| General Illness Information |
Common Name: |
Hay
Fever |
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Medical Term:
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Allergic
Rhinitis |
| Description: |
Allergic response to airborne inhaled allergens
affecting the
upper respiratory tract (nose, sinuses, throat, bronchial tubes and
frequently the eyes).
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Most common of all
allergic diseases. Affects up to 15% of the population in
the United States and Canada.
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Onset of symptoms
usually before age 30.
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Hay fever name is
misleading, since symptoms most frequent in the pollen
season, and there is never fever.
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| Causes: |
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These are many allergens
which cause allergic rhinitis. Common allergens are :
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Pollen from weeds,
grasses, flowers, tress.
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Mold.
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Dust.
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Mites.
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Air pollutants
such as tobacco smoke.
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These microscopic
allergens, on entering the nose, provoke the body to produce
local antibodies, which release a chemical called histamine.
Histamine causes swelling an irritation in the upper
respiratory passages, causing the typical hay fever
symptoms.
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| Prevention: |
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Prepare your bedroom as
follows:
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Empty the room of
furniture, rugs or carpet, and drapes or curtains.
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Clean the walls,
woodwork and floors with a damp mop. Wax the floor.
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Cover the box
springs, mattress and pillows with plastic covers.
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Use only rugs that
can be washed once a week.
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Use bedclothes
that can be washed often, such as cotton sheets, washable
mattress pads and synthetic fiber blankets. Don't use
chenille or wool bedspreads, quilts or comforters.
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Use wood or
plastic chairs. Don't use stuffed chairs.
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Use plastic
curtains, if possible. Dust them daily.
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Use a vacuum
cleaner, damp rags, and a damp or oiled mop to clean the
bedroom thoroughly once a week.
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Other preventive
measures:
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Keep windows and
doors closed as much as possible.
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Don't handle
objects that are very dusty, such as books or stored
clothing.
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Don't keep stuffed
animals or toys in the house.
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Remove all pets
(except fish) from the house.
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Wear a filter face
mask during exposure to allergens, including during
housecleaning.
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Install an
air-purification unit in your home's heating and
air-conditioning system, preferably a high efficiency
particulate (HEPA) filter.
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Drive in an
air-conditioned car.
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Have someone else
mow the lawn.
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| Signs
& Symptoms |
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* Itching, watery
eyes.
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* Frequent
sneezing; stuffy nose with a clear discharge.
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* Itching in the
roof of the mouth.
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* Wheezing
(sometimes).
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* Burning in the
throat.
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* Cough.
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| Risk Factors |
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* Smoking.
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* Spring and autumn.
Since most plants produce pollen during these seasons.
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* Family history of
allergies.
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* Immunosuppression (due
to drugs or illness).
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| Diagnosis & Treatment |
| * Laboratory tests such as a blood count and
allergy skin tests may be recommended, but are usually not
required for diagnosis. Eliminate as many allergens in your
environment as possible. |
| General
Measures: |
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See Prevention |
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| Medications: |
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To reduce the body's allergic
response, you may be prescribed:
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* Antihistamines; decongestants;
cortisone eye drops or nasal spray; cortisone tablets
(severe cases only); cromolyn nasal spray; cromolyn
nose drops. These medications relieve symptoms, but
they don't cure hay fever.
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* Desensitization injections for
known allergens for severe or year round cases. Once
allergens are known (through skin or blood tests),
small amount are injected periodically. This helps
block the immune system from releasing the histamine.
This process may take months or years for effective
results.
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| Activity: |
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No restrictions |
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| Diet: |
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Avoid foods that cause allergic reactions |
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| Possible
Complications : |
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1. Susceptibility to other
respiratory infections.
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2. Ear infections.
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3. Sleeping difficulty and
chronic fatigue.
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| Prognosis |
| Symptoms can be controlled with treatment, but
condition usually persists over a lifetime. It is usually
more troublesome than disabling.
Excellent
prognosis with treatment
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