Vancouver Allergy & Asthma

Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever)

Overview | Testing | Treatment

Overview
Typical "allergies" are very familiar to many people. Every spring they have a runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, and low energy levels. Some find it hard to concentrate at school or at work. Some people have some symptoms all year round.

Allergic rhinitis, or hay fever as it is commonly known, is becoming more common in the United States. All the sneezing and nasal congestion is due to an overactive immune system that is trying to "fight" the otherwise harmless allergen. The allergen may come from pollen, animals, airborne outdoor molds, or dust mites.

Testing
The most common testing we do is allergy skin testing. In skin testing, a small amount of a commercially prepared extract of allergen is placed on the skin through a "prick". If you are allergic, your skin may become red and swollen. Sometimes, skin testing cannot be done and blood test may be done instead. Your allergist can help guide you as to what testing is needed.

Treatment
We use a three main approaches to hay fever. Allergen avoidance is one of the most important things. Your allergist can give you specific instructions as to how to avoid what you are allergic to. Medicines in pill form, liquid form, and by nose spray are also used.

Allergists will sometimes prescribe allergy shots, known officially as allergen vaccine immunotherapy. With allergy shots, extracts of the allergen are injected in very gradually increasing doses to "teach" the immune system to stop fighting the allergen. Allergy shots are the only treatment can improve symptoms even after the treatment is stopped, and can reduce or eliminate the need for daily medicine. In children, allergy shots can prevent the development of new allergies.