Seasonal Allergies

Diagnosis

To determine what is causing your symptoms, your doctor will start with a medical history. Allergic symptoms that show up during pollen season are the biggest indication that you are suffering from allergies. In other words, if April showers bring May flowers plus sneezes and a runny nose, allergies are probably to blame.

Allergies can be triggered by many things, including exposure to house dust and animal dander. Your doctor will want to know if you have pets, if anyone in the house smokes, or if you are taking any medications in order to decipher the cause of your symptoms. Your doctor also will want to know how old you were when you started getting allergy symptoms and if anyone in your family suffers from allergies.

A physical examination can help your doctor rule out mechanical or physical abnormalities that may be causing your symptoms. Your doctor may use a strong light and a nasal speculum to examine your nasal passages for evidence of mechanical obstruction. Clear nasal discharge and a characteristic appearance of the back of the throught suggest that allergic rhinitis is causing your upper respiratory symptoms. Polyps, tumors, and a deviated or perforated septum can cause symptoms that mimic allergies.

Allergy skin tests can help determine which allergens are responsible for your symptoms. For an allergy skin test, your doctor will prick or scratch your skin with a series of needles that contain a minuscule amount of allergens. If one of these areas becomes red or itchy or a raised welt appears, that allergen is the offender. Sometimes your doctor will order a blood test to see if you have a high number of eosinophils, the type of white blood cell that responds to allergies.

Prevention and Screening

When pollen counts are high, seek refuge in a climate-controlled environment if possible. The pollen count peaks between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. each day. Try to stay indoors during those hours. If you are commuting to work when pollen is at its worst, keep your car windows rolled up and use the air-conditioning. If you think it is too cool for air conditioning, remember that you can adjust the temperature on your dashboard. The air can be "conditioned" and be warm at the same time. Wearing sunglasses may also help to keep pollen out of your eyes. Listen to the radio or watch television news to find out the day's pollen count. If it is high, delay outdoor activities or at least bring allergy medications with you. Some people get monthly allergy shots. You can ask your doctor if those would help lessen your symptoms.