Shainur Ahsan: a sophomore in civil engineering, lets his allergies get the best of him on campus while walking by azalea bushes. Pollen in the air is causing many students to stock up on medicines like Benadryl, Zyrtec, Claritin and Nasonex to keep their allergies at b
What rolls in like a lion and fades out like a lamb? According to many sick, sneezing students, it’s allergies this spring.
“Allergy season starts when the weather gets warmer and is especially nasty during April, and it normally fades in May,” said Melody Tucker, a pharmaceutical representative. “This time of year, the trigger is pine tree pollen.”
Allergies come from pollen, mold, dust mites, insect stings, food, latex, medicine like penicillin or aspirin, fragrances and more, according to WebMD.
“Benadryl is for people with mild allergies and can be sold over the counter,” Tucker said. “Pills like Singulair and Zyrtec are heavily prescribed.
Other prescribed medicines are certain cortic steroids like Pulmicort, Xopenex and Albuterol.”
Antihistamines and decongestants can be sold over the counter or may be prescribed and provide easier breathing.
Antihistamines ease sneezing, itching, congestion and discharge.
Decongestants help by constricting blood vessels and decreasing the amount of fluid that leaks out into the lining of the nose, according to WebMD.
“People go to allergists or immunologists to get allergy shots,” Tucker said. “Allergists perform skin tests on your back, which look like a grid.”
This “grid” is created by injections of samples of common allergies cat dander, pollens, house dust mites, certain molds, fire ant bites and others.
Doctors give these shots weekly to strengthen the immune system or until allergies weaken. Allergy shots are 90 percent effective for seasonal allergies, according to WebMD.
Some are more affected by allergies.
“Actually, I got a virus this year that I think was onset by my allergies,” said Holly Hereth, a sophomore English major. “My symptoms were mild body aches, extreme sore throat and a sinus head ache.”
Hereth recommends Nasonex for pollen allergy relief.
“I haven’t gotten my prescription filled here because it’s way too inconvenient to go to the AU Medical Clinic,” Hereth said. “I don’t have all day to wait there.”
Other allergies are not seasonal, but year round, and have been present since adolescence.
“I am allergic to metals, particularly nickel,” said Bonnie Dean, a sophomore in secondary education. “I can’t even sit in the chairs in Haley for long. When I was little, my mom noticed I was allergic because when she took off my pajamas, where all the buttons had been, there were red dots, and it was itchy. Now, I can’t wear jewelry unless it’s pure gold, silver, platinum. If it’s silver, it has to be all the way through. Lots of jewelry says it’s silver, but it’s actually just coated in silver.”
The symptoms may vary, but many seasonal and year-round allergies can look the same.
“Look for hives. It looks red and like poison ivy,” Dean said.
Allergy symptoms can be avoided, so don’t let allergy season ruin spring and summer.
