Seasonal Allergies

What are seasonal allergies?

Seasonal allergies (also called hay fever) are caused by your immune system reacting to a foreign substance in the environment, including pollen from flowering trees, grass, weeds, and flowers. Your body produces antibodies against these pollens, which triggers a chain reaction that leads to allergy symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, and itchy eyes. Your symptoms may be mildly annoying or so intense that it feels like a bad cold.

Seasonal allergy symptoms

When allergy season hits, it can seem like you’re coming down with a cold or flu. Though symptoms can mimic those of a cold or flu, they usually don’t cause fever, chills, or body aches. Seasonal allergy symptoms include:

• A runny nose
• Repeated sneezing
• Nasal congestion
• Postnasal drip
• Itchy, red, or watery eyes
• Puffy or inflamed eyelids or undereye area
• Clogged ears (common with nasal congestion)
• Itchy or scratchy throat
• A rash (sometimes)

How long does hay fever last?

Seasonal allergies in the U.S. begin in the spring with the flowering of trees, then grass and weeds in the early summer, and generally end in the fall with ragweed season.

Each allergen generally lasts 2 to 3 months, peaking for about 2 to 3 weeks—when symptoms are at their worst. The timing depends on both the allergen and where you live.

For example, pine pollen is released from April to July, with a peak generally in late May. Elm pollen is released from February to April, with a peak in March.

Some people may be allergic to only one type of pollen, while others are allergic to several allergens.

Some people have allergy symptoms to dust mites and mold spores. These are indoor allergies and are not seasonal. Usually, symptoms are worse during the cold months when people spend more time indoors.

Can you outgrow allergies?

Most seasonal allergies develop during childhood or early adulthood. Some people may outgrow allergies over time, while others first develop allergies later in life. Changes in sensitivity to a specific allergen can be from many causes. It may simply be from changes in the environment, such as moving to a different location. Or the specific response to the allergen may have changed.

Seasonal allergies treatments

There are many approaches to treating seasonal allergy symptoms. It usually requires a combination approach: avoiding allergens when possible, taking medications to prevent the symptoms, and treating symptoms when they occur.

Medications

If you are taking several types of medications, review them with a doctor to avoid cross reactions of the medications or accidentally taking too much of one type.

• Antihistamines: These block histamine, a compound released by the immune system during an allergic response. Some people find it helps to start these medications a week or two before allergy season, while others may only need to take them when their symptoms worsen. These are available over the counter or by prescription as pills (Zyrtec, Allegra, Claritin), eye drops (Zaditor, Patinol, Visine), or nasal sprays (Azelastine, Patanase).
• Decongestants: These decrease nasal congestion and open up clogged nasal passages. They can be either nasal sprays (like oxymetazoline, or Afrin) or oral decongestants (pseudoephedrine) and are available over the counter. Decongestants should not be taken for more than 3 or 4 days in a row.
• Nasal saline sprays: These can clear congestion from the nasal passages and help the body get rid of inhaled allergens.
• Corticosteroids: These are prescription medications that stop inflammation caused by allergies. They should only be used for very severe symptoms.