Spring is an uncomfortable and potentially difficult time of year for many South Africans, with 20% to 30% of the population experiencing allergic rhinitis and comorbid asthma affecting 20% of these individuals, placing them at higher risk of complications.
According to Dr Simangele Nkosi, a general practitioner and trustee of CompCare Medical Scheme, this is of particular concern for parents, as a significant number of patients with seasonal allergies are children.
“Generally, the symptoms of allergic rhinitis include congestion, sneezing, itchy nose and watering eyes, which can already interfere with daily life, often impacting sleep and the ability to concentrate at school. If left untreated, allergic rhinitis can lead to complications such as sinusitis, bronchitis, and otitis media, or ear infection.
“Children with other allergic conditions such as eczema, asthma and food allergies are also more likely to suffer from allergic rhinitis, which can flare up during the warmer months in those with pollen allergies,” she explains.
Dr Nkosi notes that globally, experts are studying the correlation between climate change and longer, more intense pollen seasons due to warmer weather, a trend that gives due cause for a more proactive approach towards managing pollen exposure – all the more so in South Africa, a country with high biodiversity.
Simple steps for proactive pollen protection
“While medications can significantly help in managing allergies, it is crucial to take other practical steps to minimise your contact with irritants of seasonal allergens as well,” says Dr Nkosi.
“Start implementing a few simple lifestyle adaptations in early September to help manage any pollen allergies in your family. These precautions really can make a world of difference, and there is no need for anyone to suffer unnecessarily,” she points out.
- Wash hands often.
- To discourage touching faces and rubbing eyes, which can worsen allergy symptoms, keep little hands busy with yo-yos, fidget toys, and puzzles.
- To minimise pollen entering indoor spaces, keep the windows and doors that lead outside closed at home and also in the car.
- Change the filters in your vacuum cleaner and air conditioning units and consider an air purifier to help trap pollens and other particles in the air at home.
- Wear a hat and sunglasses when outdoors to protect against pollen, and change clothes when you go inside. This can be a tricky one for parents to manage, but having a designated set of ‘outside play clothes’ kept by the door can help, even if only when the pollen count is high.
- Other factors, such as pet dander and dust mites, can also cause allergic rhinitis, so put covers on pillows, mattresses, and bed bases to protect against dust mites.
- Keep pets off the furniture and close doors to bedrooms.
- For adolescents and adults, nasal irrigation – or rinsing your sinuses with saline solution – is a safe and effective way to wash away allergens in the nasal passage and can relieve certain symptoms.
“While practical steps and, where necessary, medical treatment, are proven to be most effective when managing allergic rhinitis, a healthy diet rich in nutrients can provide an additional layer of support during allergy season.
“Citrus fruits, peppers and broccoli, for example, are high in vitamin C, which offers powerful immune support, and may have antihistamine properties. The effects of bromelain in pineapple are being studied for their possible benefits to allergy sufferers, including thinning of mucus in the sinuses and chest. Turmeric has known anti-inflammatory properties that may assist with allergic rhinitis, and omega 3 fatty acids found in fish like salmon may also help to regulate inflammation and reduce allergy symptoms,” she says.
Dr Nkosi concludes by urging parents to closely monitor allergic rhinitis in their children and seek professional healthcare treatment to avoid the development of serious illness if symptoms persist or worsen.
*Sources:
South African Journal of Science – https://bit.ly/3z2ZXOx
