Hay fever is a common condition that causes allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes, and a running nose. It occurs when allergens such as pollen irritate the membranes of the eyes and nose. Antihistamines can help to relieve your symptoms. However, antihistamines can also cause drowsiness. Paracetamol is an effective painkiller, so it can also help with your treatment.
Are there pieces of research that prove the effectiveness of paracetamol?
Several studies have looked at whether taking paracetamol reduces the severity of allergic rhinitis symptoms. One study found that people who took 1000 milligrams of paracetamol (two 500 mg tablets) experienced a significant reduction in the severity of their symptoms compared with those who took a placebo.
A study using laboratory skin tests, which measure how we react to allergens, also found that people who took 500 milligrams of the same medication twice daily had reduced sensitivities for grass and ragweed pollen as well as house dust mite. This means paracetamol may help prevent the allergic reactions that cause hay fever symptoms to occur.
However, it does not work as a treatment once you have started experiencing symptoms. The drug may also help reduce the severity of cold and flu-like symptoms.
How should you use paracetamol?
You should always take the medicine according to the doctor’s instructions. The highest suggested daily dose of paracetamol is-
- Four grams (4000 mg) per day for adults
- Three grams (3000 mg) per day for children aged 12–16 years old
- Five grams (5000mg) in 24 hours for anyone under the age of 18
You can take the medication more than once a day. However, remember to take each dose at the same time of the day. This will help you to remember how much you have taken. Do not overdose the medication. In addition, do not take paracetamol for longer than necessary for hay fever treatment.
The drug is available in many preparations, including tablets and liquid for children. It is suitable for adults and children over the age of six months. Taking too much amount can cause a severe condition known as acute liver failure. Its symptoms may include nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite. Moreover, it requires hospital treatment. If you think someone may have taken too much paracetamol, seek immediate medical attention.
What are the symptoms of hay fever?
The symptoms of this disease may include-
- Sneezing and nasal congestion during the day, including at night when you should be sleeping. They can bother your nap and make it hard for you to wake up in the sunrise.
- Red, swollen, itchy eyes with runny noses may also occur.
- Allergic reactions such as hives (urticaria), itchy eyes or lips, swollen face or tongue.
- The red roof of the mouth (palate), called allergic erythema.
People can experience this rare symptom during severe hay fever. Usually, this happens when grass pollen is the cause.
Hoarse voice, husky voice, or huskiness during the day and at night. It is known as ‘recurrent laryngeal obstruction’. It causes a hoarse voice and makes breathing through the nose difficult at night. The back of your throat may feel dry, and you might need to clear your throat often during the day. It is because your nose does not work as well to moisten the back of your throat. The symptoms are usually worse at night.
Symptoms can be made worse by exercise or exertion, especially in warm weather or when your home is too warm or dry.
Symptoms can also worsen due to strong emotions such as stress, excitement, and anger.
Very occasionally, hay fever symptoms can be severe and include throat tightness and difficulty breathing, which might be caused by asthma. People who have this severe disease are at risk of developing anaphylaxis.
It is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, which is sometimes called anaphylactic shock. It requires urgent medical treatment with adrenaline (epinephrine).
What can trigger allergic rhinitis?
The most common triggers include pollen, mold spores, and pet dander. However, seasonal changes can also contribute to the development of the symptoms. For instance, ragweed pollen is common in the summer months. The disease can present itself throughout other seasons if you are exposed to an allergen that bothers you during that time of year.
Pollen
Pollen is a fine, powder-like substance that contains the sperm cells of flowering plants. When the pollen from one plant is exposed to the female part of another flower of the same species, fertilization can occur. Wind or traveling insects to other flowers carry pollen. However, doctors can prescribe decongestants, antihistamines, and nasal sprays for hay fever.
Mold spores
Mold spores are similar to pollen. They are the reproductive cells of mold and fungi. Mold spores travel by air or on people and animals, making it possible for you to breathe them in. Moreover, molds flourish in warm, moist conditions such as basements and bathrooms, where they can grow unnoticed until their spores become airborne and trigger an allergic reaction.
Pet dander
Pet dander contains tiny flakes of shed skin from your pet. Dander mainly has dead cells. However, it also contains saliva and urine that can trigger an allergic reaction or asthma in some people. Even with frequent bathing, a certain amount of dander remains on the coat. It can be released into the air when your pet sheds his fur.
Do flowers cause allergies?
Not directly. However, wind or traveling insects to flowers carry pollen. Here, it fertilizes the female part of the flower, which falls off and becomes a fruit or seed. The pollen can then travel to other plants before producing more flowers, thus perpetuating the cycle.
What causes hay fever?
Allergic rhinitis is triggered by an allergic reaction to something in the environment that you breathe in through your nose. The most common triggers are pollen, mold spores, and pet dander. However, seasonal changes can also contribute to the symptoms if you are exposed during that time of year. Allergies are commonly associated with pollen. However, mold can also be the source of your symptoms.
When you are exposed to something that you are allergic to, cells in your body release an inflammatory chemical called histamine into your system. Histamine causes a runny nose and itchy eyes. Other symptoms include sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, and wheezing. If you have any of these symptoms during the spring, summer, or fall, allergic rhinitis may be the cause. You can look for effective treatment.
What is the difference between flu and hay fever?
A person normally contracts the flu if they have been in contact with a carrier of the virus. They may be someone who is sneezing and coughing around them. For this reason, it is also known as a contagious viral infection.
On the other hand, allergic rhinitis is an allergic response to pollen or pet hair that some people are allergic to. It is more common than you might think and can be triggered by flowers, such as roses, grasses like rye, and even cats’ fur. The symptoms usually appear within a few hours after you have been exposed to hay fever. They can include a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, and red eyes. Moreover, it does not usually lead to serious illness, but anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening reaction to pollen, is always possible.
If you think you might have the flu, rest up as much as possible, keep yourself hydrated, eat foods that are light and easy to digest, and take a painkiller such as paracetamol. See your doctor if you experience a high fever, a cough, or a sore throat that lasts longer than three days. There is no cure for allergic rhinitis. However, antihistamines can help with allergy symptoms. It is always best to speak with your pharmacist or GP before taking over-the-counter medication.
What are the treatments for hay fever?
The first line of treatment is avoidance of pollen. For people, who are sensitive to certain types of pollen, medicines can help reduce or eliminate these effects.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines block receptors for histamine, which causes many symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose. These medications are available over-the-counter (OTC) in many forms, including liquids, tablets, and nasal sprays. Moreover, topical antihistamines are available as creams to relieve the itching of the eyes and nose (and sometimes the skin).
Decongestants
Decongestants act on receptors for histamine that narrow blood vessel. When these medicines are taken by mouth, they reduce congestion. However, when used topically, they relieve red, itchy eyes. Decongestants are also available in OTC form, as either tablets or nasal sprays.
Allergy shots
Allergy shots are another option that can decrease hay fever symptoms over time by desensitizing the body to the pollen causing these problems.
The disease often gets better on its own without treatment. If your symptoms are placid, you may not need treatment. With over-the-counter medications, you can treat your symptoms at home without help from a doctor. However, if the pollen count is very high and you have moderate to severe symptoms or if they worsen over time, it is best to seek medical attention from your doctor. In most cases of allergic rhinitis, doctors will prescribe antihistamines, decongestants, or nasal sprays.
