Helping you understand and manage your allergies
What are “allergies”?
- Inflammation of nasal passages
- Triggered by allergens
- Experienced seasonally or perennially
The facts
- Can affect daily life
- Affects 10 to 25% of Canadians
- Genetic element
- Associated with asthma, sinusitis and ear infections
Causes
- Immune response to allergen
- Seasonal allergens
- Perennial allergens
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Signs and symptoms
- Runny nose, sneezing
- Itchy nose, mouth and throat
- Itchy, red, watery eyes
- Congestion
Symptom severity
Mild allergy symptoms will still allow a person to have normal sleep, participate in normal daily activities and will not interfere with work or school.
Symptoms of moderate to severe allergies could cause a person to have abnormal sleep, and may impair daily activities and/or affect performance at work or school.
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Preventing allergies
- Vacuum, dust, remove carpet, upholstered furniture and drapes
- Keep pets outside (if possible)
- Use central air conditioning
- Keep windows and doors closed
- Avoid outdoor activities during high pollen and mold times
- Avoid drying clothes outside
Goals of therapy
- Prevent symptoms
- Ease any signs and symptoms
- Improve quality of life
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Treatment
- Antihistamines
- Decongestants
- Steroid nasal sprays
- Eye drop medications
- Nasal saline
- Allergy shots
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Oral antihistamines
- Help with runny nose, sneezing, itchy, red and watery eyes
- No effect on congestion symptoms
- Drowsy antihistamines
- Non-drowsy antihistamines
- Usuallyfirst treatment option
- Take before exposure to allergen
![](https://media-doppleronline-ca.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2023/04/Steroid-nasal-spray.jpg)
Steroid nasal sprays
- For moderate to severe allergy symptoms
- Relief within 7 to 8 hours
- Regular use more effective
- Very well tolerated
![](https://media-doppleronline-ca.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2023/04/eye-drops.jpg)
Eye drops
- Help relieves itchy, watery eyes
- Many options:
- Antihistamine Eye Drops
- Cromolyn Eye Drops
- Avoid drops with decongestants
- Look for ‘preservative free’ drops if you have sensitive eyes
![](https://media-doppleronline-ca.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2023/04/Nasal-saline.jpg)
Nasal saline
- Helps with runny nose
- Wash away the allergens and inflammatory substances
- Many options:
- Netipot, squirt bottle, bulb syringe
- To prevent infection, clean properly and use only appropriate solutions
Allergy shots
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- “Allergen immunotherapy”
- Use when other treatments have failed or if allergen is not avoidable
- Injected at regular intervals for a period of 3 to 5 years
Allergies and children
![](https://media-doppleronline-ca.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2023/04/allergies-and-children.jpg)
- Hay fever is the most common chronic condition in children
- Can affect up to 20 to 40% of children
- Children with hay fever have:
- Poor sleep
- Decrease in school attendance
- Impaired cognitive function
- Lower self-esteem
- Higher risk of shyness, depression and anxiety
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