Fight off spring's unwelcomed guests

What if I told you an enemy lurks outside, ready to create havoc in the lives of nearly one-third of all people? This enemy has the potential of interfering with our ability to work effectively, do well in school, and get a good night’s sleep. This same enemy could also increase our children’s risk of developing asthma.

And what if I told you this enemy is increasing in number, strength, and duration because of climate change? Pretty scary, right?

The enemy I am talking about is— you probably guessed it—pollen. Tree pollen is the largest factor during the spring season, while grass and weed pollen come into play later in the year. Unfortunately, allergy pollen counts and allergy sufferers are both on the rise, and here to stay.

A typical patient with allergies has recurrent symptoms of sneezing, runny nose with postnasal drip, and itching of the nose, throat or ears. Half of patients also have itchy, watery eyes that are bothersome. Nasal congestion is more associated with perennial allergic rhinitis, but can also occur with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Since you can’t avoid pollen, unless you lock yourself indoors, it’s important to understand medications and treatment.

The most effective medication for treating the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, is a nasal steroid. There is now one available, an over-the-counter drug called triamcinolone.

For nasal congestion, medications should be used daily, and follow-up physician visits are recommended. Other over-the-counter options include non-sedating oral antihistamines, such as Zyrtec or Allegra. These can help with mild, intermittent symptoms, espe- cially runny nose and sneezing. Other medication options are available only by prescription.

Medications only mask the symptoms of allergies, though, rather than helping overcome them for good. For that, there is immunotherapy—the only treatment that will modify the disease itself. IT not only improves symptoms, but it decreases the development of new allergies and also the risk of a child developing asthma.

There are two forms of IT: subcutaneous (allergy shots), which is used as the main treatment in the United States, and sublingual (allergy drops/tablets), which is used mainly in Europe. While the injections clearly work better, there will be a place for sublingual IT once it becomes FDA-approved and advancements are made.

If you’ve tried over-the-counter medications and avoidance measures and still have symptoms, then visit a board-certified allergist. An allergist can help you identify your allergens, and provide you with a comprehensive program that may not only improve your symptoms, but in some cases stop the disease.

Dr. Bradley T. Rankin is a board-certified allergist with Family Allergy and Asthma in Paducah. To schedule an appointment, call (270) 442-5151.