Česky
The outpatient clinic of pneumology and allergology is available to paediatric patients at the Hořovice Hospital and at the newly opened Diagnostic Centre of the Hořovice Hospital in Nové Butovice, Prague. The most common allergy symptoms and treatment options were described by Tereza Jeník, MD, pediatric pulmonologist.
Are allergies always primarily associated with spring?
Pollen allergies typically appear in spring and summer. These allergies are usually manifested by a runny nose, cough, scratchy throat and burning eyes. Skin manifestations such as urticaria or atopic eczema may also occur. Currently, trees are the most troublesome allergic plants, followed by grasses and herbs. In the colder months it can also be moulds. However, year-round allergies, such as to house dust mites, are also in the population in significant numbers and are most pronounced in the autumn and winter months. Another significant allergen can be pet hair.
How does one know if it is an allergy and not symptoms of a disease?
You may not know at first glance. Of course, sometimes the time context will give a clue, but initially it often happens that the allergy resembles a virus. It is always only the doctor who determines that it is an allergy. A general practitioner can help with a common allergy by administering antihistamines or other medications. Allergy testing itself is already needed to determine the specific allergen that is causing the reaction. This can help to make the appropriate regimen and to indicate the correct treatment.
Is it at all possible to avoid situations of contact with environmental allergens?
It is possible to reduce exposure to the allergen. It is a good idea to follow a pollen calendar that describes the current concentration of the allergen in the air, which is also dependent on the current weather. On days when it is dry and windy the concentration is high, when it is humid there are less allergens in the air. You can also follow various regimes, such as washing your face and hands with clean water, which can wash the allergens off. Pollen tends to stick to clothing, so it is advisable to change clothes when you get home. It is also advisable to ventilate less on days when there is a high concentration of allergens. In this day and age of wearing masks and respirators, some patients praise that their allergy symptoms are milder.
What are the treatment options?
We have the option of allergen immunotherapy, which is the only causal treatment for allergy. That is, it treats the cause itself. We administer gradually increasing concentrations of the allergen in question, thereby achieving a reduction in hypersensitivity and a lessening of the allergic reaction. This treatment works for most of our patients.
Does the allergy manifest itself by a certain age or can it appear in a person at any time during life?
Allergies can develop at any time. In some individuals as early as birth. Conversely, there are those who develop allergies only in adulthood. In children, it is typical for allergies to initially manifest themselves in the skin, especially food allergies that manifest themselves in atopic eczema. Respiratory problems associated with allergies appear later, but this is not the rule.
