Hay Fever

Runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes: millions of people in Germany suffer from hay fever. This is a condition that must absolutely be taken seriously. After all, persistent symptoms can cause serious damage to your bronchi. Our doctors at Avi Medical will help you at all our locations with the acute management of your allergy, and will also support you on a long-term basis with chronic allergic complaints.

The presence of hay fever can often be diagnosed on the basis of the typical symptoms, which occur in spring or summer due to the seasonally increased pollen count.

A test to confirm the diagnosis and to determine exactly which allergens or pollens the allergy is directed against can be performed by means of an allergy test (known as a prick or intradermal test), which is carried out by a specialist.

However, this test should be performed during a symptom-free period, so it is not immediately relevant for acute treatment.

The typical symptoms of allergic rhinitis include:

• Runny nose
• Itchy nose
• Sneezing
• Difficulty breathing through the nose
• In the event that allergens come into contact with the oral mucosa: itching of the tongue, palate, and throat

In the case of allergic conjunctivitis, the following are additionally present:

• Itchy, red, or watery eyes

If hay fever remains untreated for a long period or if the symptoms are very pronounced from the outset, allergic asthma may develop, manifesting as an irritating cough through to breathing difficulties, which similarly occur with increased frequency in spring or summer.

The first step in treating an acute pollen allergy is taking medications that can quickly relieve the acute symptoms. These include anti-allergic eye drops and nasal spray, and where appropriate, anti-allergic tablets — so-called antihistamines. In cases of very pronounced symptoms, a short course of cortisone may also be necessary, which temporarily suppresses the body’s immune response.

If you also suffer from allergic asthma symptoms, temporary treatment with an inhalation spray can relieve acute symptoms such as breathing difficulties and an irritating cough.

We at avi are happy to advise you on which acute treatment is the best choice in your case and help you to bring your acute symptoms under control as quickly as possible.

Should further investigation or so-called immunotherapy with a specialist be necessary, we will be happy to refer you for further diagnosis and treatment.