Here Comes the Sun - and the Allergies

After months of uncharacteristic amounts of rain, Southern Californians are reveling in the sunny, warm weather of the last week. Some may not be enjoying it as much as others, though, as people with allergies suffer the consequences of the weather change.

"Throughout the year we see seasonal fluctuation in allergies," says Bozena Wrobel, M.D., a sinus surgeon and rhinologist and director of the otolaryngology allergy clinic at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. "The people who suffer from allergies to molds might be experiencing more problems with recent wet and cooler weather. This is also the beginning of trees' pollination season - in the Los Angeles area, junipers and cedars are especially bothersome now."

For inhalant allergies - those that one is exposed to through the air - symptoms can include:

-- itchy, watery eyes
-- nasal drainage or loss of smell
-- coughing and sneezing
-- hoarseness or throat irritation
-- facial pressure or headaches
-- fatigue
-- plugged ears
-- dizziness
-- sinus infection
-- asthma

"Through the repeated exposure to the specific allergen - such as mold or pollen - people become sensitized to it," says Wrobel. "An allergic reaction occurs when the mold or pollen, that is not harmful itself, causes an immune response in a susceptible person."

There are three approaches to treating inhalant allergies, says Wrobel. One is to avoid the allergen, which can include staying indoors when the pollen level is the highest (between 5 and 10 a.m.), utilizing air filters, putting proven dust mite barrier covering on bedding, cleaning any visible mold or mildew with a diluted solution of bleach or keeping pets outdoors. If you are exposed to an allergen, rinse your nose with saline to decrease its presence.

Another approach is pharmacotherapy, or the use of over-the-counter or prescription medications such as antihistamines, topical nasal steroids, leukotriene inhibitors or decongestants. A third option - most appropriate for those with year-round allergy symptoms or severe seasonal allergies - is immunotherapy, which involves a series of allergy shots over two years to produce a tolerance to the allergen. The desensitization therapy is administered after a skin or blood test confirms which allergens are causing the symptoms.

"Depending on the persistence and severity of the symptoms, it may be possible to manage them with over-the-counter medications and avoidance of exposure," says Wrobel. "But if you have symptoms that are not allowing you to focus on your usual work or you are missing work, then it is a good idea to check with your physician for more treatment options."

Sarah Huoh
Media Relations Representative
USC Health Sciences
Phone: (323) 442-2830
Pager: (213) 203-0485
shuoh@usc.edu

Visit USC's experts directory at:
http://uscnews3.usc.edu/experts/index.html