More than 400 million people in the world suffer from allergic rhinitis, known as “hay fever”. This inflammation of the nasal passages is caused by the wrong reaction of the immune system to pollen, dust or animal hair.

In addition to debilitating symptoms such as sneezing and difficulty breathing, untreated allergies increase the risk of respiratory infections and the development of asthma, especially in children.

According to experts such as Glenis Scadding and Stephen Durham, the big problem is that this disease is often trivialized by doctors and patients. settling for simple antihistamines instead of long-term preventive treatments.

However, the good news is that today there are therapies that do not only treat the symptoms, but aim to “cure” the body. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) works by desensitizing the body to the allergen. This used to be done only through injections, which, while effective, carried a small risk of anaphylaxis.

Today, the turning point is sublingual immunotherapy (drops or tablets under the tongue). This method is safer and can be administered by the patient himself. Studies show that if treatment starts 16 weeks before pollen season and continues for three years, it can cause a long-term eradication of the disease.

For example, one study of children showed that those who received immunotherapy were 29 percent less likely to develop asthma. The challenge remains the discipline of the patient to adhere to the 3-year protocol and the limitation of the types of pollen that can currently be treated with this method.

For those who cannot undergo immunotherapy, the most effective treatment remains the nasal spray that combines antihistamine with corticosteroids. The key to success is starting use before the first symptoms appear and regular daily use.

Unlike old drugs, second-generation antihistamines (such as cetirizine or loratadine) are more effective and do not cause dangerous drowsiness. Also, environmental measures play a supporting role: keeping windows closed, using air purifiers, and taking a mandatory shower before bed to remove pollen from hair and skin. /tesheshi.com/

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Source: prizrenpost