Hay Fever
The term “hay fever” was coined in England in the early twentieth century. Because patients commonly had symptoms during the hay gathering season, it was thought that hay was the cause of their symptoms. Fever was used as general term at the time when somebody had generalized symptoms such as not feeling well or having body aches.
The medical term for hay fever is Allergic Rhinitis (AR), which means inflammation of the lining of the nose due to allergies.
AR is the most common allergy, affecting approximately 45 million people in this country. It is one of the most common chronic medical conditions overall.
The cost of AR care is estimated to be five billion dollars a year, in the form of direct medical care and productivity lost at work and school.
AR decreases quality of life. If a person is unable to sleep at night because of stuffed nose, the lack of sleep can cause lack of daytime alertness and slow thinking and decision making abilities. A person might feel mentally slow, drowsy or sleepy and consequently is not as productive at work or school. Constant runny nose can be nuisance interfering with concentration at work or school. Kids with hay fever can suffer from emotional consequences from feeling "different" and may be teased by other kids.
AR is an inherited disease; that is to say, allergies run in the family. In 80 percent of patients there is a family history of allergy or asthma in the immediate or extended family. Symptoms usually begin in children or during the teenage years. In adults persistent nasal congestion may be the only symptom.
Common symptoms are runny nose, watery nasal discharge, nasal congestion and excessive sneezing. Quite often these symptoms are associated with itchy, red, and watery eyes, plugged ears, phlegm in the back of the throat, or cough.
These symptoms may be present only during a certain season, for example spring or fall, or can occur year round. That is why some patients will say they get a "cold" every spring or fall for years. If the symptoms occur at the same time of the year, year after year, they are most likely from allergy. Also, if the "cold" lasts more than 7-10 days it is probably an allergy.
If untreated AR, can lead to complications such as chronic sinusitis or asthma.
Treatment: AR is a controllable condition.
Basically there are 3 modes of treatment.
1. Avoidance of the causative factor
2. Medications
3. Immunotherapy (allergy shots)
AVOIDANCE:
The number one principal of allergy treatment is to avoid the known causes of the allergic reaction. Therefore it is important that patients be tested for allergies to find out specifically what they are allergic to. This is usually done with skin testing. Blood tests are available, but they are less accurate than skin tests, more expensive, and give delayed results.
MEDICATIONS:
Very effective medications are available to control AR. Nasal steroids (sprays you squirt inside the nose into each nostril) are very effective and have minimal side effects. Newer antihistamines (which cause less drowsiness that older versions) are also effective in reducing AR symptoms.
IMMUNOTHERAPY:
Allergy shots are given when:
- Medications do not control the symptoms
- Symptoms are severe and persistent
- AR complications (e.g., sinusitis or asthma) are present
- Medications have undesirable side-effects
- A patient does not want to use daily nasal steroids spray
