Adult Onset Seasonal Allergies

Fall is here. The leaves are changing colors, the air is getting cooler and you are reaching for your tissue box. Are the fall allergies new? If so, you aren’t alone. While it is estimated that somewhere between five and ten percent of the population has seasonal allergies, these allergies aren’t something you are typically born with, instead, they can appear at any stage of life.

Adult onset allergies are considered those that start after puberty. Women more commonly develop adult onset allergies than men. In children, boys are more likely to have allergies than girls. Sometimes, there are environmental triggers that bring allergy symptoms to the surface, such as moving to an area with higher pollen counts or new pollen exposure. Other times, no clear reason can be found, leading some to believe it is genetic or hormonal in nature.

Allergies are a systematic disease that needs treatment, unlike a cold, which is a mild inconvenience for a few days or a week. Allergies worsen with exposure to t he allergens, while colds improve over time. Typically, allergies will not cause a fever unless the sinuses become blocked and an infection develops.

If you are sniffling, sneezing or dealing with itchy, watery eyes this Fall, its likely due to Fall seasonal allergies. If over the counter antihistamines aren’t bringing you reliable relief, it is probably time to see an allergist.