Spring and the allergy period

Some people do not look forward to the arrival of spring… because they have to greet the pleasant weather with a runny nose and watery eyes. Is there not a way to inhale the sweet perfume of spring flowers?

Unfortunately, we do not all get to welcome spring with the same feeling of joy… For some of us, the spring months mean the arrival of certain allergies. Pollen the powder found in flowers, is the number one cause of this situation. A spring allergy manifests itself in such symptoms as a runny nose, constant sneezing, watery eyes, itchy and inflamed skin, coughing, difficulty breathing and a wheezy chest.

Dr. İlkay Keskinel from the Department of Pulmonary Diseases at Memorial Suadiye Medical Centre describes allergies as “the body’s acute reaction to environmental factors that are not considered harmful”.

The substance that causes allergic reactions in people who are susceptible is called an ‘allergen’. In people with a genetic tendency, environmental factors can bring on an allergic reaction.

Pollen allergies

In springtime, the wind carries pollen through the air, spreading it over a large area. This powder is in fact the male seeds of plants. Generally speaking, the large pollen in colorful fragrant flowers is transported by insects that are attracted to the plants. As it is not dispersed in the air, it is unlikely to cause allergies. But small pollens, because they are carried in the wind, can cause an allergic reaction in people situated miles away from the actual plant.

Lecturer Prof. Dr. Ahmet Rasim Küçükusta from the Department of Pulmonary Diseases at Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine states that pollens from trees such as alder, hazelnut, olive and poplar and from plants like timothy grass, mugwort, barley, wheat, oat and rye are the most allergenic.

Allergies tend to be caused by tree pollens from February to May, plant pollens between May and June, and weed pollens from mid-summer until autumn. The amount of pollen in the air is greater in the morning. People suffering from pollen allergies are more at ease on rainy days as a result of reduced levels of pollen in the air, while the diffusion of pollen increases on hot and windy days.

Hay fever

Pollen can trigger symptoms of hay fever (allergic rhinitis). Patients suffering from hay fever may think they are experiencing a microbial respiratory tract infection. If symptoms persist for more than 1-2 weeks, one should see a doctor. The first step in protecting oneself against hay fever is to find out which type of pollen one is allergic to. This is done through quick, easily administered skin tests and sometimes blood tests. Once the cause of the allergy is determined, the patient needs to stay well clear of it. Anti-allergy medications may be used in treatment. When appropriate, treatment with injections may also help in reducing symptoms.

Asthma in spring

Asthma is a chronic disease that occurs as a result of the tightening of our airways, the bronchi, in reaction to certain stimuli. Both environmental and genetic factors cause asthma. There are many different types of asthma but the two main types are allergic asthma and non-allergic asthma.

Asthma, whose symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, phlegm expectoration and chest tightness, can often be triggered during springtime by the increase of pollen in the air. Complaints from asthma patients suffering from pollen allergies can increase in the weeks or months during which the pollen to which they are allergic is most prevalent.

The main characteristic of allergic asthma is that the patient is sensitive to one or more allergens (like mites. domestic pets, pollens and moulds). The level of a patient’s sensitivity can be shown with an IgE measurement through skin or blood tests. The first symptoms of allergic asthma are generally experienced during childhood. Allergic rhinitis, eczema, allergy to medication. food allergies and other allergies are commonly found in the patient or their family. Allergic asthma responds well to treatment through medication and injections. The medication used for treating such patients may need to be altered during the spring months.

Beware of cross-allergies!

Some people are allergic to pollen. These people may have an allergic reaction to plants in the same family as the plants they are sensitive to. This is called a ‘cross-allergy’. For example, people who are allergic to pollen produced by the birch tree may experience itching in their lips and palate when eating apples, pears, carrots celery and tomatoes.

Where to escape from immediately?

In streets lined with tall buildings, the surface of the buildings attracts pollen because of static energy. On the other hand, very little pollen is found by the sea. Much research shows that air pollution increases peoples’ sensitivity to pollen. People living in areas where traffic is heavy and where they are exposed to diesel particles and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) develop sensitivity to pollen more easily.

Allergy skin tests

Dr. Küçükusta states that the most common method of diagnosis for allergic diseases is skin tests. The allergens to which the patient is sensitive can be ascertained through these tests. Allergy skin tests are a simple, reliable, quick, easily repeatable, low-cost form of diagnosis. These tests should be administered and read by people who have been trained and are experienced in this field.

Before testing is performed, detailed information is obtained from the patient about their illness. Information about allergens that the patient may be exposed to, factors causing their symptoms, the patient’s occupation. Hobbies, household pets and types of pollen found in the area in which they live must be obtained from the patient.

Skin tests are carried out either on an area of the back or on the inside of the forearm. There are two main procedures performed for skin tests. Scratch test [epidermal): A drop of allergen is dripped onto the skin and the skin is then either pricked with a special needle or scratched to allow the allergen to get under the skin’s surface. Intradermal test; the allergen is directly injected under the skin with the use of a thin needle.

Allergy shots

Treatment through allergy shots, or immunotherapy, is the most basic form of treatment against allergies. In immunotherapy, injections of the allergen to which the patient is sensitive are administered in gradually increasing doses. This method does not involve the injection of any type of medication.

Dr. Küçükusta states that immunotherapy is the treatment needed for allergic rhinitis. Many changes occur in the immune system of patients on whom this treatment is performed. Thanks to this, aside from desensitizing the patient to certain allergens, the allergic inflammation in the nose also regresses. As a result, this also relieves the symptoms of rhinitis (runny nose) and reduces relapses, eliminating the patient’s need for medication.

The effect continues post-treatment and lasts for many years or even a lifetime. The success rate is much higher for children, adolescents and in cases where treatment is performed early on in the disease. As well by injection, the treatment can also be introduced into the body orally or in the form of nose drops. The best results are seen in patients between five and 50 years old.