Hay Fever
Does the word Hay Fever ring a bell in your mind? No, it is not Noel Coward’s play running in the London Theatres. It is an allergy caused by pollen or mould spores. It is a seasonal allergy that affects people only in spring and summer. If your house has trees and plants around it and if you are allergic to pollen, you will know what hay fever is all about. However, there is nothing to be alarmed about it. It is far from a serious medical condition. The symptoms, like most other not-so serious allergies, are not very pleasant for the one who contracts it. Thankfully, it is not beyond control.
Every year, almost 2 to 3 million Britons contract Hay fever. In Hay fever, the body's immune system treats foreign elements as toxin, resulting in irritation and inflammation.
The three common ailments caused due to allergy to pollen are Asthma, Eczema and Hay fever. It may happen that a person who is allergic to pollen contracts all three. Hay fever affects students adversely mostly in summer. This is because most examinations in schools and universities are scheduled in summer and that is exactly when the pollinating action of flowers is at its peak.
Symptoms
One generic symptom cannot be particularly indicative of Hay fever. It varies with every individual. The most common symptoms of Hay fever are sneezing, itchy and watery red eyes, running or a blocked nose, and an itchy throat. Three factors determine the occurrence of Hay fever - the freshness of air; weather conditions and the pollen to which you are allergic. Pollen is perennially present. Therefore, if a person is allergic to pollen, it is difficult to understand when he/she will contract Hay fever.
Cure
Antihistamine containing across-the-counter medicines fight the effects of the allergy-causing chemicals released by the human body. Nasal sprays containing steroids, nose and eye drops and other drugs help reduce the local inflammatory response.
Hay fever can also be cured by using injections to treat the allergic action. Don’t be surprised by the consequent desensitization. But watch out for any severe reaction that may need emergency hospital attention.
Prevention
You can avoid contracting Hay fever by staying away from pollen as much as possible. It’s best to stay inside the house when the pollen count goes up really high. Keeping doors and windows closed during bed-time also helps. From time to time, let the sunlight bathe the bedclothes. Using an air purifier also helps.