Hay Fever

Hay Fever Diagnosis

Hay fever, also called seasonal allergies or seasonal allergic rhinitis, is cyclical, season-based, and regional. Allergy season usually occurs from early spring to late fall. The predictability of seasonal allergy symptoms, such as watery, itchy eyes (allergic conjunctivitis), nasal congestion, allergic cough, breathing difficulty, headache, and irritability, can be useful in diagnosing and managing the condition. Seasonal allergy management begins with a diagnosis.

Allergy symptoms are fairly easy to recognize and seasonal allergies can generally be diagnosed based on the season during which symptoms occur. A sudden case of sneezing, itchy eyes, and a stuffy nose at the height of summer or spring allergy season often indicates a seasonal allergic reaction, as opposed to the perennial allergic rhinitis of a pet allergy or fungal sinusitis.

Family history may also be reviewed in making a diagnosis, since seasonal allergies, asthma, and eczema (dermatitis) often are genetically inherited. In addition, skin and blood tests can help identify the specific allergen causing the symptoms.

Prick tests involve applying suspected allergens to the surface of the skin (topically) and then pricking the skin to introduce the substances into the skin. These tests, which usually are performed on the forearm, upper arm, or upper back, allow several allergens to be tested at the same time. Allergic reactions (e.g., itching, redness, swelling) usually develop within 20 minutes. Intradermal tests, which involve injecting a small amount of allergen into the outer layer of skin, may be required to conclusively rule out allergic sensitivities.

Hay fever diagnosis also involves distinguishing allergic rhinitis from non-allergic rhinitis, which produces similar symptoms except itching, and results from a hyperactive response to nasal irritants (e.g., smoke, fumes).

Knowing which allergens are being released into the air and to what degree (known as an allergy count) can help seasonal allergy sufferers understand their conditon. In the United States, allergen production varies as follows:

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East, South, and Midwest:
Spring allergy symptoms usually result from pollen produced by alder, birch, elm, juniper, maple, oak, and olive trees. In early summer, the allergy count rises from grasses such as bluegrass, orchard, and sweet vernal. As summer winds down, ragweed becomes the main allergen source.

West:
From December through March, the mountain cedar (a juniper) produces a high allergy count.

Southwest:
Due to the dry climate, grasses pollinate for a longer period. A high allergy count results from the pollens of sagebrush and Russian thistle and causes hay fever and other allergy symptoms through the fall.

Since seasonal allergies vary according to season and region, knowledge of the particular situation can provide additional choices in addressing the condition. For example, since allergy season often coincides with vacation season, allergy sufferers can plan vacations in less allergenic locations and simply avoid (for a time) the emergence of allergic symptoms.

Others seasonal allergy sufferers limit outdoor exposure during periods of excessively high allergy counts and use a warm mist humidifier or air conditioner (some of which come with a HEPA air filter) to filter allergens from indoor air. For a more complete overview of other treatments that may help with seasonal allergies, see Hay Fever Allergy Treatment.

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