Hay fever, how to treat it
Hay fever (or allergic rhinitis) occurs in 1 in 5 people during specific times of the year (e.g., spring) and can lead to symptoms very common to those of colds, even throughout the year.
Symptoms of hay fever
Symptoms are runny nose, congestion, sneezing, nasal obstruction, intra nasal itching, which can often be accompanied by headache, loss of sense of smell, eye symptoms (excessive tearing, itching or redness of the eyes).
Allergy occurs because, in predisposed individuals, the immune system considers normally harmless substances to be harmful, producing specific antibodies (IgE) to combat them.
The cause is to be found in external or internal allergens such as pollen, dust mites or animal dander, which precisely cause allergy.
To treat hay fever, there are homeopathic or home remedies such as:
- saline solution for nasal lavage
- inhalation with saline solution
- oil of black cumin
- eyebright, a herbaceous plant, to be taken in the form of drops or tea
- Mint, to be taken in the form of tea or oil
- Against itchy eyes, use a cool, damp cloth as a mask
If symptoms continue to persist, it is a good idea to visit the allergy specialist who, based on the symptoms, medical history and allergy tests (on skin or blood), will make the diagnosis and prescribe drug therapy (antihistamines, nasal sprays, eye drops).
If necessary, allergen-specific immunotherapy will also be prescribed especially to prevent any complications: one avenue is the
Desensitization, the injection of allergens, with a constantly increasing dosage, which can only be carried out by a physician so that the body becomes accustomed to the allergy-causing substances and the defense reaction is reduced or even eliminated.
The treatment must be repeated periodically and lasts from 3 to 5 years.
Not treated properly, in fact, hay fever can lead to complications such as sinusitis, otitis media and bronchial asthma.
