Understanding more about Hay Fever.

The incidence of Allergic Rhinitis, more commonly known as Hay Fever, nasal allergies, or ‘sinuses’ is extremely high in the Harrismith area. This is directly linked to all the different grass, pollen and tree types found in our area.

Allergic Rhinitis presents as a collection of symptoms occurring mostly in the nose and eyes, as a response to the inhalation of an allergen that you are allergic to, such as dust, pollen, animal hair, house dust mite, or mold. Interestingly, the trees, commonly implicated are pine, birch, cedar, horse chestnut, willow and poplar, which are found widely in Harrismith. Because the pollen causing the disorder is wind-borne, it occurs more often on hot, dry and windy days, than the wet rainy seasons when the pollen is washed to the ground.

There is a very strong genetic factor involved, and you are most likely to inherit allergic rhinitis if your mother had allergies.

The following are the symptoms that occur shortly after coming into contact with an allergen:

• Itchy nose, mouth, eyes, throat, and skin.
• Problems with smell, runny nose, sneezing and tearing eyes.
• Later on, the following can develop:

• Stuffy and blocked nose 
• coughing 
• blocked ears 
• sore throat 
• dark circles and puffiness under the eyes 
• tiredness, irritability, headaches
• memory and concentration problems.

These are very hinder some symptoms, and can cause a great degree of discomfort, to young and old alike.

The best treatment would be if one could avoid all the allergens you are sensitive to, but for obvious reasons, this is hardly possible. Because the pollens involved are carried by the wind, closing windows (also when driving) and using air-conditioners are of help.

• For mild Allergic Rhinitis, using a nasal saline solution to wash the inside of your nose after being exposed, can relieve symptoms. The solution can be bought at a pharmacy, or made at home with one cup of warm water, half a teaspoon of salt, and a pinch of baking soda.
• For more severe, chronic symptoms, your doctor with prescribe a combination of the following treatments to suit your age, severity and whether you have asthma or eczema, which are often related conditions. The three different classes of treatments being anti-histamines, inhaled cortisone nasal sprays, and decongestants.

The older anti-histamines commonly cause drowsiness, but the newer products cause less or none of this side effect. They relieve mild to moderate symptoms. But the most effective treatment are the inhaled cortisone nasal sprays, especially when used daily in problem seasons. Their side effects are also quite minimal. The decongestants are not to be used longer than 3 days, or they can cause rebound blockage. A combination of an anti-histamine and nasal steroid spray is often prescribed.

And the only indication for antibiotics in this condition would be if you develop bacterial sinusitis as a complication, which would be associated with fever.

It is possible that people can outgrow an allergy, and this mostly occurs in children, whose immune symptoms become more mature to deal with the allergen later on. But allergic rhinitis is mostly a long term condition, and therefore it is important to get a treatment regimen that works for you, so that your daily functioning is no longer affected by your allergies.

Written by Dr Christine Boshoff

For more information, please call (058) 622 1691