Helpful Tips for Surviving Allergy Season

By Dr. Mark Kaplan, Board-certified Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital allergist/immunologist

Most Midwesterners eagerly anticipate the warm weather of spring and summer.  But this may not be the case for the approximately 20 percent of the population who suffer from seasonal allergies – also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis.

With the unprecedented warm weather earlier this year, allergy/immunology doctors like myself are seeing more patient calls and office visits than usual.  Here are some helpful tips and tricks to help allergy sufferers get through the season:

What are the symptoms of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, nasal blockage and postnasal drip which can be accompanied by itchy, watery eyes, itchy mouth and itchy ears.  Symptoms vary from mild to severe.

What are the causes of  Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis?        

The timing of symptoms provides a clue as to the offending allergen.  Tree pollen season begins in March and diminishes by early June.  Grass pollen season begins by mid-May and diminishes by mid-July.   The major weed pollen, ragweed, flourishes from late August through early October.  Outdoor molds are prevalent spring through fall. 

How is Allergic Rhinitis diagnosed?

The most accurate way to diagnose allergic rhinitis is by allergy skin testing.  During this procedure, the skin is pricked with a number of airborne allergens.  A positive skin test reaction causes redness and swelling where the skin is tested, identifying the specific allergens that cause problems.

How is Allergic Rhinitis treated?

The three arms of treatment include avoidance, medications and immunotherapy.

• Avoidance includes keeping windows closed when the pollen counts are high, especially during the early morning when the pollen counts are highest.  Showering and changing clothes after spending time outdoors reduces ongoing pollen exposure.  Daily pollen counts can be tracked at http://www.weather.com/activities/health/allergies/

• Treatment includes non-prescription antihistamines for relatively mild symptoms.  These can be coupled with prescription nasal corticosteroid or nasal antihistamine sprays and eye drops for more severe symptoms.  Nasal corticosteroid sprays are the most effective treatment for allergic rhinitis and are FDA approved for children as young as two, but must be used consistently for optimal benefit. 

• Allergen Immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, is sometimes recommended if symptoms remain problematic despite medical treatment.  During immunotherapy, the patient is injected with gradually increasing amounts of the allergens they are allergic to in order to allow the body to form immunity.  While immunotherapy does not cure allergies, studies show that it significantly reduces allergic symptoms and need for medication.

For those suffering from significant, ongoing symptoms that are not responsive to over-the-counter or prescription medical management, a board-certified allergy specialist should be consulted.

The same is true for those experiencing complications, such as sinusitis or asthma.