Ragweed allergy: symptoms, treatment, medication

How is the allergy triggered?

Ragweed allergy is a type of allergy that occurs to ragweed pollen. Basically, the body responds negatively to ragweed pollen - the immune system identifies the pollen as a harmful invader and becomes activated, starts to produce chemicals that fight the pollen and allergy symptoms occur. Ragweed allergy in children is also quite common.

Ragweed allergy symptoms

Ragweed allergy can cause a variety of signs and symptoms, mild, moderate or severe - depending on each person's degree of sensitivity and level of exposure to pollen. Here are the main signs of ragweed allergy:

• watery and itchy eyes;
• itching of the throat and nose;
• red and irritated eyes;
• swelling around the eyes;
• nasal congestion or watery nasal discharge;
• intense and repetitive sneezing;
• wheezing and coughing (may aggravate asthma symptoms);
• headache;
• cough and sore throat.

Allergy symptoms can have a significant impact on your quality of life, as well as causing fatigue, irritability and sleep disturbance. If you suspect a ragweed allergy, see your allergist for a proper diagnosis and recommendations for treatment and management.

Ragweed allergy symptoms tend to appear from July-August until early fall - peaking in mid-September. People with rag ragweed allergy may also experience some signs of oral allergy syndrome, a food allergy categorized by a group of allergic reactions in the mouth in response to eating certain fruits, vegetables and oilseeds. Ragweed pollen can also worsen asthma symptoms - it can intensify coughing and wheezing.

How can we minimize exposure to ragweed?

The first step to prevent or minimize ragweed allergy episodes is to avoid exposure to ragweed pollen as much as possible. Ambrosia is difficult to avoid, as it spreads extremely easily through the air, but there are some steps you can take to reduce your exposure. Here are some recommendations:

• Limit time spent outside when pollen counts are high.
• Keep windows closed and use an air conditioner with HEPA filters on hot days when pollen counts are high.
• Pull and remove ragweed plants around the house, ideally before pollination begins.
• Wash your hair and shower every day before bedtime to remove pollen.
• Change your underwear weekly and wash it in hot water.
• Vacuum your home as often as possible and cut down on carpets, upholstered furniture, excess curtains etc.
• Keep car windows closed when driving.

Also, certain fruits, vegetables, seeds and fresh herbs may contain proteins similar to ragweed pollen. The condition is known as oral allergy syndrome. If symptoms occur when you eat any of the following products and you have an allergy to ragweed, you may need to avoid them:

• watermelon;
• mango;
• bananas;
• chamomile tea;
• echinacea;
• cucumber;
• zucchini;
• honey containing pollen;
• sunflower seeds.

Ragweed allergy treatment

Before starting treatment for rag ragweed allergy, it is recommended that you visit your doctor for tests and diagnosis. Your allergist will then prescribe allergy medication to be taken when symptoms appear or when the ragweed allergy begins. Early or pre-season treatment for ragweed allergy is often recommended, i.e. to start taking medication 2 weeks before the season starts. This can help increase tolerance and reduce allergic reactions.

Medicines for ragweed allergy

Your doctor may recommend a series of ragweed allergy pills, which are taken for as long as your ragweed allergy lasts - usually when symptoms appear. Such medicines are called antihistamines and can be based on cetirizine, loratadine, levocetirizine and fexofenadine. Two examples of medicines for ragweed allergy are Claritine, based on loratadine, and Xyzal based on levocetirizine, which relieves symptoms. Over-the-counter medicines will not solve the underlying problem, but will relieve symptoms for 24-48 hours.

Claritine 10 mg, 10 tablets, Bayer

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Antihistamines are medicines that block the action of histamine, a chemical produced by the body during an allergic reaction. They can help reduce symptoms of itchy eyes, runny nose and sneezing. However, they do not usually help reduce nasal congestion. Thus, decongestants in the form of lozenges or medicines containing both an antihistamine and a decongestant can sometimes be recommended.

In more severe cases, doctors may recommend immunotherapy injections for more severe symptoms. These involve injecting increasing amounts of ragweed pollen to reduce symptoms. Immunotherapy injections can help relieve ragweed allergy symptoms for many years.

Sprays and drops for ragweed allergy

Eye drops may also be recommended for ragweed allergy to reduce itching and discomfort, such as Vizik Allergy or Oftapic Allergy, which usually contain sodium hyaluronate or other moisturizing and soothing ingredients. They work by reducing inflammation, relieving eye discomfort and protecting the eyes from the harmful effects of allergens. A ragweed allergy spray with saline, nasal costicosteroids and decongestants in the form of a nasal spray may also sometimes be recommended to relieve symptoms and discomfort.

Corticosteroid nasal sprays contain corticosteroids that reduce inflammation in the nasal passages. They can be useful in treating nasal congestion and other symptoms and may be based on fluticasone, budesonide and mometazone. Decongestants help shrink blood vessels in the nose to reduce nasal congestion. Although decongestants, such as Olynth, may be useful for short-term use for a few days when symptoms of nasal congestion are severe, they should not be used long-term as they can be addictive and may worsen symptoms.

Nasal spray solution 1 mg Olynth HA, 10 ml, Johnson&Johnson

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Vizik Allergy eye drops, 10 ml, Zdrovit

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Watch Oftapic Allergy eye drops x 10 ml

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