Things to Watch Out for During Spring Allergies

What to Know About Spring Allergies Emphasizing that pollen-related spring allergies can cause complaints in the respiratory tract, Prof. Dr. Emine Dibek Mısırlıoğlu, Member of the Board of Directors of the Turkish National Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, stated: "It is possible to protect against spring allergies by avoiding pollens, using medication and allergen-specific immunotherapy."

Spring Allergies Are Widespread in Turkey

Allergies that emerge with the arrival of spring affect the quality of life of individuals sensitive to them. The primary cause of spring allergies, which occur in one of every 3-4 people in Turkey, is pollens dispersed into the atmosphere by wind during the period when nature begins to revive. Prof. Dr. Emine Dibek Mısırlıoğlu, Member of the Board of Directors of the Turkish National Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, notes that diagnosis of spring allergies, which manifest with symptoms such as nasal discharge, congestion, itching, sneezing, eye itching, and cough, requires examination and testing.

Prof. Dr. Dibek Mısırlıoğlu Discussed Preventive Measures and Treatment Methods

Avoid outdoor activities during high pollen hours: Control of environmental and triggering factors is important in the treatment of allergic diseases. Pollens are particularly concentrated in the morning hours, but pollen levels decrease after rain and in the evening. During hours of high pollen concentration, windows should be kept closed, outdoor exposure should be avoided, and outdoor activities should be minimized. Additionally, during the pollen season, clothes should not be dried outdoors, clothing should be changed upon arriving home, and showering to remove pollens are among the measures to be taken. Wear sunglasses and face masks: Wearing sunglasses is effective for eye symptoms. Thanks to face masks that entered our lives with the pandemic, a reduction in symptoms has been observed. Beyond all these measures, medication treatments and immunotherapy with allergens in selected patients are important. Consult an allergy specialist: Although symptoms typically recur during specific time periods, spring allergies can be confused with some diseases caused by microorganisms. Pollen allergies, categorized into three groups—tree pollens, grass and hay pollens, and weed pollens—require skin testing to identify the causative allergen for diagnosis, and in some cases, blood levels developed against the allergen can be examined. Use your medications regularly: To control symptoms, medications can be taken orally, applied to the nasal cavity, or applied to the eye, and medication treatment should be tailored according to patients' severity of complaints. Regular use of medications as recommended by the physician is important for treatment response. Allergen-specific immunotherapy can be applied: In allergic rhinitis patients in whom symptoms persist or worsen despite avoidance of allergens and medication treatment, allergen-specific immunotherapy targeted at the allergen in question can be applied.