Symptoms of hay fever and colds are somewhat similar, so distinguish them accurately. Hay fever does not have infectious symptoms such as fever or muscle aches, but has obvious seasonality. Typical symptoms include itchy nose, itchy eyes, watery eyes, sneezing, etc.
Standard treatment emphasizes sufficient dosage, sufficient course of treatment, and early use of medication, rather than temporary remedies after symptoms occur.
Before going out, you should "check three times": check the time, check the weather, and check the forecast
Wear a "three-piece suit" for outdoor activities: N95 or medical surgical mask, goggles or sunglasses with good sealing, and long clothes and trousers with smooth surface
The wind is gentle and the spring is warm and the flowers are blooming. During this season, some people are ready to go out and enjoy the flowers and enjoy the outdoor time, but some people can only "look at the flowers and sigh" at the spring flowers in the garden – their noses are itchy, they can't stop sneezing, their noses are flowing uncontrollably, their eyes are red, itchy and sore, and in severe cases, they can't sleep due to coughing at night, and even their breathing is stuffy. They are probably suffering from hay fever.
What are the symptoms of hay fever? What measures can relieve symptoms?
"Hay fever, also known as pollen allergy, is essentially an abnormal immune response of the human body to certain pollen in the air, which is an allergic disease." Wang Zixi, deputy chief physician of the Department of Allergy at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said that allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis are more common and manifest as nasal itching, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, tears, sneezing, and watery nose. Some patients may also experience itchy throat, ear itching, coughing, and even chest tightness and wheezing.
The symptoms of hay fever are similar to those of a cold. How to tell the difference? Wang Zixi said that colds are mostly infectious diseases, mostly caused by viruses. In addition to nasal congestion and runny nose, they are often accompanied by infection symptoms such as fever, sore throat, fatigue, and muscle aches. There is no obvious seasonal pattern; hay fever is an allergic inflammation, and it often has a strong seasonality, that is, it attacks at a certain time every year.
"Hay fever can be treated," Wang Zixi said. "The first is drug treatment. For most patients, the most important treatment is nasal glucocorticoids, which can be combined with second-generation antihistamines according to the condition. Some patients need to add leukotriene receptor antagonists." It should be noted that standard treatment emphasizes sufficient dosage, sufficient course of treatment, and early use of medication, rather than temporary remedies after the onset of symptoms.
Experts suggest that people with clear allergens, moderate to severe pollen allergies, symptoms that affect their quality of life, poor drug treatment effects, or intolerable side effects may consider desensitization injections after being diagnosed by a specialist. At present, the main desensitization injections used are sprucizumab and omalizumab. Spuximab is not only effective for allergic rhinitis, but also has therapeutic effects on moderate to severe asthma and atopic dermatitis. The use of omalizumab can treat moderate to severe allergic asthma and significantly reduce the symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis in patients with pollen allergy, but the patient's IgE (immunoglobulin E) level needs to be tested before injection. Contraindications for desensitization injections include severe uncontrolled asthma and immune system diseases. Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should be evaluated by a specialist before taking desensitization injections.
Seek medical attention promptly if specific symptoms occur. Wang Zixi reminded that in addition to nose and eye symptoms, if you experience repeated coughing, chest tightness, and wheezing, especially if the symptoms are obvious at night, you should be wary of pollen allergic asthma. After eating certain fruits and nuts, you may experience itchy lips, oral discomfort, or even systemic reactions. This may be a pollen-food cross-reaction. If these symptoms occur, you should go to the allergy department of the hospital for evaluation and treatment in time to avoid aggravation of the condition.
Spring is bright and it is a good time for outdoor sports. How to protect yourself when going out?
Ma Tingting, chief physician at Beijing Millennium Monument Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University, suggested that you should "check three things" before going out: Look at the time, pollen concentration generally reaches its peak between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., so avoid going out during this period; look at the weather, pollen drifts the most in sunny, dry, and windy weather. When encountering strong convective weather such as thunderstorms, pollen drifts quickly, so try not to go out. After rain, pollen is washed away, which is the best time to go out for activities; check the forecast and pay attention to the pollen concentration forecast issued by the local meteorological department.
Wear a "three-piece suit" for protection: wear a mask, choose an N95 mask or a medical surgical mask. Ordinary cotton masks cannot block pollen particles; wear goggles or sunglasses with good sealing to prevent pollen from entering the eyes and causing allergic conjunctivitis; wear long clothes and trousers with smooth surfaces, such as jackets and windbreakers, and avoid wearing plush clothes that can easily absorb pollen.
"Three tips" to keep pollen out of the door after returning home: change, take off your coat at the door, do not wear it into the bedroom, hang the coat in a ventilated place or wash it directly; wash, wash your face, rinse your mouth, and rinse your eyes with water; flush, rinse your nasal cavity with saline.
