Allergic reactions may manifest themselves with symptoms like itchy and watery eyes and sneezing. If these occur at certain times of year, your child could be experiencing seasonal allergies (also referred to as allergic rhinitis).
Doctors can diagnose allergies through interviews and physical exams. He or she may also order skin or blood tests to identify what your child is allergic to.
Spring
If you are one of the 50 million Americans living with allergies, chances are your symptoms have hit their peak this spring. Seasonal allergies – also known as allergic rhinitis – cause itchy eyes, runny noses, sinus congestion and asthma flare-ups; potentially even worsening asthmatic attacks!
Pollen from trees, grasses and weeds is the season’s primary allergen, while mold spores thrive due to moisture contacting them and then releasing their spores into the air. When combined with year-round allergens like animal dander and dust mites this environmental conditions can irritate airways leading to wheezing and coughing fits.
Antihistamines can provide temporary relief of allergy symptoms by decreasing histamine production – an immune system chemical responsible for producing and releasing allergic responses. Your doctor may also suggest nasal sprays to ease congestion or oral allergy drops to desensitize specific allergens. Long-term relief may come through allergy immunotherapy; where subcutaneous injections of allergens that you are sensitive to are given over months or years by way of immunotherapy injections.
Summer
Summer is the season for barbecues, beaches and sunshine–unless your allergies get in the way. Allergies (also known as allergic rhinitis or hay fever) occur when your immune system mistakenly attacks certain airborne particles called pollen as invaders and releases chemicals to defend against it. Common symptoms are runny nose, itchy eyes and mucus production.
Individual plants release pollen at various times throughout the year, so your allergy symptoms will also vary according to what plants are blooming at any given moment. Flower and tree pollen tend to peak in spring while grass, weed, and mold spore pollen usually peak later on.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, your primary care provider can refer you to an allergist for testing to identify what allergens trigger your symptoms and creating an individual care plan to manage them. Furthermore, speaking to them may also help determine whether your symptoms indicate either colds or allergies.
Allergies can have serious repercussions for both body and mind, from fatigue and disturbed sleep patterns to impacting mood, leading to feelings of stress and anxiety. Treating your allergies not only alleviates symptoms but can also improve quality of life.
Fall
Allergies affect both immune and respiratory systems, with symptoms manifesting themselves on nose, eyes and skin. Some people suffer from seasonal allergies all year round while others only at specific times of year – these seasonal allergies are caused by pollen, mold spores or other substances recognized as foreign by your immune system and therefore attacked as potentially foreign invaders by attacking.
Allergens can produce large concentrations during spring and summer, and persist through fall and winter as well. Allergies typically are triggered by grass, weeds and trees with pollen that is easily carried by wind; other triggering plants include ragweed which usually blooms between August and November as well as tumbleweed and sagebrush.
Sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes are just the start; other symptoms of seasonal allergies may include sinus congestion and itchy mouth or throat. People living with asthma may find their symptoms intensify when pollen and allergens are present.
To manage allergy and its symptoms effectively, keep track of pollen counts and use allergy medication as prescribed. If your symptoms still persist, make an appointment with an allergist who will work closely with you to create a treatment plan to ease them so you can get back to doing what you enjoy! Use our search tool online search specialist near you today.
Winter
Winter brings increased frequency for sneezing, itchy eyes and nose symptoms due to indoor allergens like pet dander, dust mites, mold spores, wood smoke and chemicals from cleaning products – factors which are known to trigger skin allergies such as hives and eczema in susceptible individuals.
Seasonal allergies vary with each season as pollen releases vary throughout the year, triggering allergies in various ways. Tree pollen tends to peak in spring; grass and weed pollens become prevalent during summer; while autumn brings with it ragweed season.
As soon as a person becomes sensitive to an airborne substance, their immune system responds by overproducing chemicals such as histamines, leukotrienes and prostaglandins which produce allergy symptoms – these may include runny eyes and nose; itchy throat or ears; runny or itchy watery eyes; nasal congestion; itchy watery eyes; itchiness in their nose or throat and fatigue.
As seasonal allergies often mimic cold symptoms, it can be challenging to identify what’s triggering your allergy symptoms. IgE blood testing helps clarify this issue and optimize its management; click here for more information about IgE testing or other diagnostic tools we offer.
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