Ragweed allergy is very common nowadays, with many people suffering from allergic symptoms during the plant's flowering season. According to the pollen calendar, the ragweed season lasts from mid-August to mid-October, but depending on the weather, it can be longer. If the autumn is mild, pollen can cause symptoms until the end of October. This trend is expected to continue, as global warming is causing pollen seasons to lengthen by 3-5 days every ten years.
Common cold or hay fever?
From spring to autumn, many people struggle with hay fever symptoms caused by pollen allergies. When outdoors, they experience nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy eyes, watery eyes and sneezing. When these symptoms appear, most people initially think that they have simply caught a cold due to the changeable weather. However, a cold usually goes away within 7-10 days, so if you have had symptoms for a longer period of time, you should see an allergist. Ragweed allergy symptoms can occur in anyone, both adults and children, and can develop as early as preschool age, but the first symptoms can also appear at the age of 40.
The symptoms of ragweed allergy may appear gradually. In this case, we experience recurring complaints at a certain time of year, which gradually worsen over the years without treatment. However, ragweed allergy may also manifest itself suddenly with severe symptoms. In previous years, we had no complaints – or they were so mild that we did not attach any particular importance to them – and then suddenly we appear at the doctor's office with red eyes, watering eyes and sneezing.
To confirm ragweed allergy, an allergy test is performed during the pollen season, when the allergenic plant is spreading pollen. This test is not a skin prick test, also known as a prick test, but a blood test.
Treatment of ragweed allergy
The allergist compares the laboratory results with our symptoms, and if the two corroborate each other, he or she will diagnose ragweed allergy. He or she will then draw up a treatment plan. The symptoms of ragweed allergy can basically be treated in two ways: symptomatic and long-term treatment. Symptomatic treatment includes allergy medications such as antihistamine tablets, eye drops or steroid nasal sprays. The specialist will recommend a particular medication based on the individual's symptoms and their severity, selecting the active ingredient accordingly. For those who do not want to take medication or do not feel that it is effective, long-term treatment and allergen-specific immunotherapy are also options. This not only treats the symptoms, but also restores the immune system's malfunction, which is the root cause of ragweed allergy. Treatment lasting 3-5 years can permanently eliminate symptoms for up to 10-12 years and has been proven to prevent the development of more serious allergic diseases, such as allergic asthma.
Source: Buda Allergy Centre
