The first wave of pollen warning in 2024

　　In the spring when everything is revived and the grass grows and the warblers fly, some people may "have a snot and a tear" every day. They are the groups allergic to pollen.

　　In recent years, the incidence of pollen allergy has been rising, from infants to 60-year-olds, there have been allergic cases, and it is estimated that the allergic population in China exceeds 200 million.

　　Experts summarize the main symptoms of pollen allergy and teach you how to spend this pollen season smoothly.

　　Pollen concentration will reach a peak.

　　In the face of the upcoming pollen season, many patients with allergic rhinitis have already "shivered". According to the data of previous years, the pollen concentration in most areas reached its peak in the middle and late March, and the 2024 pollen detection and forecast service in Beijing began on March 2.

　　Qin He, deputy chief physician of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Hospital, Tsinghua, Tsinghua University, said that the number of patients with allergic rhinitis who came to see a doctor recently increased significantly.

　　The biggest pollen allergy in spring is trees, and the common ones are Sabina vulgaris, Sycamore, Willow, Poplar and Elm. These pollen are spread by wind, which are large in quantity and small in diameter, and are easy to induce allergies.

　　If the following symptoms appear periodically every spring, it may be pollen allergy:

　　Rhinitis: inflammation and swelling of nasal mucosa, itchy nose, nasal congestion and sneezing, and watery nose. Usually, the symptoms in the morning will be more serious than those in the evening, and it will be aggravated in dry and windy weather, and it will feel a little better indoors than outdoors.

　　Conjunctivitis: the eyes are bloodshot, itchy and tearful, and I always want to rub my eyes.

　　Allergic asthma: cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and even "hissing" abnormal sound can be heard when panting.

　　Rash: The skin, ears, mouth and palate are itchy, and rashes may appear on the skin, or little red dot and eczema like mosquito bites may appear.

　　Accompanied by food allergy: people who are allergic to pollen may have symptoms such as swollen lips, vomiting and diarrhea after eating fruits or nuts.

　　3 strokes to deal with pollen allergy

　　Pollen allergy in spring usually lasts until May, and people with allergic history can relieve discomfort through the following measures.

　　Advance medication

　　Seasonal allergy can be treated first, and people with allergic history should use anti-allergic drugs according to the doctor’s advice 10~14 days before the allergic season comes. For example, nasal glucocorticoid spray and nasal antihistamine can help the nasal cavity to establish a protective barrier and reduce allergic symptoms.

　　Watch the sky go out.

　　Dry weather, high temperature and strong wind are more conducive to the spread of pollen and easy to cause allergic reactions.

　　Allergic patients should reduce going out in this weather, especially during the period of high pollen concentration from 10 am to 5 pm. Pay attention to pollen monitoring and forecasting, and reduce outdoor activities when the index is high.

　　Make good protection.

　　When you have to go out, you should take necessary protection, wear masks and goggles, and apply cream to exposed skin, which can play a role in isolation. After returning home, clean the exposed skin such as nose, face and hands, and put on clean clothes.

　　In addition, it is necessary to open the window less during the pollen season, and try not to hang clothes, sheets, etc. outdoors to avoid pollen contamination.

　　Don’t "carry it hard" after allergies.

　　Many people choose to "carry" after allergic symptoms appear, thinking that the symptoms will disappear when the allergic season passes.

　　This practice is actually not desirable. If allergic rhinitis is not treated for a long time, it may further lead to diseases such as bronchial asthma and sinusitis. Children’s rhinitis may also cause secretory otitis media and aggravate adenoidal hypertrophy.

　　Can be used for treating different symptoms, and can effectively relieve the discomfort caused by allergy.

　　1 Pollen allergic rhinitis

　　When the nose is itchy, runny nose or sneezing, you can use a nose washer and wash the nasal cavity with normal saline prepared with nasal washing salt. It is not recommended to use pure water or self-prepared salt water, which is easy to choke and cause danger.

　　When the symptoms are serious, antihistamine oral medicine and local nasal spray can be selected according to the condition under the guidance of a doctor.

　　2 Pollen allergic conjunctivitis

　　When the eyes are itchy, you should close your eyes and gently press around the eyes to avoid touching the eyeball. Don’t rub your eyes with your hands, it may bring in more germs and cause infection.

　　Some allergic conjunctivitis should be treated with hormone eye drops, which should be used reasonably under the guidance of a doctor.

　　3 pollen allergic dermatitis

　　When the skin shows mild erythema and rash without exudation, calamine lotion can be used to relieve itching.

　　Pay attention to sun and pollen protection when going out to avoid aggravating dermatitis.

　　4 pollen allergic asthma

　　Asthma patients should take preventive measures before the pollen season, and keep salbutamol, terbutaline and other drugs according to the doctor’s advice, and relieve the acute attack in time.

　　How to distinguish pollen allergy from cold?

　　Guan Kai, deputy chief physician of Allergy Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said that the symptoms of pollen allergy and cold are different.

　　The number of sneezes is different. The number of cold sneezing attacks and the number of continuous sneezing are relatively small, generally 1~2 at a time. During the attack of allergic rhinitis, there are often several paroxysmal sneezes every day, ranging from 3 to 5 at a time to more than a dozen or even more.

　　Whether the nose itches. When catching a cold, the main symptom of the nose is not itching, but prolonged nasal congestion and runny nose. The common symptoms of anaphylaxis are itchy nose and a large number of clear-water nasal mucus and nasal congestion.

　　Are there any systemic symptoms? A cold is often accompanied by fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches and other general malaise symptoms. Allergies are generally not accompanied by systemic symptoms such as fever.

　　What is the state of the eyes? If you are allergic to eyes, you will often rub your eyes and blink frequently in severe cases.

　　People with no allergic history, if they often have itchy nose, sneezing, runny nose and stuffy nose, sneeze many times at a time, and have no symptoms such as fever and general weakness, should not treat a cold directly or take cold medicine by themselves, so as to avoid the harm to health caused by wrong medication.

　　Interviewed experts:

　　Qin He, Deputy Chief Physician of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Hospital, Tsinghua, Tsinghua University.

　　Guan Kai, Deputy Chief Physician, Department of Allergy, Peking Union Medical College Hospital