1. What is hay fever?
Hay fever is an allergic reaction of the nose, throat and eyes to
irritating allergies in the air. It is also known as allergic
rhinitis. It is also similar to asthma, except that fact that the
allergic over-sensitive reaction occurs in the upper respiratory tract instead
of the lungs. There are two types of allergic
rhinitis. The first is seasonal rhinitis which occurs only during
certain seasons, usually spring. The second type is perennial
rhinitis. It is present throughout the whole year.
2. What are the symptoms?
The common symptoms are sneezing, itchy and running nose, itchy dry
throat and itchy watery eyes. People can also generally feel
listless, irritable and find it difficult to concentrate.
3. What is the cause of hay fever?
The airborne irritants are known as allergens. The allergens
enter the nose, throat and eyes and cause sensitive cells to become
active. These active sensitive cells release a substance called
histamine which causes the above symptoms. The allergens are either
foreign proteins or chemicals. They include:
a. Pollens from trees in spring and grass in summer.
b. House dust mites and mould.
c. Hair, fur or feather from cats, dogs, horses and birds.
d. Some foods, such as milk, eggs, peanuts and peanuts butters.
e. Chemicals, such as smoke, paint, spray, cosmetic, aspirin can make hay fever worse.
Emotional upset, fatigue, alcohol, chilly damp weather and air
conditioning can also aggravate and worsen hay fever. Hay fever does tend to
run in the family. Children whose parents have hay fever and
allergies will have an increased chance of having hay fever. It is a common
medical condition that people can grow into it and out of it at any age.
4. What are the risks?
Hay fever is not a serious disease. However, if left
un-treated, it can lead to asthma, nasal polyps and hearing
problems. There is no cure for hay fever. Modern
treatment can control the problems and relieve its symptoms. Hay
fever can be so mild that some people do not realize they have it and some seem
to grow out of it. You should consult your doctor if you have severe
symptoms of hay fever.
5. What is the treatment?
a. Self-help measures:
1. Keep
healthy by eating a well-balanced diet and avoid junk foods.
2. Live
sensibly with balanced exercise, rest and recreation.
3. Don’t
rub your eyes if they are itchy, because that will make it worse.
4. Avoid
contact lenses if you have symptoms in your eyes.
5. Avoid
using decongestant nose drops and sprays, because they worsen the
effect which occurs on the rebound.
effect which occurs on the rebound.
b. Avoidance therapy:
1. Avoid
particular allergens if you know what they are.
2. Minimise
sources of house dust mite, such as bedding, upholstered furniture,
fluffy toys and carpets by effective cleaning them regularly.
fluffy toys and carpets by effective cleaning them regularly.
3. Pets,
such as dogs & cats, should be kept outside if you are allergic to their
fur.
4. Avoid
irritant chemicals, such as aspirin, smoke, cosmetics, paints and sprays.
There are many treatments available for hay fever. They range from
antihistamine medications to desensitisation. The newer antihistamine
medications do not cause as much drowsiness as the older ones did. Sprays
for the nose and drops for the eyes are also available on medical prescription.
These nasal sprays and eye drops are very effective. Please see your doctor for
advice and effective treatments on your hay fever.
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