A seasonal allergy is an allergic reaction to a trigger that is typically only present for a season or part of a year, such as spring or fall. Perennial allergies, on the other hand, are usually present all the time and include allergens such as pet dander and dust. Molds can be either seasonal or perennial.

How common are Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies very are common in people today. The term hay fever is often used, however is somewhat misleading. Symptoms for hay fever do not occur only in the summer when hay is traditionally gathered and never include a fever. Hay fever is usually a reaction to pollens and grasses by the body.

Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Seasonal allergies can cause itching of the nose, roof of the mouth, back of the throat, eyes, and ears. Itching may start abruptly or gradually. A reaction maybe a runny nose, producing a clear watery discharge, and may become stuffed up.

Sneezing can also be a common symptom. Seasonal allergies also cause the eyes to water, sometimes profusely, and itch. The whites of the eyes and the eyelids may become red and swollen after itching them profusely. Wearing contact lenses can irritate the eyes further and should be removed as soon as an allergic reaction starts occurring.

The lining of the nose may become red and/or swollen. Other symptoms may include headache, coughing, wheezing, bouts of sneezing, congestion, ear popping and fullness, pressure sensations located over the cheeks and forehead, and irritability. More rarely, depression, loss of appetite, and insomnia may develop.

Seasonal Allergies and Asthma

Many people who have a seasonal allergy may also have or develop asthma, caused by the same allergens that contribute to the allergic reactions they are having. A child may also inherit the tendency to be allergic, but not necessarily to the specific things as the parent is. Family members may differ widely in the allergies they obtain and the reactions that occur to them. If other family members suffer from seasonal allergies, your risk of suffering from allergies is unfortunately increased. Children with few siblings or first born children have increased chances of suffering from seasonal allergies.

Testing for Seasonal Allergies

A skin prick test is a procedure where a number of allergens are placed on the skin, and the skin is pricked to see which allergens cause a reaction. I, as a child, had undergone many of these tests. The larger the reaction is to a specific allergen in the skin prick test, the more likely it is that there is an allergy to the substance being tested.

Treatment options for seasonal allergies can vary from injections, nasal sprays, eye drops, and oral medications. I personally used everything with no relief in sight. Seems like the more prescription medicines I took the worse my allergies got. I finally tried all natural supplements. I finally found some relief with them and haven’t had any reactions this year.

Written by Brooke Freeman for MicroNutra Health™

This entry was posted on Friday, November 16th, 2007 at 4:32 am and is filed under Allergies, Seasonal Allergies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.