Pollen Allergy
Pollen allergies develop when the body’s immune system becomes sensitized and overreacts to something in the environment that typically does not cause any problems in most people.
What Is a Pollen Allergy?
Grass is the most common pollen allergy, and pollen allergies (also known as Allergic Rhinitis or Hay Fever) are one of the most common triggers of seasonal allergies. Pollen allergies develop when the body’s immune system becomes sensitized and overreacts to something in the environment that typically does not cause any problems in most people. Most pollens that cause allergic reactions come from trees, weeds and grasses, but grasses are the most common cause of pollen allergies. Ordinary sources of weed pollen include ragweed, sagebrush, pigweed, lamb’s quarters and tumbleweed. Fortunately, people with pollen allergies only have symptoms when the pollens they are allergic to are in the air. Pollen allergies can take two different forms:
- Seasonal: Symptoms of seasonal pollen allergies can occur in spring, summer and early fall. They are usually caused by allergic sensitivity to airborne mold spores or to pollens from grass, trees and weeds.
- Perennial: People with perennial pollen allergies experience symptoms year-round. It is generally caused by dust mites, pet hair or dander, cockroaches or mold. Underlying or hidden food allergies rarely cause perennial nasal symptoms.
Some people may experience both types of pollen allergies, with perennial symptoms getting worse during specific pollen seasons. There are also nonallergic causes for pollen allergies including irritants such as cigarette or other smoke, perfumes, cleaning products and other strong odors. It’s time to take control of your pollen allergies and start enjoying life again by contacting the Sinus Institute of Atlanta to schedule your consultation appointment today.
Pollen Allergy Symptoms include:
- Runny nose
- Itchy eyes, mouth or skin
- Sneezing
- Stuffy nose due to blockage or congestion
- Fatigue (often reported due to poor quality sleep as a result of nasal obstruction)
Pollen Allergy Triggers
- Outdoor allergens, such as pollens from grass, trees and weeds
- Indoor allergens, such as pet hair or dander, dust mites and mold
- Irritants, such as cigarette smoke, perfume and diesel exhaust
Pollen Allergy Management and Treatment
Avoid triggers by making changes to your home and to your behavior.
- Keep windows closed during high pollen periods; use air conditioning in your home and car.
- Wear glasses or sunglasses when outdoors to keep pollen out of your eyes.
- Use “mite-proof” bedding covers to limit exposure to dust mites and a dehumidifier to control mold. (If you smell mildew, you likely have mold).
- Wash your hands after petting any animal and have a nonallergic person help with pet grooming, preferably in a well-ventilated area or outside.
When a sensitive person inhales an allergen, the body’s immune system may react with the following symptoms:
- Stuffy nose due to blockage or congestion
- Itching, usually in the nose, mouth, eyes, or throat
- Puffy, swollen eyelids
- Sneezing
- Cough
- Irritability
- Sleep disorders
- Fatigue
Symptoms also may be triggered by common irritants such as:
- Cigarette smoke
- Cosmetics, perfume, or hair spray
- Laundry detergents
- Cleaning solutions, pool chlorine, car exhaust and other air pollutants
Many parents of children with pollen allergies have said that their children are moodier and more irritable during allergy season. Since children cannot always express their symptoms verbally, they may express their discomfort by acting up at school and at home. In addition, some children feel that having an allergy is a stigma that separates them from others. It is important that the irritability or other symptoms caused by ear, nose or throat trouble are not mistaken for attention deficit disorder. With proper treatment symptoms can be kept under control and disruptions in learning and behavior can be avoided.
How are Pollen Allergies Diagnosed?
Occasional allergies aren’t just something you have to live with. Treatment by an allergist, such as Dr. Pradeep Sinha at the Sinus Institute of Atlanta, is the most effective way to treat pollen allergies symptoms and help you find relief. Sometimes pollen allergies can be complicated by several medical conditions, such as a deviated septum (curvature of the bone and cartilage that separate the nostrils) or nasal polyps (abnormal growths inside the nose and sinuses). Any of these conditions will be made worse by catching a cold. To determine what types of pollen you are allergic to, Dr. Sinha will perform certain tests, such as:
Skin tests involve two steps and usually take up to two hours. The first step is the skin prick test which tests for pollens, dust, molds, pets and foods. This involves a small prick on your skin, usually on the inside of your lower arm. When a substance does not cause a reaction in the skin prick test but is still suspected as an allergen, the second step is done: intradermal testing. This test involves taking a diluted amount of an allergen and using a small needle to inject it just below the skin surface, usually on the back of the upper arms. Intradermal testing is used to diagnose mild to moderate allergy, is particularly suited for mold sensitivity, and confirms true negative allergy. Test results are available immediately following testing, along with counseling or treatment recommendations.
RAST testing is a blood test to determine what substances a patient may be allergic to. RAST stands for radio immunosorbent assay. In certain circumstances a patient may not be able to undergo traditional skin testing, and a RAST test would be performed instead.
Pollen Allergy Treatments
Many allergens that trigger pollen allergies are airborne, so you can’t always avoid them. If your symptoms can’t be well-controlled by simply avoiding triggers, Dr. Sinha may recommend medications that reduce nasal congestion, sneezing, and an itchy and runny nose. They are available in many forms — oral tablets, liquid medication, nasal sprays and eyedrops. Some medications may have side effects, so discuss these treatments with Dr. Sinha so he can help you live the life you want.
Intranasal corticosteroids
Intranasal corticosteroids are the single most effective drug class for treating pollen allergies. They can significantly reduce nasal congestion as well as sneezing, itching and a runny nose.These sprays are designed to avoid the side effects that may occur from steroids that are taken by mouth or injection. Take care not to spray the medication against the center portion of the nose (the nasal septum). The most common side effects are local irritation and nasal bleeding.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are commonly used to treat pollen allergies. These medications counter the effects of histamine, the irritating chemical released within your body when an allergic reaction takes place. Although other chemicals are involved, histamine is primarily responsible for causing the symptoms. Antihistamines are found in eyedrops, nasal sprays and, most commonly, oral tablets and syrup.
Antihistamines help to relieve nasal allergy symptoms such as:
- Sneezing and an itchy, runny nose
- Eye itching, burning, tearing and redness
- Itchy skin, hives and eczema
Decongestants
Decongestants help relieve the stuffiness and pressure caused by swollen nasal tissue. They do not contain antihistamines, so they do not cause antihistaminic side effects. They do not relieve other symptoms of pollen allergies. Oral decongestants are available as prescription and nonprescription medications and are often found in combination with antihistamines or other medications. It is not uncommon for patients using decongestants to experience insomnia if they take the medication in the afternoon or evening. Nonprescription decongestant nasal sprays work within minutes and last for hours, but you should not use them for more than a few days at a time unless instructed by your allergist.
Nasal sprays
Nonprescription saline nasal sprays will help counteract symptoms such as dry nasal passages or thick nasal mucus. Unlike decongestant nasal sprays, a saline nasal spray can be used as often as it is needed. Sometimes an allergist may recommend washing (douching) the nasal passage.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy may be recommended for people who don’t respond well to treatment with medications or who experience side effects from medications, who have allergen exposure that is unavoidable or who desire a more permanent solution to their allergies. Immunotherapy can be very effective in controlling allergic symptoms.
Two types of immunotherapy are available: allergy shots and sublingual (under-the-tongue) tablets.
- Allergy shots: A treatment program, which can take three to five years, consists injections of a diluted allergy extract, administered frequently in increasing doses until a maintenance dose is reached. Then the injection schedule is changed so that the same dose is given with longer intervals between injections. Immunotherapy helps the body build resistance to the effects of the allergen, reduces the intensity of symptoms caused by allergen exposure and sometimes can make skin test reactions disappear. As resistance develops over several months, symptoms should improve.
- Sublingual tablets: This type of immunotherapy was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2014. Starting several months before allergy season begins, patients dissolve a tablet under the tongue daily. Treatment can continue for as long as three years. Only a few allergens (certain grass and ragweed pollens and house dust mite) can be treated now with this method, but it is a promising therapy for the future.
Eye allergy preparations and eye drops
Eye allergy preparations may be helpful when the eyes are affected by the same allergens that trigger rhinitis, causing redness, swelling, watery eyes and itching, but they may not relieve all symptoms, though, and prolonged use of some of these drops may actually cause your condition to worsen. Prescription eye drops provide both short- and long-term targeted relief of eye allergy symptoms and can be used to manage them.