How to Cope with Spring Allergies
Posted: 27th March 2014 | Posted by AdminMR
How to Cope with Spring Allergies
Spring has officially sprung: there are snowdrops by the hedgerows, daffodils bobbing their merry heads and beautiful blossom on the boughs of trees. For some people though, spring isn’t a time to rejoice, but a time to stay indoors to avoid streaming eyes, blocked up noses and a marathon of sneezing that is caused by allergic rhinitis; more commonly known as hay fever. According the NHS, hay fever effects one fifth of the British population.
What causes spring allergies?
Although hay fever is not a genetic condition it often affects those with a family history of allergies, so if one your parents had hay fever or another allergic condition then there is a 50% chance that you will also get it. It is obviously caused by an environmental trigger called an allergen, that is an innocent protein in pollen, that will not cause any problems to others who are not sensitised. Your body due to altered immune reaction recognises that particular allergen as enemy and develops antibodies of IgE type, that are normal pathway for immune system deals with parasitic invasion like helminths. Immunoglobulin E (IgEs) are placed on membranes of immune cells called mast cells that contain histamine and other chemicals. Histamine is binding to histamine receptors on blood vessels and nerves, resulting in symptoms: swelling, itchiness and irritation (blocked or runny nose, itchy and running eyes or skin rash). Hay fever specifically is caused by pollen particles in the air; these are breathed in and cause an immune system chain reaction described above. The symptoms of hay fever are worse on days where there is a high pollen count, which includes sunny and windy days, although symptoms are relieved on wet days because rain dissolves allergens.
According to reports of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the most common trees, spreading pollen in spring are Alder, Ash, Birch, Beech, Cedar, Juniper, Plane, Maple, Oak, Pine, Poplar, Sycamore and Willow trees. Birch is said to be the worst offender for pollen distribution in Britain, and its pollen count is highest during February to April depending on the part of the country.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of allergies include a running nose, streaming, itchy or sore eyes, sneezing and also sometimes finding it difficult to breathe. The symptoms of hay fever sound very much like a cold, but if these symptoms persist during spring and summer and you get itchiness then you may well have hay fever.
How can you get a diagnosis?
When you go to your doctor with suspected symptoms of hay fever, they may need to test you to make sure that you are reacting to pollen and what pollen you are reacting to, or if your symptoms only occur at certain times you may be allergic to specific plant pollen, so they may send you for a more specific component blood test. Receiving a formal diagnosis for hay fever can help you to avoid what is causing the reactions and in some cases treat using desensitisation – specific immunotherapy. At the London Allergy and Immunisation Centre we perform allergy testing in London and nationwide for hay fever and other types of allergies. Tests can be done in two different ways involving the patient (skin prick test and allergen provocation tests) and without patient’s involvement blood tests:
Skin test – during this test a small amount of allergen in a drop will be place on your skin, then the skin will be pricked with a special device. If you are sensitised to the allergen in 10-15 minutes a small bump and read weal will appear and will be measured and interpreted by the allergy consultant.
Specific IgE allergy test formally known as RAST test- is a test where a blood sample is taken from your arm (or several blood drops from your finger) and screened for antibodies of IgE type to various allergens. A screening subtype of IgE test is called ISAC, this comprehensive test can screen for 112 allergens in one go and reveal which specific plants are causing you hay fever and if there is cross reaction with fruits and vegetables that you eat known as Oral Allergy Syndrome.
Although these tests look similar they give different information to your allergy consultant. Skin prick test is looking at the chain of reactions from the contact of the allergen with immune system to the reaction of blood vessels caused by histamine, but the IgE test has a different focus it detects antibodies in the blood stream so it only looks at a part of the allergic process, but it is very specific.
Having a formal diagnosis for your allergy and discovering what causes your symptoms is the first positive step to treating and controlling your condition. You will then be prescribed antihistamine drugs to control to block the histamine receptors on blood vessels and nerves. You can also buy effective over-the-counter treatments such as antihistamine eye drops, antihistamine nasal sprays. It is NOT recommended to use decongestants to unblock your nose for more than several days as you can easily get used to them very fast and cause permanent damage to the blood vessels that are constricted with these drops. There is a treatment called Specific Immunotherapy that can influence the cause of allergy called specific immunotherapy it was developed in England more than 100 years ago and is used in specialised allergy centres like London Allergy and Immunology Centre for suitable patients with seasonal allergies like hay fever, but it is not for everyone and there are strict indications and contraindications for its use under allergy consultant’s supervision.
Symptomatic treatment is available for everyone and in most cases if used correctly can effectively reduce symptoms and help you enjoy spring time more.
Dr Michael Rudenko MD, PhD, FAAAAI
Consultant in Allergy and Immunology
London Allergy and Immunology Centre