Synonyms in a broader sense
Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, rhinitis allergica and pollen allergy
Definition
Hay fever is a disease of the upper respiratory tract caused by inhaled substances (allergens), which occurs seasonally and causes inflammation of the mucous membranes. Hay fever belongs to the group of diseases of the so-called atopic forms, which also includes allergic bronchial asthma and atopic eczema (synonym: neurodermatitis).
Symptoms
Characteristically, hay fever occurs seasonally at the same time of the year. It always appears when the pollen to which one is allergic is flying. Depending on which pollen one is allergic to, the symptoms can occur again and again in spring, summer or even autumn.
Especially at night and in the morning hours the symptoms are more pronounced, as these are the weddings of the pollen flight. There are some signs and behaviors by which one can recognize hay fever. For example, one often has watery and itchy eyes.
People rub their eyes more often and some also complain about light and glare sensitivity. In addition, some may sometimes notice a slight deterioration in vision. If an allergic conjunctivitis occurs during hay fever, the eyes are often clogged, especially in the morning.
Sometimes this is so severe that the eyes cannot be opened. It is also possible to have a blocked, sometimes constantly running nose. The nasal secretion is usually watery and transparent or colorless.
Often you sniff and pull up your nose. Sometimes the affected people also report that they can no longer smell and/or taste well or even at all. Some seem to have less appetite.
This may be due to the reduced taste or because they have stomach aches. If the pollen is swallowed, this can also lead to stomach problems and diarrhoea. Nocturnal snoring can also occur during the “allergy times” of some people.
Since they often have difficulty getting air through their nose, they can be noticed by an open mouth. Often one has particularly strong thirst in the morning, since at night the mucous membranes dry out more. In addition, severe sneezing attacks are not uncommon.
Some are still very active, others complain of tiredness and exhaustion and seek rest. Fever can also occur in the context of hay fever. If the above-mentioned complaints appear all year round in this way, then an allergic rhinitis in the context of a house dust mite allergy should be excluded.
If the complaints occur when the person affected is in contact with a certain animal or animal hair, an animal hair allergy should be considered. Coughing often occurs with hay fever. It may be caused by an irritated throat due to mouth breathing.
This can cause dry irritated cough. However, there can also be a slimy cough when mucus accumulates in the throat. The mouth breathing and irritated throat also makes you more susceptible to bacteria that can make the cough even worse and you are more prone to colds.
However, some people suffer from hay fever coupled with asthmatic symptoms. In the context of asthmatic complaints, besides coughing, whistling breath and shortness of breath also occur. If an additional cough occurs with hay fever, one should be careful if there is additional asthma, which should be treated.
With hay fever, the nose and eyes are primarily affected, but complaints in the throat can also manifest themselves. On the one hand there can be an unpleasant scratching and a dry throat. In addition, an itchy and sore throat can occur.
One reason for this is that the swollen nose causes breathing through the open mouth. This causes the mucous membranes to dry out. In addition, the filter function of the nasal mucous membranes is missing.
This makes it easier for bacteria or viruses to settle in the throat and thus lead to further complaints. In the course of time, inflammations can occur and sore throats can develop. Complaints in the throat can be experienced as very unpleasant – especially when they are particularly severe and lead to swallowing difficulties.
To combat dryness in the throat, it helps to drink a lot or gargle with salt water. Hay fever does not necessarily cause tiredness. In the case of severe allergies, however, the immune system is very active and robs the body of a lot of strength and energy, as is the case with a normal cold.
This leads to tiredness and listlessness. Physical performance is also limited. Therefore you should take care not to overstrain yourself when doing sports.If one suffers from hay fever and fatigue and at the same time takes medication against hay fever, e.g. so-called antihistamines, it is worth taking a look at the list of side effects of the medication.
This is because fatigue is a possible side effect of antihistamines. However, there are differences among antihistamines as to how much they cause fatigue. It may be advisable to talk to your doctor for clarification.
The swollen nasal mucosa and eyelids cause a feeling of pressure, so that headaches often accompany hay fever. The headaches can manifest themselves as pressing pain behind the eyes or inside the head. Sometimes hay fever can also trigger migraines.
The exact connection is not clear. The headache is then very strong and is accompanied by other complaints such as sensitivity to light and noise. Decongestant medication for the nasal mucous membrane can reduce the pressure and thus also the headaches.
Skin rashes and itching are a very common and typical symptom of allergies. They can also occur in the context of hay fever. Sometimes hives can also occur.
Here, flat red raised areas appear on the skin, which are very itchy. People who are already affected by hives or neurodermatitis suffer more during the pollen season. In addition, there are also contact allergies, in which skin contact with certain grasses reacts with a skin rash.
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