What a question – of course, because there are characteristic “aggravating” summer factors, when the heat is replaced by a cool breeze or air conditioning, when you want water from the refrigerator (or not water, but ice cream :)), and no one has canceled the classic pathogens of SARS.
But there is something else that mimics the common cold.
It looks like a stuffy nose and rhinitis that occur in late summer. There may be itchy eyes or watery eyes, a sore throat, subfebrile fever, loss of concentration, and sometimes a dry, hacking cough. It sounds like a cold, doesn’t it?
But the symptoms last for several weeks or more. A person goes to the doctor and may hear that they need to be tested for… allergies.
August and September are characterized by pollinating weeds. There are many of them, but we usually hear about ragweed and wormwood most often (and for good reason, because they are classic representatives of the class).
You can see these representatives not only in the countryside, but also on city roadsides. Sensitized people experience allergy symptoms during their pollination, and sometimes cross-reactivity symptoms in the form of allergic reactions to certain foods (for example, sunflower seeds, watermelon, melon, and grapes, which are also in season now).
What should I do if I experience the above symptoms?
Of course, consult a doctor who will conduct an examination and prescribe additional tests to confirm the diagnosis.
If you notice the same symptoms for several years in a row and/or suspect a pollen allergy, ask your doctor what tests you should take.
In CSD LAB you can find the following tests:
Determination of Ig E antibodies to wormwood pollen extract (by ELISA and ImmunoCAP);
Determination of Ig E antibodies to ragweed pollen extract (ELISA and ImmunoCAP);
“Seasonal rhinitis” package (contains the determination of Ig E antibodies to wormwood, ragweed and other plant pollen);
Determination of Ig E antibodies to the main molecules of ragweed pollen (n Amb a 1), wormwood (n Art v 1, n Art v 3) and minor grass allergens (r Phl p 7 r Phl p 12 complex);
Also, the determination of Ig E antibodies to ragweed and wormwood pollen allergen components is included in multiplex allergy panels.
In addition, for a comprehensive health check, CSD LAB reduces prices for the most popular allergy tests until the end of summer:
– ALEX2 – allergy test (Total IgE + specific IgE to 295 allergens).
– FOX – allergy test (Food Xplorer, specific IgG to 286 food allergens).
Important! It is worth remembering that even when choosing tests on your own, you should always seek a doctor’s examination to confirm the diagnosis, possibly a more detailed examination and determine further treatment tactics.
