The Allergic March | AAFA.org

The allergic march is the name for the natural history of allergic diseases. It is also called the atopic march. This refers to how allergic diseases progress in a person over time. It usually starts in infants.

Atopy or atopic:

The genetic tendency to develop allergic diseases. This includes food allergy, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis (eczema).

Source: American Academy of Allergy Asthma Immunology​

In asthma and allergies, the natural history tends to begin with dry skin and follows this course:

• Dry skin begins at birth
• Eczema (atopic dermatitis) – first few weeks or months of life
• Food allergies – first few months or years of life
• Rhinitis (nasal allergies) – after age 3
• Asthma – first few months to years of life

Infants born with dry skin are at risk of developing eczema (atopic dermatitis). Your skin is a barrier to protect you from infections and injury. When you have eczema, the skin barrier has cracks. This puts you at higher risk of infections. It also allows substances to get in past the outer layer of skin. Scientists think this may be what leads some children to develop food allergies. When a baby’s open/cracked skin touches food (like peanut, egg, cow’s milk), their immune cells may respond and overreact to the food.

Babies and young children may also experience wheezing related to viral infections. This can progress into asthma.

Allergic diseases can have a negative impact on a person’s quality of life. In some cases, they can be serious and even life-threatening.

Atopic triad: eczema, allergies, and asthma often occur together

Can You Stop or Prevent the Allergic March? Can You Prevent Asthma, Food Allergy, or Eczema From Developing?

Early prevention measures may help reduce the chance of developing a disease before it starts. A “primary prevention” is when an intervention aims to prevent the development of a disease.

Research is underway to see if there are ways to stop the allergic march. Children with a family history of any allergic disease are at risk of having asthma, allergies, or eczema. But there may be ways to prevent a child from developing allergic diseases. Studies show that the following steps may be protective:

• Feeding 4- to 6-month-old babies peanut powder or diluted peanut butter cuts the risk of peanut allergy by up to 80%.¹ Feeding young babies common food allergens teaches their immune system to tolerate the food. Guidelines in the U.S. recommend giving babies solid foods at an early age to prevent food allergy. There is increasing evidence that early food introduction may help lower the chance of food allergy later in life.
• Avoiding tobacco smoke, pollution, and certain viruses (such as RSV) may help prevent asthma.^2,3,4
• Breastfeeding supports lung growth and reduces respiratory infections. There is some evidence this may be one way to cut asthma risk for young children. ⁵
• Dust mite allergy is a predictor of asthma and atopic dermatitis in children. Eliminating dust mites from your home may prevent dust mite allergy, which then may help prevent asthma or atopic dermatitis.⁶

Initial research trials showed that applying proper skin moisturizers to a baby’s skin (starting at birth) is a safe and effective approach to prevent eczema.⁷ But more recent research found no evidence that daily moisturizers during the first year of life could prevent eczema in infants at risk for this disease.⁸ It is unclear if routine skin care reduces the risk of food allergy.⁹

Researchers continue to study ways we can prevent eczema, allergies, and asthma.

Medical Review: June 2022 by John James, MD

References

1. Addendum Guidelines for the Prevention of Peanut Allergy in the United States Report of the NIAID-Sponsored Expert Panel. (n.d.). In National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. https://www.niaid.nih.gov/sites/default/files/addendum-peanut-allergy-prevention-guidelines.pdf

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, February 27). Fact Sheet – Health Effects of Secondhand Smoke – Smoking & Tobacco Use. Smoking and Tobacco Use; CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/health_effects/index.htm

3. The Links Between Air Pollution and Childhood Asthma. (2018, October 22). United States Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/sciencematters/links-between-air-pollution-and-childhood-asthma

4. Zimlich, R. (2019, September 3). Is There a Link Between RSV and Asthma Development?Contemporary Pediatrics. https://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/view/there-link-between-rsv-and-asthma-development

5. Miliku, K., & Azad, M. (2018). Breastfeeding and the Developmental Origins of Asthma: Current Evidence, Possible Mechanisms, and Future Research Priorities. Nutrients, 10(8), 995. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10080995

6. Miller, K. E. (2003). Prevention of Dust-Mite Sensitization in Children. American Family Physician, 67(3), 633–634. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2003/0201/p633.html

7. Simpson, E. L., Chalmers, J. R., Hanifin, J. M., Thomas, K. S., Cork, M. J., McLean, W. H. I., Brown, S. J., Chen, Z., Chen, Y., & Williams, H. C. (2014). Emollient Enhancement of the Skin Barrier From Birth Offers Effective Atopic Dermatitis Prevention. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 134(4), 818–823. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2014.08.005

8. Chalmers, J. R., Haines, R. H., Bradshaw, L. E., Montgomery, A. A., Thomas, K. S., Brown, S. J., Ridd, M. J., Lawton, S., Simpson, E. L., Cork, M. J., Sach, T. H., Flohr, C., Mitchell, E. J., Swinden, R., Tarr, S., Davies-Jones, S., Jay, N., Kelleher, M. M., Perkin, M. R., & Boyle, R. J. (2020). Daily Emollient During Infancy for Prevention of Eczema: The Beep Randomised Controlled Trial. The Lancet, 395(10228), 962–972. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(19)32984-8

9. Does Moisturising Baby Skin Prevent Eczema or Food Allergies?(n.d.). Cochrane. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from https://www.cochrane.org/news/does-moisturising-baby-skin-prevent-eczema-or-food-allergies

What Are The Top Allergens In March Across The Country?

March is here! The long-awaited spring is here, and we’re ready for some warmer temperatures after that chilly, long winter! As the temperatures begin to rise, we’re seeing nature begin to bloom! While it’s beautiful, this usually means we’re going to see an increase in pollen counts, so if you don’t want to be sneezing and coughing all spring, read on for tips for each of the troublesome spring allergens.

March Allergies in the Northern United States

As the seasons go by, so do our allergies. We’re finally starting to see the beginning of spring in the north after a very long winter. March is typically the starting point for the longest allergy season for states in the north—especially Colorado. We’re still seeing high counts of juniper this season as well, so if you’re feeling bad, that may still be the cause.

Top March allergens:

• Elm
• Cottonwood
• Juniper

March Allergies in the Southern United States

Spring has sprung, and for allergy sufferers across the north, that means it’s time to brace yourself for a long season of misery. While we might all be grateful for temperatures to be rising again, we’re already noticing higher tree pollen counts across the South. For those states in the country experiencing a heavy tree pollination season, that is not only driving pollen counts higher but prolonging allergy seasons. While most of the allergy-producing trees are the same across the South, in Florida we see trees like river birch, bayberry, elm, oak, and maple stirring up allergies.

Top March allergens:

• Elm 
• Mulberry 
• Oak

March Allergies in the Eastern United States

Sadly, no one can escape the tree allergy season in the east. Because so many different types of trees release pollen at different times, it can make for a difficult season for you and your family—especially if your home is near a heavily populated area with numerous flowering trees. Some of the primary offenders we see in the East include oak, hickory, walnut, cedar, ash, and willow. Luckily, keeping a clean house and a few other key prevention tips can help decrease allergies in the home this spring.

Top March allergens:

• Oak
• Cedar
• Ash

March Allergies in the Western United States

The western United States is full of springtime surprises. We’re seeing a lot of new plant growth in those desert climates because of the delicate balance of blazing heat during the day and freezing temperatures at night. It is safe to say that spring is alive and well in the West. States like Arizona and New Mexico have a heavy tree pollination season that tends to run long throughout the spring and early summer, causing allergy sufferers to stay miserable for a long time.

Top March allergens:

• Cottonwood
• Oak
• Pecan

Top March Allergies Across the Country:

Oak:

Oak trees are big, bright, and beautiful trees, but they come with a price. During the spring season, thousands of pollen grains are released, causing allergy sufferers across the country to suffer.

Oak trees are found in every state except Alaska and Hawaii. Due to the sheer volume of oak trees across the country, oak has become a severe allergen. Once the temperatures rise, all of the oak trees pollinate at once. This means thousands of grains of pollen are being released into the air at the same time, along with pollen from other trees like elm, ash, and cottonwood. Chances are, if you feel any of these symptoms below during the month of March, you’re probably allergic to oak. However, since there are so many trees pollinating at this time of year, it could be one of those as well. Getting an allergy test will help narrow down exactly what trees you’re allergic to, so when spring comes around, you’ll know which ones to avoid! 

Symptoms of oak allergies:

• Itchy, watery eyes
• Coughing
• Congestion
• Allergy headaches
• Sore throat
• Constant sneezing or wheezing
• Allergy fatigue

How to prevent oak allergy symptoms and reduce oak exposure:

• Shower immediately after coming in from outside. Oak pollen can get stuck on your clothing and hair so be sure to rinse off to not bring any pollen in.
• Be sure to keep doors and windows closed. Even a small breeze can bring in a large amount of pollen.
• Use a HEPA filter in your home to reduce pollen in the air. HEPA filters are the best at removing pollutants like pollen from the air in your home. They’re especially effective in your bedroom, sometimes resulting in a better night’s sleep. 

Oak allergy treatments:

It’s good to get ahead of your oak allergy because of how severe the symptoms can get. Allergy shots (immunotherapy) are a great way to begin treating an oak allergen. These are consistent shots given in the office either weekly or biweekly. These shots work to slowly build up the body’s tolerance to the allergen. Allergy drops work in the same way, building your body’s tolerance, but they’re just 3 drops under the tongue, meaning they can be taken anywhere! If you’re sick of suffering from the harsh oak symptoms, our ExACT treatment is the quickest; with just three shots over the course of eight weeks, it’s clinically proven to be just as effective as three years of allergy shots!

Cottonwood:

Cottonwood trees are large trees known for providing ample shade, they’re related to aspen and poplar trees. They get their name due to the cotton-like seeds they produce. These seeds are released into the air during Cottonwood’s pollinating season. On especially windy days, their cotton-like fluff can be easily separated from the seeds and travel even further across the land. Cottonwood trees can be found in every state except Hawaii; specifically, they’re found in backyards, parks, and near rivers and lakes. The best way to know if you are truly allergic is to see an allergist who can perform tests on your specific symptoms and determine what you’re reacting to.

Cottonwood allergy symptoms:

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Sneezing
• Shortness of breath
• Allergy-induced asthma

How to prevent cottonwood symptoms:

• Check your local pollen count daily. With this upcoming tree season, pollen counts are expected to skyrocket within the next couple of weeks. If you know you’re allergic to cottonwood, try to avoid outdoor activities.
• Take off your shoes before coming inside. Cottonwood’s tiny seeds can stick to anything and everything, including the bottom of your shoes. Don’t bring this into your home and make your home a place of misery too! Keep your shoes outside.
• Vacuum frequently. There’s a good chance you might bring pollen inside the home, this is almost unavoidable, but by cleaning weekly, you can keep pollen to a minimum.

Cottonwood treatments:

If you’re looking for long-term allergy relief, immunotherapy (allergy shots) is a great way to go! Allergy shots are administered by an allergist. You receive injections every week until your immune system is able to tolerate the allergen without having an allergic reaction. The goal is to reduce or eliminate allergic reactions altogether! Allergy drops work in a similar way, slowly introducing the allergen to the body through drops that go under your tongue. This treatment is great for those who want an easy way to manage their allergies but don’t have time for frequent office visits. Our ExACT treatment is a convenient alternative to allergy shots that requires just 3 shots over the span of 8 weeks! This treatment has been clinically proven to be just as effective as three years of allergy shots!

Elm

Elm trees are another large tree that is popular in the United States due to the shade they provide. There are around 35 different species of elm trees, so the chances of elm being near you are fairly high. Elm trees typically pollinate between February and March, so hopefully, as we enter this last month of their pollination season, it continues to die down. 

Elm Allergy Symptoms:

If you experience these symptoms, it could be due to an elm allergy. However, seasonal allergies often look the same, so it might be in your best interest to get an allergy test to know exactly what you’re allergic to.

• Sneezing
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Congestion
• Post-nasal drip
• Coughing or wheezing

Elm Allergy Prevention:

• Wash your clothes immediately after coming inside. Elm pollen can stick to any surface. If you’ve been outdoors, especially on a windy day, there’s a good chance you have pollen stuck to your clothes.
• Keep your windows closed. It’s better to run the air conditioning instead of opening windows during allergy season. This goes for your car as well.
• Wipe pets paws. Your dog can bring in unwanted pollen from outside that clings to their fur and paws.

Elm Allergy Treatments:

• If you’re looking for long-term allergy relief, immunotherapy—also known as allergy shots—is a great way to go. Allergy shots are administered by an allergist in the clinic. You receive injections every week or biweekly until your body is able to tolerate the allergen without an allergic reaction. The goal is complete tolerance!
• Allergy drops work like allergy shots, gradually exposing the body to an allergen under the tongue. This treatment is great for those who want an easy way to manage their allergies but don’t have time for frequent office visits.
• Our ExACT Immunoplasty treatment is a convenient alternative to allergy shots. This revolutionary new treatment requires just three shots over the span of eight weeks! Studies have shown that our ExACT treatments’ effectiveness is comparable to three years’ worth of traditional allergy shots!

Allergies can be a pain, no matter where you live. You shouldn’t miss out on the beauty of spring just because you’re suffering through endless sneezing fits, stuffy noses, and general misery. With treatment and preventative care, you can experience all of the outdoor fun without sacrificing your health and quality of life. Book an appointment today and see how you can treat your allergies.

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Allergies in spring and summer

As soon as the sun begins to warm up and the snow melts, the soil, last year’s foliage and withered grass are exposed. This is a very good breeding ground for various fungi – mold, yeast, aspergillus. The spring wind carries microscopic fungal spores that can cause allergy symptoms. The time of occurrence of this type of allergy – fungal – is from the beginning of snow melting (usually March in our lane) until the end of May – June.

Another allergen associated with snow melting, evaporation of moisture from roads and sidewalks is anti-icing agents. The reaction to chemicals can continue throughout the snowmelt period.

However, the most famous and, according to statistics, the most common type of spring-summer allergy is pollinosis (hay fever) – a reaction to the pollen of flowering trees and grasses. From about mid-March to the end of April, there is dusting of early-flowering trees – alder, hazel, hornbeam, maple, ash, willow, willow. From mid-April to the end of May – dusting of late-flowering trees – birch, oak, elm, pine, spruce, poplar. From mid-May to the end of June, some herbs bloom, the pollen of which also causes allergy symptoms – coltsfoot, dandelion.

In summer, the most common cause of allergies is the pollen of cereals and weeds. In June-July, there is a reaction to the flowering of cereals – timothy, rye, corn, wheat, couch grass, foxtail, fescue, hedgehog, bluegrass. From July to autumn, weeds bloom – wormwood, quinoa, nettle, plantain.

What are the symptoms of an allergy?

All the types of allergens listed above belong to the group of aeroallergens and cause a reaction in the respiratory tract. The most common symptoms of rhinitis are: itching in the nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose. Often associated with redness of the eyes, lacrimation, photophobia. If you do not take any medications for allergies, the symptoms may become more severe: sore throat, cough, hoarseness, manifestations of bronchial obstruction (asthma).

Less commonly, atopic dermatitis, urticaria, or Quincke’s edema is observed upon contact with aeroallergens.

Cross allergy – what is it?

There are foods whose allergens are similar in origin and composition to tree, grass, and fungal allergens. When using these products, a reaction similar to an allergy to plant pollen is often observed – conjunctivitis, sore throat and cough, sneezing, nasal congestion. Allergies can be observed both during the flowering season and all year round. It happens that the reaction to cross products is even stronger than to the causative plant. Therefore, during flowering, it is recommended to follow a diet with the exclusion of cross-products so as not to aggravate pollen allergy. However, some people need such a diet outside of the flowering season.

If you are allergic to birch and related plants (aspen, alder, oak, beech, hornbeam, maple, ash, hazel), apples, pears, nuts, kiwi, carrots, celery, parsley, honey and stone fruits and vegetables (cherry, plum, prunes, peach, apricot, cherry, avocado, etc. ).

Allergic people who react to cereal pollen should exclude bakery products and all flour products, kvass, beer, soy products, meat products with fillers.

If you are allergic to weed plants, seeds, halva, sunflower and corn oils, melon, watermelon, celery, herbal preparations are excluded from the diet.

With a fungal allergy, sour-milk products, moldy cheeses, kvass, sourdough are excluded.

How to diagnose allergies?

If you suspect an allergy, you should definitely visit an allergist. He will conduct a conversation, ask the necessary questions to understand which group of allergens causes a reaction. Then the doctor conducts an allergy diagnosis. It is a skin test with microdoses of allergens. In this case, the result is visible immediately after the examination. An allergist may also prescribe a blood test for allergens. Sometimes allergy diagnostics includes both methods.

What to do with the development of spring-summer allergies?

The best way to treat allergies is to avoid contact with the allergen. Therefore, one of the options for dealing with a spring illness is to leave for another lane, somewhere there are no such plants, or the causative plant has already faded.

However, often there is simply no way to leave. What to do then? Firstly, a visit to an allergist is necessary to conduct an allergic diagnosis and establish the causative allergen. In addition, the allergist will prescribe the necessary treatment to relieve symptoms, as well as give recommendations on diet, hygiene and walking during the flowering period.

To reduce contact with allergens, it is recommended to use barrier products: masks, nasal filters, barrier sprays. Windows and vents in the house should be closed to avoid allergens. Active walks are best done in calm weather after rain. When you come home from the street, you must definitely take off your outer clothing, wash your hands and face, rinse your mouth, rinse your nose with boiled water.

The most effective method of dealing with pollen allergy is Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy (ASIT). The method is the introduction of low doses of a causative allergen into the body of an allergic person. The immune system “gets used” to it and the reaction to the flowering plant decreases or disappears altogether. The allergen can be injected into the body subcutaneously or sublingually (under the tongue). Such treatment begins 3-4 months before the start of dusting of the causative plant. ASIT is carried out for children from the age of 5. Before prescribing such treatment, an allergist must conduct an allergodiagnosis to identify the leading allergen.

Self-diagnosis and self-treatment of allergic manifestations are in no case unacceptable. Improper treatment can lead to the development of severe complications, such as bronchial asthma. It must be remembered that early detection of allergies and strict adherence to all prescribed therapeutic measures is the key to success in the fight against spring-summer illness.

Hurry! Make an appointment with an allergist and immunologist at the Clinic “Mother and Child” South-West Pashchenko Olga Evgenievna by phone: +7 (800) 700 700 1

Prevention of seasonal allergies in March

Despite the prolonged snowy winter this year, spring is still coming.

And with it comes allergies. What can be allergic in March and how to prevent it?

Doctor’s consultation

You can get the consultation of the necessary specialist online in the Doctis application

Laboratory

You can undergo a comprehensive examination of all major body systems

• Seasonal allergies in March
• ASIT – prevention of seasonal allergies
• Allergy prophylactic preparations
• Hypoallergenic diet in spring

No one is immune from allergies. Even people with “hypoallergenic” heredity. Disease
can strike at any age. But if experienced allergy sufferers take care of prevention in advance, then beginners
there are always a lot of questions. They do not understand where this attack came from and what drugs exist
for the prevention of allergies. We will discuss with the doctor.

Seasonal allergies in March

At the beginning of spring, I fall apart – my eyes swell and redden,
runny nose, cough.

I always thought it was SARS. But the therapist says – seasonal allergies. What can
be allergic in March? Nothing is blooming yet, snow is in the yard!

Indeed, the peak of spring hay fever falls
mid-April – early May. At this time, alder, hazel and birch blossom. But in March
alder pollen imports from the southern regions are possible – flowering begins earlier there. And people
sensitive to tree pollen may react to this.

In addition, in March, allergies to mold fungi become aggravated. The snow is melting, on the street
humid – perfect conditions for mold to thrive! But mold spores, like pollen,
are carried by the wind over considerable distances.

Another reason for allergies in March is increased sensitivity to ticks
house dust. The fact is that ticks have several periods of activity. One of them –
in the beginning of March. People who are allergic to house dust may experience symptoms at this time:
lacrimation, pain and itching in the eyes, runny nose, sore throat, cough . .. Many people think that this
cold. But if the “cold” proceeds without fever, occurring every year at the same
time, maybe it’s an allergy.

Seasonal Allergy Prevention Preparations and Methods

After giving birth, I suddenly developed hay fever. The doctor convinces to do ASIT
– they say, this is the best prevention of seasonal allergies. But I doubt. Is this effective
method? Are there any contraindications?

Allergen-specific
Immunotherapy (ASIT) is the best way to prevent and treat allergies. Its essence is to teach
the body reacts normally to the allergen. First, it is administered in a microscopic dosage, then –
gradually increase. ASIT prevents the development of allergies and prolongs remission for many years. Moreover, even
if you graft with one thing, like birch pollen, you can slow down the emergence of other species
allergies – ASIT in principle
normalizes the functioning of the immune system.

Before doing an allergy vaccination, it is advisable to take an analysis for major / minor allergens. The thing is,
that the proteins in the allergen are divided into major (major) and non-core (minor). If the patient responds
into minor ones, ASIT will be ineffective: the vaccine contains only major ones. True, most people
react just to major ones.

Allergy vaccination is usually started in autumn or winter. It is possible now, however
the effect will be weaker: the body needs time to develop an immune response. As for contraindications, there are few of them:
acute and chronic diseases in the acute stage, oncological diseases, taking beta-blockers. And –
heart disease, when adrenaline is contraindicated.

What medications are there to prevent allergies other than ASIT?

There are quite a lot of drugs for the prevention of allergies. But you need to understand that these are symptomatic remedies. In contrast
from ASIT, they do not eliminate the cause, but only alleviate the patient’s condition. These include, for example,
donor immunoglobulin. Before the flowering season, 5 injections are made. The effect is enough for about six months.

Pre-season injections of the drug, which was invented by our compatriot, Professor B.L., help many people.
Mazur. If you suspect an allergy, see your doctor.
He will prescribe an examination and, in case
necessary, choose the treatment. By the way, a blood test can be carried out at any time of the year, even against the background of
taking antihistamines (allergy skin tests are done during remission).

Hypoallergenic diets

I heard that “spring” allergy sufferers need to follow a special diet. Otherwise allergy
will intensify. What products will you have to give up?

You are right. People with hypersensitivity to tree pollen from mid-April to the end
may need to follow a hypoallergenic diet.