine, Lecrolin, Opatanol, Montevisin, Allergodil, Ketotifen, Cromohexal, Dexamethasone, Kromofarm.

Hormonal drugs

If there is no expected effect from the therapy, drugs with glucocorticosteroids are prescribed - hormones effectively relieve swelling, inflammation and itching.

List of hormonal drops prescribed for seasonal allergies:

1. Prevalin;
2. Forinex;
3. Flix;
4. Baconase;
5. Ethacid;
6. Nasonex;
7. Metaspray;
8. Nazophan;
9. Glenspray S.

The peculiarity of these hormonal sprays is that they act only on the nasal area, and not on the entire body. The therapeutic effect occurs on the 3-4th day of administration.

They can be used for a long time, almost the entire flowering period of the allergen plant. But in any case, such drugs should be prescribed by a doctor. And before you drip them, you need to carefully study the instructions for use. This is especially true for age restrictions, side effects and contraindications.

Ointments and creams

For seasonal allergies, ointments and creams are used if the symptoms of the pathology manifest themselves in the form of itchy skin and urticaria. They are simple and hormonal.

TOP most effective means

Many are looking for the most effective means, which will help them quickly get rid of seasonal allergies. This is the wrong approach. All modern drugs listed above and found in the links, especially the new generation, do their job well. But the point is:

1. First, they may not suit everyone. Therefore, you need to try taking one drug, if it does not help, change to another, and it is important to look at the active substance.
2. Secondly, there is an addiction to a certain drug, and specifically to its active substance. Those. if you were saved for one year, the active ingredient is Loratadine. Then next year it may not help and you will have to switch to (active ingredient Levocetirizine) or another drug.

Of course, hormonal drugs are considered the most effective, especially injections, drops in the nose and eyes, but they must be taken as prescribed and under the supervision of a doctor.

Treatment experience of one of our readers

One of our readers shared his experience of treating seasonal allergies. We will miss preventive measures, we will talk about this below, and will dwell in detail on the course of treatment.

In the first few years, salvation from seasonal hay fever was found in. But since this hormonal drug is addictive, at one point the drug only lasted for a week instead of two months. Just during the period of exacerbation it became a disaster. Since regular antihistamines did not help, I had to go to the doctor again.

The manifestation of symptoms did not extend to the eyes and skin, so the following treatment was prescribed:

1. Avamys spray (an analogue is possible, see above) - in the morning, spray in each nostril.
2. In the evening, take a Cetrin tablet.

After two days the symptoms began to subside and disappeared on the fifth day. The treatment lasted a month and a half until the ragweed stopped blooming.

If Cetrin is not suitable, the treatment can be adjusted and a medicine can be selected with another active substance.

Helps reduce the severity of seasonal allergies in the warm season preventive treatment, prescribed a month before a possible exacerbation of the disease. All this time, enterosorbents are taken, for example, Polysorb, in order to remove toxins that cause hay fever from the body as much as possible.

Two to four weeks before the allergen plant begins to bloom, you need to start dropping Avamis spray (Flix, Forinex) into your nose.

Specific immunotherapy

Features of the treatment of seasonal allergies in children

When treating seasonal hay fever in children, it is important to choose the right antihistamine, which is taken based on the age of the baby.

For example, a doctor may prescribe the following nasal drops for children under one year of age:

1. Vibrocil;
2. Allergomax;
3. Marimer (for washing);
4. Grippostad Rhino (vasoconstrictors);
5. For oral administration – Allergonix, Pheniden, Fenistil, Zyrtec.

From one year and older:

1. Desal;
2. Rolinosis;
3. Parlazin;
4. Zodak.

Often prescribed to children before and after one year of age with seasonal allergies. They have a pleasant taste, but at the same time the same therapeutic effect as drops and tablets.

From two years:

1. Momat Reno;
2. Nosephrine;
3. With the hormones Nasonex and Desrinit.

From 6 to 12 years of age, as a rule, treatment is no longer different from that of an adult, it is only important to select the correct dosage of drugs. Of course, hormonal drugs fall under the exception.

Antihistamines in the form of tablets should be selected for a child by a doctor based on whether he or she has concomitant diseases.

Features of treatment during pregnancy

Treatment of seasonal allergies during pregnancy must be supervised by a doctor. He must select a treatment regimen with antihistamines. It is important to exclude, and if this does not work, then minimize the use hormonal drugs.

You need to drink more water, up to 2 liters per day, rinse your nose more often saline solutions which you can make yourself (1 teaspoon kitchen or sea ​​salt per 200 ml of warm water) or purchase at the pharmacy, for example, the Dolphin complex, Aqua Maris, Linaqua, Marimer and others.

More time needs to be devoted to preventive measures.

Folk remedies for the treatment of seasonal allergies

The use of folk remedies in the treatment of seasonal allergies is additional way, which does not exclude the use of antihistamines.

Use natural remedies It is worth it in advance, not during the period of exacerbation of the disease, in order to strengthen the immune system, cleanse the body of toxins, and ensure proper functioning of the digestive system.

An infusion of dried blackcurrant shoots and leaves will help strengthen the immune system.

2 tbsp. spoons of raw materials are poured with 300 ml of boiling water and left for 1 hour. Then you need to pass everything through cheesecloth and add another 200 ml. warm water. Take a tablespoon every 2 hours for 7 days.

Celery and nettle also help strengthen the immune system. You can make juice from both plants with a 1:1 ratio. To do this, the raw materials need to be ground in a meat grinder and then squeezed manually through cheesecloth.

Celery can be taken as a vitamin supplement before meals. Consume ½ teaspoon of the plant three times a day.

Horsetail also helps improve health. 2 tbsp. spoons of dry raw materials are poured with 200 ml of boiling water. After 30 minutes, the infusion is filtered. Take 20 ml every hour for 14 days. Every 2 days you need to take a break.

Nettle has similar properties. A sprig of the plant is infused in 200 ml. boiling water for an hour. Do not add sugar. You need to drink every day for 2 weeks.

Dry or fresh figs help normalize the digestive system. The product should be consumed twice a day before breakfast and dinner on an empty stomach 30 minutes before meals. The norm is 1, 2 fruits.

There are many other recipes traditional medicine helping to strengthen the body, there is no point in listing them all here. However, it is worth mentioning that honey should be used with caution to treat seasonal allergies, since this product is a strong allergen and can, on the contrary, provoke serious attacks of the disease.

Hay fever or seasonal allergies are a reaction of the immune system to certain irritants that interact with human body at certain periods, seasons. It is no coincidence that seasonal allergies were called hay fever; this word has the Latin root pollen, which means pollen. People have suffered from hay fever before, in ancient Greece they sang “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 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 accommodation. 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 statistical indicators inexorably increase, despite obvious advances 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 main factor, which provokes an allergy, refers to a possible predisposition associated with a genetic cause. Genetic predisposition really exists, 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 an allergic father and mother 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 who have a history of allergies of another type, when the provoking factor is medications, food, or 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, poplar fluff, which is often blamed for all allergic “sins” of which it is not guilty, can also spread pollen. In the southern territories, poplar blooms quite early; already at the end of May it covers the ground with fluff, which is excellent 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.
• An exacerbation of symptoms can result in angioedema, a life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical attention. Quincke's edema develops in 10% of allergy sufferers who suffer from spring exacerbations.

Often seasonal allergies in spring are accompanied by increased body temperature, headaches, decreased appetite, and general poor condition. It is no coincidence that in many developed countries they are fighting carminative plants and planting only safe types flora, since employees with allergies not only have a reduced quality of life, but also their productivity drops by almost half. Besides, European countries have a good tradition of watering the streets early in the morning, this is especially effective in the spring - it’s both 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 down 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 digestive system, which often happens with cross allergies, nausea and abdominal pain appear, which often makes it difficult 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. In some children, the allergic reaction looks like partial and transient redness of the eyes, a 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 malaise can only be determined by an allergist with the help of specific diagnostics, identifying 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 Quincke's edema, so refusal symptomatic treatment At a minimum, it poses a threat to health, and at a maximum, to life in general. Currently, there are many gentle methods of antiallergic therapy, safe means that 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 to 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. Fever is not associated with seasonal allergies specific sign and it happens quite rarely, 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 acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections, especially in initial period. Runny nose, malaise, headache, absence of a rash - all this can mislead the patients themselves, who begin to treat false colds 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 characteristics, so their hyperthermia lasts quite a long time, sometimes even after the 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 a concomitant infectious disease, but not hay fever. Main medicine Paracetamol and its derivatives relieve fever and fever. 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 with 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. Local GCS are very active during skin rashes, relieve itching and inflammation well, but act in a slow mode (penetrate into the skin), so they are combined with dosage forms, capable of quickly stopping the manifestations of allergies.
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 advantages of III, IV generation antihistamines:

• 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 rate of 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 are decongestants that regulate the tone of the 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 severe symptoms are completely relieved. acute symptoms, further treatment involves more gentle methods.

Seasonal Allergy Remedies

Treatment of hay fever involves comprehensive 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 long-term action, 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 do not have such side effects and are absolutely safe, of course, if prescribed by a doctor.

1. Vasoconstrictors are α-adrenergic receptor stimulants. This could be sanorin, oxymetazoline, otrivin, galazolin and other drugs that help neutralize allergic runny nose and nasal congestion. 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 they can be prescribed as monotherapy, but they are also used in complex therapy.

Chronic and subacute forms of conjunctivitis caused by allergies are 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.

Also effective are such drops prescribed for allergies. inflammatory process In eyes:

• 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 poured with 300 ml of boiling water, left in a thermos for 1 hour, then strained and added warm. boiled water up 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 should 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 the solution or honey in its pure form, but 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 teas drink 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 individual characteristics 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 dairy products, yoghurts without fruit additives. Particularly useful is cottage cheese, which contains calcium, which helps strengthen the vascular wall and its “impermeability.”
• 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.

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 hay fever under control - at least reduce its severity clinical manifestations allergies or extend the period of remission, or, at maximum, completely get rid of seasonal allergies.

Seasonality of allergies is a concept that is relevant in relation to two types of allergic reactions: to insect venom and plant pollen (). And if the danger of an allergy to insects persists for a long period (from mid-spring to mid-autumn), then manifestations of hypersensitivity reactions to plants may continue different time– from a week to 4 months.

Seasonal allergies Allergies occur as a result of hypersensitivity the immune system, which protects the body from the penetration of bacteria and viruses. In some cases, the immune system raises a “false alarm”, reacting to the penetration of certain substances (allergens) into the body that do not pose any harm to health, as if they were an enemy, and takes appropriate protective measures. Such an inadequate reaction is called an “allergy”.

Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Hay fever can appear at any age, but more often between 8 and 20 years of age (less often after 40 years of age).

It can only manifest itself as itching in the eyes, nose and throat, as well as signs of rhinitis: nasal congestion, sometimes. Possible loss of smell, inflammation paranasal sinuses nose () and the addition of bronchial asthma (especially in humid summer). Atopic is caused by hyperreactivity of the bronchi when inhaling an allergen, which leads to bronchospasm, accumulation of mucus and swelling of the mucous membrane, which provokes suffocation and paroxysmal cough.

Plant pollen can cause allergic skin reactions, for example, acute. It usually lasts from several hours to several days. Unlike acute urticaria, chronic urticaria, which lasts for weeks or months, is very rarely an allergic reaction. It is most often associated with food allergens and additives, as well as medications.

Urticaria can take many forms, but it is always characterized by the presence of blisters that can merge with each other. The rash can appear on any part of the body and is accompanied by severe itching.

Quincke's edema is one of the types of allergic skin reactions. Quincke's edema Another manifestation of skin allergic reactions is angioedema or Quincke's edema. It can affect the face, lips, eyelids, mucous membranes and other parts of the body. Itching is often absent, and a painful burning sensation is felt. Quincke's edema becomes life-threatening if it spreads to the mucous membranes of the mouth and pharynx: the swollen tongue and the back wall of the pharynx overlap Airways and may cause suffocation.

Plants whose pollen often causes allergies

Most often develops with sensitization to pollen of cereals (timothy, foxtail, oats, rye, etc.), trees (birch, maple, alder, hazel, beech, elm, willow, poplar, ash) and weeds (ragweed, dandelion, plantain , sorrel, goldenrod, quinoa, wormwood, etc.).

Diagnosis of seasonal allergies

The main diagnostic methods are examination and questioning of the patient. The survey of the patient or his parents is very detailed, including an analysis of complaints and possible provoking factors, medical history, information about illnesses of relatives, lifestyle and work, and treatment provided.

If necessary, the doctor may prescribe various additional methods case-by-case studies.

Determination of immunoglobulin E concentration in blood

To diagnose allergies, determining the concentration of IgE (immunoglobulin E) in the blood is of great importance. An increase in its content indicates that the body produces specific antibodies against allergens. Determination of IgE is carried out in blood serum taken from the patient from a vein. Over 200 allergens are used for the test, both general and allergen-specific IgE are determined, thus indirectly determining the allergen that caused the formation of group E immunoglobulins and is responsible for the allergy.

Provocative tests

If an allergic reaction develops in response to the introduction of a suspected allergen, then the allergen can be considered causally significant (specific).

Skin tests

By introducing small amounts of purified allergens in known concentrations into the skin (forearm or back), the results of an allergic reaction can be assessed after 20 minutes. The test is considered positive if the formation of a papule, erythema (redness) or rash is noted.

Basic principles of seasonal allergy treatment

When a dangerous period begins, the first and most logical precaution is to limit your contact with the allergen. Keep windows in your home closed. Use conditioners whenever possible. While in the car, roll up the windows. When returning from the street, take a shower and rinse your hair. Do not dry clothes outside. When working in the garden, you can wear a protective bandage over your nose and mouth.

Minimize your time spent outdoors, especially outside the city. If you are allergic to fungal spores, it is not recommended to stay in places where there is rotted hay, as well as in forests and parks with fallen wet leaves. If possible, spend this time on vacation in a different climate zone, where flowering has already ended or has not yet begun, or where there is less pollen, for example, on the sea coast.

If possible, go outside at the most favorable time. The least amount of pollen in the air occurs on rainy, damp days, and fungal spores, on the contrary, occur in dry and sunny weather. On windy days, the amount of pollen and fungal spores in the air is much greater, and they are also transferred to long distances. Therefore, quiet, windless days are more suitable for being outdoors. The safest time of day is morning, while pollen is still damp. Most fungal spores in the air occur in the evening.

Contact an allergist. He will conduct testing, determine what is causing your allergic reaction, and prescribe treatment. Antihistamines are the most widely used drugs for the treatment of allergic diseases. They block the action of histamine, a substance responsible for allergic reactions. Some antihistamines - suprastin, diphenhydramine, tavegil - can often cause drowsiness, this should be taken into account by people driving a car. New generation drugs (loratadine, cetirizine, fexofenadine, ebastine, kestin) do not have a sedative effect. You can significantly reduce the effect or even completely get rid of allergies using allergen-specific immune therapy. It lies in the fact that before a dangerous period, certain doses of causative allergens are injected under the skin - this promotes hyposensitization, that is, a decrease in sensitivity to a given allergen.