[Health Tip] Spring Without Masks, Pollen and Fine Dust... How to Overcome 'Allergies'?

In spring, many patients visit hospitals due to allergic diseases. This is because yellow dust and fine dust, which arrive every year along with pollen, exacerbate allergy symptoms. Typical allergy treatment is symptomatic therapy, but if the causative substances are properly identified, immunotherapy can be considered. Although the treatment period is long and may be burdensome for patients, after treatment, allergy symptoms disappear, greatly improving quality of life.

Allergy reference photo.

Pollen + Fine Dust Attack Increases Allergies

In Korea, spring allergies are mainly caused by tree pollen, which is pollen released by trees. Pollens from birch, alder, and oak trees are known to be major triggers. These trees release pollen from March to May, causing allergy symptoms. Recently, worsened air pollutants such as yellow dust and fine dust combine with pollen components to become substances that easily trigger allergies, causing allergic reactions much more readily than pollen alone.

This year, with the mask mandate lifted and more outdoor activities, the number of child patients is expected to increase compared to the previous year. Professor An Jin from the Department of Respiratory Allergy at Kangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital said, "As outdoor activities are increasing to pre-COVID-19 levels, all age groups should pay attention to managing allergic diseases during spring," emphasizing, "Especially households with children aged 0 to 9 need to be more concerned about allergic diseases."

[Provided by Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital]

The main symptoms of allergic diseases include conjunctivitis with itchy, swollen, and red eyes, and rhinitis symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. These symptoms usually worsen in the morning. When allergic diseases worsen, systemic symptoms such as feverishness, fatigue, and body aches similar to cold or flu may accompany. Bronchial symptoms such as cough, sputum, and chest tightness can also occur. If bronchial symptoms worsen, wheezing and difficulty breathing may appear. Bronchial symptoms worsen at night or early morning and can be aggravated by cold air, dry air, smoking, and exercise.

Identifying Causes is the First Step in Treatment... Fundamental 'Immunotherapy'

In treating allergic diseases, identifying perennial or seasonal allergen causes is most important. Once the causative allergen is identified, avoiding it is best, but in reality, reducing exposure to pollen and the like is impossible. At this point, immunotherapy is recommended as the most fundamental treatment. Immunotherapy is a treatment method that induces immune tolerance by repeatedly exposing the body to the causative allergen that triggers allergies. Through immunotherapy, symptoms do not appear even when exposed to the causative allergens such as pollen and mold. If symptoms are severe not only in the eyes and nose but also systemic or bronchial symptoms are present, immunotherapy is recommended as a fundamental treatment for allergy symptoms.

Anjin, Professor of Respiratory Allergy at Kangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital. [Photo by Kangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital]

Immunotherapy is divided into subcutaneous immunotherapy, where injections are given in the arm, and sublingual immunotherapy, where medication is dissolved under the tongue and taken orally. Sublingual immunotherapy is mainly used for perennial allergy patients caused by house dust mites. For seasonal allergies, subcutaneous immunotherapy is usually performed. The method involves injecting the causative allergen alone or mixed as a subcutaneous injection. In the initial phase, appropriately diluted allergens are injected subcutaneously once a week, doubling the dose each time until reaching the highest concentration allergen dose (maintenance dose). During the maintenance phase, the maintenance dose is injected regularly once a month to achieve therapeutic effects. Immunotherapy generally needs to be performed for 3 to 5 years to see effects. Although the treatment period is somewhat long, considering the quality of life without allergy symptoms after treatment, it is worth considering.

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