If your child suffers from seasonal allergies, symptoms like runny nose and itchy eyes can arise in spring and summer due to pollen from trees and grasses; similar reactions could also manifest themselves later due to exposure to ragweed pollen or mold spores in fall.
Allergies develop when your body misinterprets certain substances like pollen or mold spores as harmful; skin and blood tests are useful tools in diagnosing allergies.
Spring
Spring marks the start of allergy season for millions of Americans, as their immune systems overreact to normally harmless substances known as allergens such as tree or grass pollen, mold spores or pet dander. Common symptoms of allergies are runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing; others experience itchy nostrils throat or ears.
No matter where you spend your day, allergen exposure is almost inevitable. Even when staying indoors all day, air conditioning and furnace filters must be changed regularly which releases dust mites that trigger allergies, while when venturing outside pollen and mildew spores release pollen that settles onto clothing or hair and later becomes airborne where they can then be inhaled directly causing itchy eyes, runny nose or wheezing cough symptoms.
Antihistamines can help suppress your body’s immune response and provide relief from allergy symptoms. Over-the-counter oral antihistamines and decongestants should be taken at the first sign of runny nose or itchy eyes to provide immediate relief, while for greater effectiveness a doctor may suggest nasal sprays or injections with allergen-specific extracts from shrub butterbur and dried algae such as spirulina could provide specific help based on further studies.
Summer
Summer’s the season for barbeques, beach days and vibrant flowers — but for millions of people suffering seasonal allergies, those beautiful blooms are triggers that cause itchy and watery eyes, runny nose or sneezing. Also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis or “hay fever”, this condition occurs when your immune system responds to certain allergens released into the air from trees, grasses and flowering plants that trigger itchy or watery eyes, runny nose or sneezing.
American summertime allergens often include grasses like ryegrass and timothy, as well as weeds such as ragweed. When exposed to such plants, allergies often manifest themselves with symptoms like runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy eyes and sneezing that manifest later in summer or early fall.
Some patients may develop symptoms of oral allergy syndrome after eating certain raw fruits and vegetables such as melons, bell peppers, or tomatoes that contain allergens that trigger their symptoms – leading to itchy throats and swelling lips after indulging. A visit to an allergist specialized in allergy care may be in order to identify which allergens are triggering your symptoms and devise an appropriate treatment plan that provides relief.
Fall
Your eyes sting and itch, your nose runs uncontrollably and tissues seem necessary wherever you go – these could all be telltale signs that it could be seasonal allergies affecting you! But fear not: there are treatments available to alleviate allergy symptoms so you can enjoy all that fall has to offer.
Allergies are an immune response to airborne allergens such as pollen, mold spores and pet dander that enter our environment through breathing or skin contact. While they typically only affect people at certain times of year or when specific allergens emerge in particular seasons, symptoms often include sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, runny nose and postnasal drip. Some individuals also experience skin reactions like hives or eczema as part of an allergic response.
Fall allergies typically begin in late summer or early fall and peak from mid-September to November depending on where you reside. Ragweed pollen is one of the main triggers, while tree, grass and mold spores may also trigger symptoms.
Allergies can be treated by taking antihistamines or prescription oral or nasal steroids to suppress the body’s immune response and alleviate symptoms. Nasal sprays and decongestants may also help alleviate congestion, while immunotherapy – in which a doctor gives several injections over months or years to build tolerance against allergens that trigger symptoms – is another option that may provide relief.
Winter
As winter arrives, allergy sufferers usually expect their sneezing, itchy eyes, and runny nose symptoms to diminish; however, even though cold temperatures have subsided some allergens remain active that trigger symptoms; common culprits include mold spores, mildew spores, dust mites, pet dander as people spend more time indoors where exposure to allergens increases.
Allergies occur when our immune systems recognize certain substances as foreign invaders, such as pollen from trees and grasses or mold spores, as threatening threats. When this happens, antibodies produced by our immune systems react by attacking and binding to cells in our eyes, nose, throat and lungs resulting in histamine release which produces symptoms of seasonal allergy attacks.
Avoiding seasonal allergies may not be possible, but there are steps that can help minimize their effects. Over-the-counter antihistamines, decongestants and nasal sprays may provide temporary relief by soothing eyes and runny nose symptoms. If these don’t provide relief then a board certified allergist may recommend prescription medication or immunotherapy (allergy shots), where gradually increasing doses of allergen are exposed over time, teaching your body not to react in such an allergic fashion. A physician can perform either skin tests or specific IgE blood testing to diagnose allergies accurately and determine best treatments options available for each patient individually.
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