All about allergy

Author: Suhaib Waqarul Haq, MBBS, Medical Officer, Department of Radiology, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan Coauthor(s): Aneela Naureen Hussain, MD, MBBS, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Practice, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center; Sarah Samreen, MBBS, Instructor, Department of Health Sciences, Ziauddin Medical University, Pakistan Editors: James E Keany, MD, FACEP, Director of [...]

Common complications of hay fever include the following: Secondary infection: This is a bacterial infection that occurs in tissues such as the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, or sinuses or the ear that have already been irritated and inflamed by the allergic reaction. Ear infection (otitis) or sinus infection (sinusitis) are common secondary infections [...]

You can’t prevent hay fever altogether, but you can learn to cope with it. Follow the treatment recommendations of your health care provider. The medications are very effective but may take several days to reach full effectiveness. Moving to a new part of the country usually doesn’t help. People who do this often find themselves [...]

Follow the treatment recommendations of your health care provider. Give the medications a chance. Most of them work well but some take several days to reach full effectiveness. See your health care provider if you experience any complication of hay fever. Any adverse effects of the medications prescribed should also prompt a visit to your [...]

Immunotherapy (allergy shots) is an alternative if medical therapy is not helpful. Allergy shots do not always help, but they can improve symptoms in many people. They are usually given by an allergist. Immunotherapy consists of a series of injections over several months. The shots contain very small amounts of the antigen causing the hay [...]

Corticosteroid nasal sprays These sprays work very well in most people with few of the side effects of corticosteroids taken by mouth or by injection. They reduce congestion (stuffiness) and swelling. Examples are beclomethasone (Beconase), triamcinolone (Nasacort), and fluticasone (Flonase). These are not the steroids taken by some people to increase athletic performance. Sprays take [...]

The best treatment overall is to avoid contact with your allergen. Since this is rarely possible, you may want to take medication to reduce the symptoms. The treatment of hay fever depends on the severity, symptoms, and consequences of the disease. The medications most often used to treat hay fever symptoms are listed in the [...]

Hay fever does not always require medical treatment. Self-Care at Home Avoid known or suspected allergens. Hay fever symptoms lend themselves to home treatment. Gargle with warm salt water, 1-2 tablespoons of table salt in 8 ounces of warm water, to soothe a mildly sore throat. Take nonprescription antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) to relieve [...]

Your health care provider will ask you questions about the following: Medical history, including allergies, asthma, and eczema Seasonal symptoms associated with specific geographic locations Family history of hay fever, asthma, and other allergies He or she may take a drop of your nasal discharge, looking at it under a microscope for many immune cells [...]

Call your health care provider if you experience any of the following: Symptoms that do not improve with self-treatment Fever that does not subside Nasal secretions that are colored, thickened, or bloody Sore throat that gets worse Earache or ear discharge Go to the hospital emergency department if you experience any of the following in [...]

The usual symptoms of hay fever include the following: Sneezing Runny nose (clear, thin discharge) Congested («stuffy») nose Postnasal drip Sensation of plugged ear(s) Watery, bloodshot eyes Itching of nose, soft palate, ear canal, eyes, and/or skin Fatigue Trouble sleeping Allergy journal

Hay fever, like all allergic reactions, is caused by allergens, foreign «invaders» that enter your body by inhalation, by swallowing, or through your skin. In hay fever, the allergens are airborne substances that enter your airways (mouth, nose, throat, and lungs) via your breathing and the linings of your eyes and sometimes ears via direct [...]

Most likely you or someone you know has allergies. The telltale itchy, puffy, watery eyes and red, stuffy nose signal changes in the seasons in homes and workplaces across the country. What these people suffer from is allergic rhinitis, or hay fever. The medical name for this condition refers to stuffy and itchy nose («rhin-»), [...]