One in three children and one in five adults in the world suffer from some form of allergy. Young people aged 15 to 25 are most at risk, warns the World Health Organization.
Allergic rhinitis is the most common epidemic chronic disease today, affecting more than half a billion people on the planet. Where did such alarming data come from?
The latest research predicts that more than 50 percent of Europeans will suffer from allergies by 2025. Experts from the Medical Institute of the University of Tokyo claim that air pollution with harmful industrial substances and gases from traffic is the main reason why children in cities are five times more likely to suffer from allergic rhinitis than children from rural areas.
Land contaminated with pesticides, food loaded with preservatives, meat saturated with hormones, and antibiotics, all disrupt our immune system, resulting in the occurrence of autoimmune diseases, out of which various types of allergies are the most common problem.
Allergic rhinitis most frequent
Typical symptoms of allergic rhinitis include itching and redness of the eyes, runny nose or stuffy nose, coughing, sneezing… These symptoms appear for more than one hour a day and recur for two weeks or longer, usually at certain times of the year.
Allergic rhinitis is mainly related to pollen, but the same symptoms can be caused by allergens such as mold, dust, hair and feathers of pets, as well as mites and irritating fibers from fabrics, carpets and the like.
- The most important thing is to distinguish between allergies and colds. As many as 90 percent of patients with allergic diseases are untreated or insufficiently and inadequately treated. Patients do not follow the recommendations, they often self-treat, they don’t take therapy regularly. That is why the clinical features of allergic rhinitis are increasingly changing towards more severe and chronic forms. Allergic rhinitis must be treated, because it is the most important risk factor for asthma- says Katarina Barudžija, M.Sc. (Pharm), Regional Product Manager for RX medicines at Hemofarm.
Prevent asthma on time
- Global research indicates that more than 40 percent of people suffering from allergic rhinitis get asthma further on during the course of their disease. People who have allergic rhinitis should start appropriate therapy as soon as possible, in order to alleviate the symptoms and problems that affect the quality of life and performing of daily activities. Avoid picnics, cycling and other outdoor activities when pollen concentrations are high. Nasal rinsing with saline solutions, use of antihistamines, corticosteroid sprays as well as immunotherapy are recommended. Your doctor will prescribe you the therapy that best suits you – Katarina says.
First-choice medicines for treatment of allergic rhinitis are new-generation antihistamines, both in adults and children, due to their proven efficacy and safety. They are available in our market in the form of tablets, syrups, nasal sprays or eye drops. Ms. Barudžija points out that medicines are most effective when used preventively, i.e. before the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis begin.
- In patients with persistent allergic rhinitis, continuous taking of medicine gives significantly better results, and it is important to reduce the concentration of mites in your home by removing upholstered furniture, carpets and curtains… Allergic rhinitis should be treated, rather than wait for the disease to go away on its own, otherwise it may lead to severe and unregulated forms of asthma. That is why it is necessary to recognize the symptoms, consult a doctor, follow the recommendations and regularly use the prescribed therapy - warns Katarina Barudžija, from Hemofarm company.
