What is Hay Fever?
Hay fever is a common supersensitised condition that has symptom similar tocommon coldand it is usually accompanied by sneeze , over-crowding , sinus pressure andrunny nozzle . It is commonly cause due to supersensitive reaction to certain airborne spark off agentive role such as pollen grain . Even though the symptom of Hay febrility may be like to common cold , the effort of both the consideration is quite different . Hay fever is caused as an immunological response to an allergic federal agent and unwashed cold is do due toviral contagion . The symptom of hay feverishness may be seasonal depending on sure time of the year when the amount of causative agent such as pollen grain is more in the environment .
The term hay fever is often misconstrue . It is not an allergic reaction to hay nor does the affected someone needs develop fever . Hay is not a coarse allergen . Hay fever is basically an allergic reaction triggered by exposure to airborne allergens such as pollen , darling dander , dust mites and sure fungi which affects the nose , centre and even sinuses . Pollinosis is a specific full term that is used to describe hay febricity get by pollen .
Symptoms of Hay Fever
The symptoms of hay febricity diverge from person to person and it also depend of the type of allergen he or she is allergic to . The hay fever symptoms may set off at unlike time of the year and reckon on the abundance of the allergic substance in the air . For example , in event of hay fever because of pollen , the symptom are more rife at that time of the class when pollen bet in the air is more .
The most commonly encountered symptoms of hay fever include :
Causes and Pathophysiology of Hay Fever
Hay fever is caused when our resistant system in ineffectual to severalise between a harmless strange material and a threat . The body reacts on exposure to the foreign core and a serial publication of immunologic response takes place . An antibody called as immunoglobulin E is produce as part of the defense mechanism . This is followed by passing of the chemical histamine . A few example of hay fever triggers and colligate peak time are note below :
Risk Factors for Hay Fever
The probability of get hay fever increases with the following risk factors :
The last 3 risk of infection factor are usually due to higher risk of exposure of developing puerility infections and autoimmune number .
Treatment and Management of Hay Fever
Hay febrility is ordinarily cover by medications that are easily available over the counter . In many casing , a combination of multiple drugs tends to provide better relief . The most common choice of treatment sensory system include :
Antihistamine Medicines to Treat Hay Fever
Antihistamine spray and pad of paper are easily available over the counter . As the name bespeak , antihistamine arrests dismission of the chemical substance telephone histamine . These drug often offer rilievo to fluid nose , itch and sneeze . They do not work in case of block up nose . Example of over - the - counter antihistamine drugs includes Claritin , Alavert , Zyrtec etc . ; instance of prescription medicine drugs includes Allegra and Astelin . Drugs like Astelin can be used upto 8 times a day . However , most of these drug are colligate with drowsiness and stinking penchant in mouth .
Eye Drops to Manage Hay Fever
oculus drop off containing cromoglycate helps is reducing itch and inflammation in the eyes .
Nasal Corticosteroids for Hay Fever
These are very effective in the management of inflammation due to hay fever . deterrent example admit Flonase , Nasonex , Beconase and Veramyst . These drug may not dissemble right away and may take about a week before bringing an advance in symptoms . In some face , it may have balmy side effects such as nasty preference , foul odour and nose innervation .
Corticosteroids to Treat Hay Fever
In grievous cases of hay fever , unwritten corticosteroids such as Orasone are prescribed . However , these drugs should be used for inadequate flow of time and with utmost circumspection in view of the side result affiliate with them .
Immunotherapy for Hay Fever
These are allergy shots that are given to the patient to gradually desensitize the patient ’s immune system against a picky allergen . Small dosage of the known allergen is given and over a stop of time the dose is increased . This usually provides long condition relief and it also helps in bar of asthma attack and other allergies . In the past , few allergist have started considering sublingual immunotherapy for management of hay febricity .
Alternative Therapies for Hay Fever
Alternative therapies such asacupuncture , homeopathyetc . can also be considered for direction of hay fever .
Epidemiology and Prevalence Rate of Hay Fever
It has been estimated that in United States , about 7.8 % of soul above the age of 18 suffer from hay pyrexia . study have shown that 7.5 % of the adult population i.e. about 17.6 million in the United States are name with hay feverishness every twelvemonth ; and about 9 % of the younger population i.e. 6.6 million child are diagnose with hay pyrexia every year . A study done in 2010 states that white tike are more prostrate to hay fever ( 10 % ) than black child ( 7 % ) .
Hay pyrexia may be seasonal or perennial ; symptoms are usually more vulgar in spring , summer and early fall .
Diagnosis of Hay Fever
diagnosing of hay pyrexia is done based on the signs and symptom demonstrate by the stirred individual . A detailed case history is taken to understand any recent history of exposure to known allergen . Intervention by an allergist or an immunologist is often helpful . A blood test and a peel mental test are usually done for determining the allergen and for planning out the mode of handling .
Prevention of Hay Fever
Not much can be done to forbid the development of hay feverishness . However , individuals known to have hay fever can avert worsening or blaze up up of the term by specify their exposure to the known allergen . The abide by precautionary method are suggested for prevention of hay pyrexia :
Conclusion
Hay pyrexia is a common medical status which is caused due to exposure to gentle wind borne allergen which triggers the immune organization leading to an hypersensitised chemical reaction . It is commonly qualify by symptom similar to common cold . Hay fever can easily be treated with certain medications and the precondition can be foreclose by occupy precautional measures to bound exposure to the known allergens .
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