There is an increase in allergic diseases with the autumn months. Complaints such as persistent cough and post-nasal congestion continue, even intensify, despite the end of the spring and summer months. Well, the answer to the question of why these complaints increase again may be the increase in molds, house dust or weed pollens such as ragweed, which increased in the last spring months.
In the autumn, mold fungi took over the disturbing allergic complaints caused by pollen in the spring. Of course, not only mold fungi, but also pollen caused by weeds such as house dust and ragweed cause an increase in allergic complaints.
Allergic rhinitis, which manifests itself with complaints of itching, runny nose, congestion and sneezing with the onset of autumn months, can often be confused with seasonal flu, which occurs with the cold weather and increase in flu epidemics. Seasonal flu can worsen the symptoms of allergic rhinitis as well as cause severe asthma attacks.
Spending more time indoors in the autumn, drying the laundry in the environment we stay in or using moisture-producing devices that can cause humidity can also lead to an increase in allergic rhinitis complaints.
What are the causes of allergies in autumn?
With the coming of the autumn months, rains and falling leaves are very nice, but it is a period when mold fungi also increase in nature. In patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma, the autumn months can mean runny nose, sneezing, redness and itching in the eyes, shortness of breath, sleepless nights such as coughing and then fatigue that continues throughout the day. The decay of plants and the spread of molds in the air with the rains are the most important reasons for the increase in allergic complaints in autumn.
Complaints that occur due to grass and tree pollen in the spring months occur due to the increase in weed pollen such as ragweed, which starts to pollinate in autumn, especially in August, September and October. In autumn, weed pollens may cause an increase in allergic rhinitis and asthma complaints, and especially in those with ragweed pollen allergies, there may be sensitivity to foods such as banana, melon and pumpkin, complaints such as itching in the mouth, redness and swelling in the body.
We know that complaints due to house dust increase during the transition periods of autumn and spring. It should not be forgotten that house dust allergy may cause an increase in complaints in the autumn months. In these months, those with house dust allergy should use more regular medication and increase their precautions.
What are the symptoms of autumn allergy?
In the last spring months, when we start to spend more time at home with the end of the summer months, we see that complaints related to mold and house dust allergies occur in children, especially with the opening of schools.
Runny nose
Watery and itchy red eyes
Sneezing
Coughing
Itchy and swollen nose
dark circles under it indicate the onset of allergic complaints.
Cough may be the first sign of allergy that manifests itself in the last spring months, so patients have a persistent cough and if it occurs every spring and autumn, allergy should be considered. can open. With seasonal flu epidemics, cough complaints can lead to asthma attacks and related hospitalizations. If there is loss of sense of smell, yellow-green discharge, unilateral nasal congestion, and if it causes a serious high fever, infection should come to mind.
How are autumn allergies diagnosed?
Complaints such as runny nose, itching, congestion, sneezing, watery eyes and cough, shortness of breath that occur with the autumn months are the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and asthma.
Allergic rhinitis is a serious health problem that affects both health and social life of people and impairs their quality of life. Allergic rhinitis is not only in the form of runny nose, itching and sneezing, but unfortunately it brings other health problems in the future. For the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis in adults with allergic rhinitis symptoms, a good history should be taken and allergy tests should be performed
A detailed history is first taken for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis in autumn. The story of autumn allergies in adult patients usually starts with allergic rhinitis and ends with allergic asthma. After the complaints of runny nose, congestion, itching and frequent sneezing begin, nasal congestion becomes more evident in the later period and mouth breathing begins. Adenoid enlargement is seen in children due to mouth breathing. With the start of mouth breathing, complaints such as sinusitis, pharyngitis and ear inflammation, a feeling of fullness in the ear, are added in both adults and children, and cough complaints begin with a nasal discharge that does not go away over time. If allergic rhinitis is not treated, asthma begins to occur with complaints of shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, after that. Early diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is very important. Complaints that start in the autumn can continue throughout the year.
Allergy tests should be performed by allergy specialists in order to diagnose complaints that start in the autumn months.
Which Tests Are Performed in the Diagnosis of Autumn Allergy?
Some tests are done to diagnose allergic rhinitis that occurs in the fall. The most important of these tests are allergy skin tests. Allergy tests can be done at any age, but for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, it can be done in all adults after 2-3 years of age. For allergy testing, skin prick tests are mostly preferred, but sometimes allergy tests can be done from blood in patients who cannot be tested. Skin tests give more accurate results. In addition to allergy testing, pulmonary function tests may be required in suspected allergic asthma.
What is the treatment for autumn allergy?
Allergen prevention and prevention, drug therapy, allergy vaccination, complementary therapy, which is valid for all allergic diseases, are valid for allergies in autumn.
It is important to be protected from mold fungi and house dust, as it occurs especially in autumn due to the increase of mold and house dust.
Measures to be taken for house dust and mold can be listed as follows.
Ventilation helps prevent mold growth inside, but it is necessary not to ventilate during very windy times in terms of mold and pollen that can enter from outside. An air filter can be used at home, which can trap mold and dust particles.
Trying to stay away from places where mold is common, such as cellars, leaf piles, forest areas, is appropriate in the autumn months.
A face mask can be helpful when mold-intensive environments cannot be avoided.
Cleaning helps reduce mold fungi in kitchens and bathrooms.
It is important not to dry clothes indoors
It is appropriate to leave some space between the clothes in the cupboards and leave the doors slightly open for ventilation.
It is convenient to close interior doors to keep bathrooms, showers and cooking steam out of other areas.
Care must be taken not to rot especially food in the storage area.
Take care to have fewer or no plant pots if possible. If there are plants, it is appropriate to amend the soil to prevent the growth of molds.
It is important to try to avoid humidifiers in the house if possible, but if necessary, keep the humidity as low as possible and use a humidity and temperature meter at home.
Such measures can reduce the flare-up of our allergies in the fall.
It is better to take precautions in seasonal flu, which causes allergic complaints to worsen, and to get flu vaccines when the time comes. It is more important for patients with allergic asthma complaints to have flu vaccine.
Medicines such as antihistamines, nasal steroids or inhaled steroids, which are necessary to control allergic complaints, should be used regularly, so that asthma and allergic rhinitis complaints can be prevented.
Allergy vaccines (immunotherapy), which is the most important step in the treatment of allergic diseases, can prevent the emergence of allergic complaints. It may be possible to treat allergic patients with allergy vaccines, which are properly started by allergy specialists.
As a result;
Due to the increase in molds, house dust and pollen in the last spring months, nasal discharge, congestion, itching, sneezing, cough and shortness of breath may increase.
It is important for people with allergies to take precautions to prevent their complaints from increasing in the autumn months, to protect them from allergens, to use allergy medications regularly, and to have flu vaccinations to avoid seasonal flu.
If the complaints of patients with persistent cough, post-nasal drip and rhinitis complaints increase every autumn, allergy tests should be performed by allergy specialists.
Patients with allergies in autumn can be treated without asthma with appropriate treatment after diagnosis with allergy tests.
