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Allergic individuals show an exaggerated reaction when they are exposed to environmental factors (allergens), which do not affect normal non-allergic people. Airborne “inhalant” allergens are the most common cause of allergies.

After exposure to inhalant allergens, allergy sufferers experience one or more of the following symptoms:-

Nose:
Urge to sneeze, runny or blocked nose causing breathing difficulty (rhinitis).

Eyes:
Itching; reddening; watering; swelling (conjunctivitis)

Respiratory System:
Asthma, causing coughing, wheezing and occasionally acute breathing difficulty.

Skin:
Nettle rash or eczema may occur on direct skin contact with some inhalant allergens.

Symptoms are often experienced during the summer months particularly outdoors. This is commonly called “hay fever” and is, caused by airborne pollen from grasses, cereal crops, trees, shrubs and weeds. These produce pollen at different times of the year so hay fever symptoms may occur at any time between January and October.

The Pollen Seasons

Pollen allergies are classified by the time of year of peak pollen count:
ß Early blossoming (e.g. alder, hazel)
ß Spring-summer blossoming (e.g. birch, beech, grasses)
ß Summer blossoming (e.g. grasses, cereals)
ß Late blossoming (e.g. nettle, and some other weeds)

Pollen calendars are a useful means of indicating which type of pollen may be the culprit causing the symptoms.

During the various blossoming periods, pollen can occur in extremely high concentrations in outdoor air. Pollen levels are highest in the countryside during the day; over the cities, in the evening. Mountain and coastal areas have low pollen counts; rain and cloudy weather reduce pollen levels.

Observe the Following Rules to Reduce Pollen Exposure

ß Sleep with closed windows.

ß Be careful how long you stay outside. You cannot avoid pollen completely but plan you walks, sports etc. according to the conditions.

ß Avoid garden work or do it as weather permits.

ß Keep your car windows closed and install a pollen filter.

ß Don’t dry clothes and bedding outside. Also remember you hair and clothes will bring pollen into your bedroom.

ß Avoid irritants such as eye cosmetics, smoke etc.

ß Holiday at the seaside or in the mountains.

Treatment of Pollen Allergy

Immediate relief can usually be achieved using antihistamine tablets or other medication such as nasal sprays or eye drops, depending on the location, form and severity of symptoms.

Alternatively, long-term elimination or suppression of symptoms can be achieved by a course of hyposensitisation injections, which builds up the body’s tolerance to allergens. This treatment is only recommended for cases of severe pollen allergy that have not responded to conventional medication.

Hyposensitisation treatment is available at a number of NHS and private clinics.

Your doctor will advise you the best way to treat your symptoms.

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Acknowledgement:
Diagenics Information Services
South House 3
Bond Avenue
Bletchley
Milton Keynes
MK1 1SW

To purchase any Diagenics products, you can call or email them on:
Tel: 01908 376376 / Email: info@diagenics.co.uk
Alternatively, you can place your order and pay online at their website:
www.diagenics.co.uk/catalog