Spring allergy

An allergy is an abnormal reaction of the body’s defense system to a substance that, by itself, does not cause any harm to non-allergic people and is completely harmless.

The process by which a person, who previously tolerated a substance without problems, begins to develop an allergy to it is called “sensitization.” We become allergic to those things that we are in contact with often.

One of the most common causes of sensitization is ‘pollen’. A pollen grain is the male germ cell essential for the reproduction of a great variety of plants; it is released from one plant and transferred to another by insects or by the wind. Plants that transmit pollen through insects produce heavy pollen grains, intended to stick to their feet, and are often brightly colored to attract pollen distributors. These plants rarely cause allergic diseases. Plants that transmit pollen by wind do not have colorful flowers, and they release large amounts of light pollen, which is more dangerous for allergy sufferers.

Pollens are usually present in the atmosphere in a cyclical or seasonal way, hence the allergic patient may show seasonal or perennial symptoms. Generally, the highest concentration of pollen is found at the beginning of spring, but each plant has its pollination period that, although it does not vary much from one year to another, is related to the climatic conditions. The late winter rain facilitates a more splendid bloom in spring and therefore more pollen in the air. The pollination season begins late in spring the further north we are, and can begin as early as January in areas of the southeast, lasting from January to October.

Trees pollinate earlier, from January or February to April or May, with fluctuations depending on the region. The grasses are the ones that follow in the cycle, starting their pollination in April and continuing until mid-June. Weeds generally release pollen until late summer and early fall.

Symptoms of spring allergy

The most frequent allergies are those that affect the respiratory system and, among them, the most frequent are Rhinitis and Asthma ; in the former, the upper respiratory tract (nose) is affected and in asthma , the lower respiratory tract (lungs).

Allergic Rhinitis causes sneezing, itchy nose, nasal stuffiness, dripping or continuous distillation, is sometimes accompanied by a headache, and, in many patients, it can be associated with eye symptoms such as watery eyes, red or irritated eyes that bothers them. light, with a burning sensation and intense ocular itching. It is what we call Conjunctivitis .

In asthma there is an obstruction of the tubes that carry air to the lungs (bronchi). The result of this obstruction is a more or less intense difficulty in breathing, with transient episodes of narrowing of the airway, which manifests itself in the form of bouts of respiratory distress, fatigue or a feeling of suffocation, and is generally accompanied by intense uncontrollable coughing. , with or without expulsion of phlegm, with noises in the chest, whistling or whistling, and feeling of pressure in the chest. It is important to know that neither cough nor sputum of asthmatics are contagious; They should not be confused with the symptoms of winter bronchitis and colds, which are usually accompanied by fever .

How to treat this type of allergy?

If these symptoms always occur at the same time of year, a specialist in allergies should be consulted to confirm the disease by performing diagnostic tests. The specialist will explain to you if your symptoms occur because you have developed an allergy to one or more pollens, and if the appearance of your symptoms is a function of the atmospheric presence of this or these pollens in your place of residence.

Today we have at our disposal enough weapons for a correct diagnosis of the etiology of the process, and, consequently, to carry out a specific prevention against pollen before the patient presents the symptoms. If the patient knows and understands his clinic, it will partly favor the good evolution of his disease.