Children experiencing itchy, watery eyes, sneezing or runny nose during certain parts of the year could have seasonal allergies known as “hay fever”, also called seasonal allergic rhinitis. Hay fever occurs when trees, grass or weeds release pollen into the air which then reacts negatively with human bodies by creating itchy, watery eyes or runny nose symptoms.
Climate change is making allergy season longer and more intense, potentially worsening asthma attacks and leading to other medical complications.
Pollen
Allergies to pollen can be caused by inhaling tiny grains of plant life that carry reproductive cells of trees, grasses and weeds – grains so small that they are carried by wind and can easily land in our noses, eyes or mouths – inhaled pollen then triggers an allergic response, often manifested as runny nose, itchy eyes or congestion symptoms.
Dependent upon where you live, different plants release pollen at different times throughout the year. Ragweed pollen often becomes most bothersome in late fall; tree pollen and cedar trees pollen are other potential spring allergy triggers.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) publishes a weekly pollen count to indicate when various allergens are most widespread across the United States. You can also find pollen counts via many apps or weather sections of newspapers.
Avoiding triggers is the ideal solution to minimize allergy symptoms, but that may not always be possible. Your doctor can suggest over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines, nasal sprays and decongesants as remedies to ease your symptoms. An allergist may suggest immunotherapy which gradually exposes you to increasing amounts of allergen over time to build tolerance and decrease symptoms. Allergy medicines combined with lifestyle changes or eliminating triggers will allow you to enjoy each season more freely!
Pets
Allergens that cause human seasonal allergies (tree pollen and grass pollen) may also affect cats and dogs. Pets contain proteins in their fur, skin, urine and saliva that interact with our immune systems and cause symptoms like itchy paws or ears.
Itchy skin is one of the most prevalent symptoms of pet allergies, particularly around ears and eyes and on ear flaps. Itching can lead to yeast infections or secondary skin infections in dogs and cats. Paw itches often signal seasonal allergies while any itching anywhere on their body could indicate food sensitivities which tend to be more severe and unpredictable than seasonal ones.
Food allergies often respond well to steroids; however seasonal allergies don’t. To make sure that your pet stays allergy free it’s essential that they get tested and begin treatment as early as possible each season.
Your family veterinarian can assist in diagnosing your dog’s symptoms and may refer you to a pet dermatologist, who can find out the source of his or her allergy and help desensitize him or her to these allergens, so as to reduce allergy symptoms. It’s worth the effort if it means maintaining your bond with your furry friend while preventing allergies from progressing into something more severe.
Dust
No longer known by their popular moniker “hay fever”, seasonal allergies (also referred to as “allergic rhinitis”) affect both your nose (allergic rhinitis) and eyelids/coverings of eyeballs (conjunctivitis). Common symptoms are runny/stuffy nose, sneezing, itchy watery eyes, itchiness in nose/throat/voice area as well as scratchy voice; symptoms typically only present themselves during certain seasons due to common allergens in the air (pollen from trees/grasses/weeds etc); pet dander; mold spores; and dust mites which live off mattresses/curtains/carpets/upholstered furniture etc).
Seasonal allergies depend heavily on weather conditions, which determine which plants bloom at any given time and the level of pollen in the air. A good allergy forecast app can help you understand what’s happening outside.
Avoid allergens to reduce symptoms. This could mean washing clothes, using damp cloth to wipe down surfaces in your home and vacuuming regularly to reduce dust mites. An air conditioner and certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly(r) filters for your home and car may also help. Also remember to wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses during high pollen counts and keep doors and windows shut when pollen counts are high; or consider visiting your doctor for a skin test at their office which can identify many allergens that might affect you personally.
Mold
Mold allergies occur when your immune system perceives mold spores as threats, prompting antibodies to fight them off and trigger other reactions which result in allergy symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, itching, nasal congestion and watery eyes. Mold allergies may even aggravate respiratory conditions like asthma.
Mold spore allergies tend to peak from midsummer through early fall as spore levels increase, though people living in damp homes or places with high humidity levels may experience symptoms year round. Mold spores thrive in humid environments like compost piles or damp soil, as well as areas with increased humidity levels or poor ventilation – they grow on dead vegetation, compost piles or wet soil and can thrive despite any efforts at ventilation control.
Mold allergy symptoms include:
Mold allergies may go undetected because their symptoms mimic those associated with hay fever. However, they can also cause wheezing attacks that mimic asthma episodes or hypersensitivity pneumonitis – a severe lung condition caused by inhaling mold spores over long periods. Treatment options exist for mild-to-moderate symptoms. Antihistamines may help alleviate symptoms like sneezing and itching, while nasal spray decongestants can ease congestion. For more severe symptoms, a doctor may prescribe intranasal steroids or oral medication like montelukast to reduce inflammation and histamine production. Allergen immunotherapy may also be an option by gradually building tolerance to mold-causing fungi over time.
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