Pollen-induced allergic rhinitis

This is an automatically translated article.

“Pollen allergy” is a rather rare medical condition in Vietnam but very common in European countries. Although pollen allergy is not dangerous, it makes patients very uncomfortable by sneezing, runny nose, allergic rhinitis, nasal congestion, puffy face.

1. What is allergic rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis is a systemic allergy with local manifestations such as headache, watery eyes, nose, sneezing, runny nose and nasal congestion.
Causes of allergic rhinitis are many: due to allergens (pollen, house dust, molds, fabrics, animal and poultry feathers), food (pineapple, seafood...) , caused by drugs, by bacteria..
Pollen allergy usually occurs when the weather is dry and windy, when there is a lot of pollen in the air. Some people have a year-round pollen allergy while others only have it for certain periods of time. Pollen allergies can affect both adults and children greatly.

2. Common Types of Pollen Allergies

There are hundreds of thousands of plants that can release pollen into the air and cause pollen allergic reactions in humans. Some common types of allergic rhinitis include:
2.1 Allergy to pollen from birch flowers Birch pollen is one of the most common allergens in the spring because when birch flowers bloom, they will release tiny pollen grains into the air by the wind. A single birch tree can spread up to 5 million pollen grains within a radius of more than 90m, causing allergic conditions for many people.
2.2 Allergy to pollen from oak pollen Similar to birch, oak trees also release pollen into the air and stay in the air longer than other tree pollens.
2.3 Grass pollen allergy Grass is the main cause of pollen allergy during summer days. Grass pollen often causes the most severe symptoms of all pollen types and is difficult to treat.

3. Symptoms of pollen allergy

Typical symptoms of pollen allergy often include:
Nasal congestion, runny nose Sinus pressure, increased asthma reactions Itchy eyes, watery eyes, red eyes, watery eyes Itchy throat, easy dry cough Burning sensation in the conjunctiva, nasopharynx Difficulty breathing Swollen skin, which can cause facial pain Decreased sense of taste or smell Nasal congestion is the typical symptom that bothers most allergic people. In severe cases, it can lead to sinusitis, inner ear inflammation, headache, body fatigue... and each allergic attack lasts up to half an hour, occurs many times a day, affecting daily activities. and the health of the patient.
Symptoms are aggravated when the patient goes out, walks on the street or is in contact with nature. Often the sick person feels comfortable with the door closed, indoors, or when it rains.

4. Prevention of allergic rhinitis caused by pollen

Allergic rhinitis caused by pollen is caused by natural and environmental agents, so it can be prevented by limiting exposure to allergens.
Usually pollen in the air reaches the highest concentration from midnight to 8 am, especially on warm, dry, windy days... so people with pollen allergies need to minimize going out. outdoors this time. If you need to go out, you should wear a mask to avoid inhaling pollen in the air.
In addition to taking anti-allergic drugs, the patient should live in a cool, clean place with fresh air. In addition, people with pollen allergies should not dry clothes in the garden to avoid getting caught in pollen, when wearing it, they will be allergic. After working in the garden, after working in the field, it is necessary to shower thoroughly, change into clean clothes before going to bed to avoid inhaling pollen accidentally on hair and clothes.

5. Treatment measures

If your pollen allergy doesn't improve despite taking precautions, you can consider some over-the-counter medications such as:
Antihistamines such as loratadine (Zyrtec®) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl®) Helps reduce allergy symptoms. Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed®) or oxymetazoline (Afrin® nasal spray) help relieve allergy symptoms such as watery eyes, runny/stuffy nose, itchy eyes/nose The combination of an antihistamine and pain relievers such as Actifed and Claritin-D. Allergy shots.

Some home remedies can also help relieve symptoms from pollen allergies such as:
Use allergy-reducing herbs like butterbur or spirulina Keep your house clean and well-ventilated Wash clothes thoroughly, avoid drying them outdoors (use a dryer instead) Use air conditioning in cars and indoors. Buy a High Efficiency Efficiency Air (HEPA) filter or dehumidifier Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter and vacuum your home regularly. You should see your doctor if your condition does not improve, your symptoms become more severe, or your medication causes unwanted side effects.
Customers can directly go to Vinmec Health system nationwide to visit or contact the hotline here for support.
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