Source : Perth Now news
Hay fever sufferers are being warned to brace for an above-average pollen season as spring arrives in Australia, with more people turning to long-term treatments to keep their allergies at bay.
The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming and the grass is growing, but for hay fever sufferers, spring can be miserable.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Australia braces for severe hay fever season
“It’s really annoying and it’s quite debilitating,” one sufferer said.
“Awful, it’s like constantly running eyes,” another said.
“Blocked nose and eyes running and irritated,” a third added.
The symptoms are sending people reaching for antihistamines to keep their allergies under control, with some spending hundreds of dollars every month on medication.
But some sufferers are trying to tackle their allergies before the sneezing starts, undergoing allergen immunotherapy or desensitisation.
The treatment exposes the body to controlled amounts of an allergen, gradually training the immune system not to overreact.
“It’s a treatment that’s given as an injection once a month for three to five years to help switch off your immune system and effectively cure allergy,” Dr Aaron Chambers from Allergy First said.
Needles aren’t the only option, with daily drops also available that can be given under the tongue. However, the treatment is not covered by Medicare.
“Well north of 50 to 60 per cent of people have very significant improvement. It’s really the best treatment that’s available for hay fever,” Chambers said.
Pollen usually peaks around early November, but this year experts warn the season could strike earlier and harder.
“Especially because there has been a super El Nino declared. When the conditions are hot and dry and also windy, that’s the perfect time for plants to release their pollen,” aerobiologist Dr Kira Hughes said.
And it’s not just itchy eyes at stake. High pollen and thunderstorms can trigger asthma, prompting a warning to be extra vigilant this spring.
“Make sure to reduce your time spent outdoors, especially on high pollen days,” Hughes said.
