hay fever

hay fever,

seasonal allergyallergy,
hypersensitive reaction of the body tissues of certain individuals to certain substances that, in similar amounts and circumstances, are innocuous to other persons. Allergens, or allergy-causing substances, can be airborne substances (e.g.
..... Click the link for more information. causing inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes. It is characterized by itching about the eyes and nose, sneezing, a profuse watery nasal discharge, and tearing of the eyes. The cause is a sensitivity to one or more species of pollens or fungi. In addition, many patients with hay fever develop other allergic conditions, e.g., asthmaasthma
, chronic inflammatory respiratory disease characterized by periodic attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath, and a tight feeling in the chest. A cough producing sticky mucus is symptomatic.
..... Click the link for more information. and sinusitis. In the spring, hay fever may be caused by tree pollens (oak, elm, maple); in summer, by grass pollens, wheat or corn rusts, or fungus spores; in late summer and fall, by ragweed pollen, which is the most common cause. Temporary relief of symptoms may be obtained from antihistamines and decongestants, such as ephedrine. Physicians may resort to corticosteroids in severe cases. Sometimes desensitization measures are taken, consisting of repeated injections of small amounts of the allergen (pollen) until its presence produces no symptoms; however, the treatment must be continued from year to year, since immunity is not permanent. Some relief can be obtained by removing pollen from the air by air conditioners and filters.

Hay Fever

an allergic disorder in man, caused by sensitivity to the pollen of certain plant species. Hay fever belongs to the group of pollinoses. The disorder appears during the flowering of grasses and trees. Pollinoses may be spring, summer, or autumn reactions, depending on individual sensitivity to a certain species of pollen and on the time of flowering of the offending plant. Clinical manifestations include irritation of the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes and, less frequently, attacks of asthma. Treatment involves specific desensitization between attacks and the use of such symptomatic preparations as ephed-rine, Adrenalin, and antihistamine preparations during the allergy season. Prophylaxis includes changing the place of residence during the hay-fever season and other means of avoiding contact with the allergen.

hay fever

[′hā ‚fē·vər] (medicine) An allergic disorder of the nasal membranes and related structures due to sensitization by certain plant pollens. Also known as allergic rhinitis; pollinosis.

hay fever

an allergic reaction to pollen, dust, etc., characterized by sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes due to inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose

hay fever

an atopic allergy characterized by sneezing, itching and watery eyes, nasal discharge, and a burning sensation of the palate and throat. It is a localized anaphylactic reaction to an extrinsic allergen, usually pollen or the spores of molds. When the allergen comes in contact with cell-bound immunoglobulin" >immunoglobulin E in the tissues of the conjunctiva, nasal mucosa, and bronchial tree, the tissues release mediators of anaphylaxis and produce the characteristic symptoms of hay fever.
The amount of pollen in the air varies with the season and geographic area. East of the Rocky Mountains, the peak of the regional hay fever season occurs between mid-August and mid-September, when the air is heavy with the pollen of the ragweed plant. An appreciable number of hay fever sufferers are also reactive to the spring pollens from grasses and trees. Mold-bearing plants such as wheat, barley, and corn are prevalent in the agricultural areas of the Midwest, and attacks of hay fever caused by mold spores are common there as these crops ripen.
Hay fever should be recognized as more than a mere nuisance. By causing lack of sleep and loss of appetite, it can lower the body's resistance to disease. It can cause inflammation of the ears, sinuses, throat, and bronchi. Some hay fever sufferers develop asthma.
Hay fever can be relieved, although not cured, by antihistamines and sympathomimetic drugs such as ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride. loratadine and desloratadine are newer antihistamines that do not cause the drowsiness, mental dullness, and sleepiness that were traditionally associated with antihistamines. cromolyn is also an effective therapy, supplied in an inhaler that produces a spray of droplets to settle on the nasal mucosa and relieve symptoms of hay fever. A series of preventive injections (desensitization or hyposensitization) may be recommended in advance of the hay fever season. This consists of administering controlled and gradually increasing amounts of the offending substance in order to develop a certain amount of immunity. Air conditioning may help give relief by filtering much of the pollen from the air.nonseasonal hay fever (perennial hay fever) nonseasonal allergic rhinitis.

hay fe·ver

a form of atopy characterized by an acute irritative inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes and upper respiratory passages accompanied by itching and profuse watery secretion, usually without temperature elevation, followed occasionally by bronchitis and asthma; the episode recurs annually at the same or nearly the same time of the year, in spring, summer, or late summer and autumn, caused by an allergic reaction to the pollen of trees, grasses, weeds, flowers, etc. Synonym(s): allergic coryza

hay fever

n. An allergic condition affecting the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and the eyes, most often characterized by nasal discharge, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes and usually caused by an abnormal sensitivity to airborne pollen. Also called pollinosis.

allergic rhinitis

An inflammatory response in the nasal passages to allergens, which is the most common form of atopic-allergic disease, affecting 5–20% of the general population. Allergic rhinitis is initiated by exposure of the nasal mucosa to airborne antigens, evoking IgE production; upon repeated re-exposure to the allergen (e.g., ragweed pollen), histamine, leukotrienes C4, D4, E4, B4, PGD2, kinins, kininogen and serotonin are released.
Allergic rhinitis is the most widely used of a plethora of terms referring to the effect of allergens on the upper respiratory tract, in particular the nasopharynx. It is often related to environmental antigens—most commonly pollen—thus being known as seasonal allergic rhinitis (colloquially known as hay fever), and less often to “constant” allergens, in which case it is designated perennial allergic rhinitis.
Clinical findings
Paroxysms of sneezing, nasal congestion, nasal and ocular pruritus, tearing, rhinorrhoea, anosmia, ageusia, postnasal drip (which may cause coughing), partial or total obstruction of airflow, throat clearing, and allergic periorbital hematomas (black eyes).

Diagnosis
Skin testing with appropriate inhalant allergens is of greater use than measuring serum IgE.

Management
Avoid allergens; antihistamines (especially H1-receptor antagonists); sympathomimetic amines; anticholinergics; corticosteroids; decongestants; cromolyn sodium; immunotherapy.
Pathogenesis
Unclear; possibly a hypersensitivity response to allergens in pollen, dander, mites, insects, mould spores, foods; most patients have circulating IgE antibodies that bind to high-affinity receptors on mast cells and basophils, and to low-affinity receptors on other cells, evoking release of inflammatory mediators.

hay fever

A popular term for a seasonal allergic rhinitis caused by pollen and characterized by itching and tearing of eyes, swelling of nasal mucosa, attacks of sneezing, often asthma. See Allergic rhinitis.

hay fe·ver

(hā fē'vĕr) A form of atopy characterized by an acute irritative inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes and upper respiratory passages accompanied by itching and profuse watery secretion, followed occasionally by bronchitis and asthma; the episode recurs annually at the same or nearly the same time of the year, in spring, summer, or late summer and autumn, caused by an allergic reaction to the pollen of trees, grasses, weeds, and flowers.

hay fever

A term remarkable for its imprecision, the condition being neither a fever nor caused by hay. See ALLERGIC RHINITIS.

hay fever

an allergic reaction to atmospheric dust and pollen. Hay fever causes watery eyes, sneezing, etc., due to inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose.

Bostock,

John, English physician, 1773-1846. Bostock catarrh - Synonym(s): allergic rhinitis; hay feverBostock disease

hay fe·ver

Patient discussion about hay fever

Q. I have chronic hayfever problems in the mornings for the first hour.Seems to be a correlation with dairy produ I also got asthma 8 years ago at age 69, after having 2 pet cats. It is controlled with 2 puffs of Symbicord daily, am & pm.Anyone managed a complete cure?A. Hey lixuri,you mean to tell me after after 25yrs as a therapist,All my patients had to do is drink water all day.i love it,how long does it take to work,an what does the patient do in the mean time if they have a asthmatic attack(drink WAter while you cant breath?-PLEASE SEND ME AN AANSWER.---mrfoot56.

Q. Regarding Seasonal Nasal allergy. My father is suffering from seasonal nasal allergies. He took a 24-hour loratadine pill, 5 hours ago. His nose is still running just like it was. Can I take a benedryl, or is it dangerous to mix loratadine and benedryl? What else can I do to stop my nose?A. except well known drug interactions- most Dr. check it out with a computer program they have. you need to ask a Dr. or a pharmacist about it. but i can tell you that if you wait 4 times the T1/2 - that is enough to consider the drug out of the system.

Q. is seasonal allergies are treatable? A. here is the link to the Merck manual about that-
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec16/ch185/ch185b.html

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Patient discussion about hay fever

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Synonyms for hay fever

noun a seasonal rhinitis resulting from an allergic reaction to pollen

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