What is hay fever?
Hay fever is a reaction to environmental allergens, such as grass pollen, tree pollen or plant pollen.
Hay fever is typically seasonal, between March and September when the pollen count rises and is caused by your immune system reacting unnecessarily to pollens.
Your immune system is such an important part of your body that it will preferentially use up a lot of your energy uselessly ‘fighting off’ pollens which it interprets as attacking you. This energy would be much better utilized elsewhere in life.
Common Symptoms of Hay Fever
Common symptoms of hay fever include sneezing, coughing, itchy, red, and watery eyes, as well as earache, itchy throat and nose, headache, and fatigue.
For those with asthma or other chronic breathing problems, hay fever may cause wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.
At-home treatments for hay fever
If you suffer from hay fever, there are several at-home remedies that can help alleviate your symptoms.
- Place Vaseline around your nostrils to prevent pollen from entering them
- Shower and change clothes after being outside to wash off pollen
- Keep windows and doors shut to prevent pollen from coming inside
- Dust and vacuum frequently to remove pollen from surfaces
- Brush pets after they have been outside to minimise their exposure to pollen and prevent them from bringing it into your home
Medicinal Hay Fever Treatments (available over the counter)
If your hay fever symptoms are particularly bothersome, you may want to consider over-the-counter medicinal treatments.
- Nasal sprays, such as beclomethasone dipropionate or fluticasone propionate, can help relieve nasal congestion and other hay fever symptoms
- Antihistamines, including cetirizine, loratadine, and promethazine, can help reduce sneezing, itching and other symptoms caused by hay fever
- Stronger antihistamines, such as fexofenadine, may be recommended for people with more severe hay fever symptoms
When should I get a hay fever injection?
If you are still suffering, and have exhausted all the above options, then an injection for hay fever may be a good option.
The hay fever injection is named Kenalog (triamcinolone acetonide) which belongs to a group of medicines called corticosteroids (steroids).
The primary effect of corticosteroids is to reduce the body’s inflammatory and allergic response, therefore preventing the body’s immune response to pollen.
The effects of a Kenalog hay fever roughly last three months, in comparison to the effects of hay fever tablets whose effects last just 24 hours.
Is the Kenalog Injection Safe?
Kenalog injections reduce the body’s immune response, and therefore a partially suppressed immune system can leave you susceptible to illness and infection.
Other possible side effects include pain and colour change at the site of injection, mood changes, indigestion, stomach pain, eye problems and fungal infections.
It should be noted that the injection should only be administered when all other methods are not working and should not be used as first-line treatment.
Does the injection work?
The injection can relieve all symptoms of hay fever for most people and some will need to take antihistamine tablets as well on particularly high pollen count days.
Where does the injection go?
The injection is given into the buttock.
The reason behind this is that the muscle in the buttocks is the largest muscle and therefore allows the medicine to be slowly released into the bloodstream, this will ensure it lasts as long as possible.
Who should NOT have the injection?
Anyone with multiple allergies, allergy to steroids, allergy to any of the ingredients, under 16 years of age unless given by a specialist, pregnant women, anyone with an active infection and anyone on immunosuppressant.
Why choose Refine Aesthetics and Medical Solutions?
I am an experienced Registered Nurse and independent nurse prescriber with over 25 years of clinical experience. In addition, I work as an advanced nurse practitioner in a local GP practice.
Also, I hold a level 7 diploma in injectable therapies from MATA, Harley Street, London, and I am registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. I am also a member of ACE aesthetic complications experts, fully insured, and offer free, no-obligation consultations in a private and discreet clinic.
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