Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsAllergy SeasonFall AllergiesWinter AllergiesSpring AllergiesTreatmentPreventionFAQs
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Allergy Season
Fall Allergies
Winter Allergies
Spring Allergies
Treatment
Prevention
FAQs
When a specific substance is more abundant during a specific time of the year, the symptoms that some people experience are referred to asseasonal allergies. Read on to find out more about what type of allergies are the most prevalent throughout the year.
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Prevalence of AllergiesIn the United States, more than 50 million people suffer from allergies each year. Allergies are also the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the country.Globally, roughly 300 million people suffer from allergies each year. Research suggests that those numbers continue to rise, especially in children who suffer from allergy-driven asthma.
Prevalence of Allergies
In the United States, more than 50 million people suffer from allergies each year. Allergies are also the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the country.Globally, roughly 300 million people suffer from allergies each year. Research suggests that those numbers continue to rise, especially in children who suffer from allergy-driven asthma.
In the United States, more than 50 million people suffer from allergies each year. Allergies are also the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the country.
Globally, roughly 300 million people suffer from allergies each year. Research suggests that those numbers continue to rise, especially in children who suffer from allergy-driven asthma.
When the immune system responds to anallergen, it releases one type of chemical known as histamine to fight off the substance. When this chemical is released, symptoms develop.
While most allergies are mild, a severe form of allergic reaction can occur known asanaphylaxis.Seasonal allergiesare not typically the cause of anaphylaxis.
The main symptoms of seasonal allergies are:
Does Everyone Experience Allergies in the Same Way?While many people may be allergic to the same substances, such as dander or pollen, the way each individual’s body reacts to the substance is different. Further, in one season a person may be without symptoms at all and but cannot seem to get rid of them in another. Seasonal allergies strike everyone differently.
Does Everyone Experience Allergies in the Same Way?
While many people may be allergic to the same substances, such as dander or pollen, the way each individual’s body reacts to the substance is different. Further, in one season a person may be without symptoms at all and but cannot seem to get rid of them in another. Seasonal allergies strike everyone differently.
How Do You Know If You Have Allergies?
When Is Allergy Season?
Symptoms depend entirely on how a person responds to the substances they are exposed to. However, the following is a general timeline for seasonal allergies.
Fall allergies develop because of high amounts of weed pollen allergens including ragweed that are very common in many areas during the fall months.
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, there are several different plants that can trigger seasonal fall allergies. Other than ragweed, these plants include:
Mold allergies are also very common in the fall time when leaf piles and other decaying matter collect from deciduous trees and shrubs.
Factors
Some other factors are associated with theonsetof seasonal fall allergies. These factors revolve around climate and can include:
Unfortunately, there is virtually nowhere in the country that is safe from all allergens. Moving may help you escape certain allergens that trigger symptoms, but you may develop new allergies to plants that inhabit your new location.
Indoor allergens can include:
These are year-round allergy triggers, but they can be heightened in the winter due to spending more time indoors, thus increasing exposure to them.
The biggest factor causing winter allergies is the extra time spent indoors, around indoor allergens, when the temperature drops outside.
Where You Live and Seasonal AllergiesStudies show that it isn’t just different seasons that can trigger seasonal allergies. Geography can play a major role in the development of allergies. People living close to the equator are at an increased risk of developing allergies or asthma regardless of pollen counts.
Where You Live and Seasonal Allergies
Studies show that it isn’t just different seasons that can trigger seasonal allergies. Geography can play a major role in the development of allergies. People living close to the equator are at an increased risk of developing allergies or asthma regardless of pollen counts.
Trees are often the most to blame for early spring allergies. Somespecific tree allergensinclude:
In late spring and early summer, grass pollens become the predominate cause of allergy symptoms for most people that suffer from allergies.
The climate has a lot to do with spring allergies, because a more mild winter can lead to an early spring thaw. This causes an earlier, and subsequently longer, spring season and worsened spring allergies.
Typically, the spring sees a lot of rainfall and that can also trigger symptoms. While rain washes away pollen, after the rain has finished falling, pollen counts rise significantly.
What Are Airborne Allergies?
Treatment for seasonal allergies typically relies on medications, but some natural remedies also may help.
Medication
There are several types of medications that are given for seasonal allergies. They include:
Natural Remedies
A natural remedy can be used alongside other medications or on its own to help reduce allergy symptoms. Some natural remedies include saline nasal irrigation, which is the rinsing of the nasal cavity using saltwater.
How to Get Relief From Allergy Symptoms
Other ways you can prevent allergy symptoms include:
After being outdoors, come inside and bathe or shower. Change clothes before going to bed. This will decrease the total time you are exposed to pollen, which easily sticks to skin and mucosal surfaces.
Can I Take Medication to Prevent Allergy Symptoms?Allergy shotshave proven effective in preventing allergy symptoms.Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for grass or ragweed also is available.These drugs include:OdactraGrastekOralairRagwitekThese sublingual drops can be placed under the tongue for allergy symptom prevention.
Can I Take Medication to Prevent Allergy Symptoms?
Allergy shotshave proven effective in preventing allergy symptoms.Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for grass or ragweed also is available.These drugs include:OdactraGrastekOralairRagwitekThese sublingual drops can be placed under the tongue for allergy symptom prevention.
Allergy shotshave proven effective in preventing allergy symptoms.Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for grass or ragweed also is available.These drugs include:
These sublingual drops can be placed under the tongue for allergy symptom prevention.
What You Need to Know About Sublingual Immunotherapy
Summary
Allergies can affect people throughout the year due to different allergens, or allergy triggers. Seasonal allergies are allergies that are more likely to affect people during a specific time of year. Seasonal allergies are most common in the spring, but can occur anytime of year or in any geographic area.
A Word From Verywell
Allergies can be difficult to cope with even if your symptoms are mild. While there is no way you can completely avoid allergens all the time, you can incorporate strategies to further prevent symptoms. If you have severe allergies that affect how your daily functioning, speak to your healthcare provider about possible medications that may be helpful for you. Seasonal allergies are uncomfortable, but they can be effectively managed.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are several symptoms of seasonal allergies and COVID-19 that overlap. However, there also are many COVID-19 symptoms that would not occur with seasonal allergies, such as a fever, a loss of taste or smell, and body aches or pains. It’s important to pay close attention to your symptoms to ensure that you are seeking the proper medical care.Learn MoreAllergy Cough vs. COVID Cough
There are several symptoms of seasonal allergies and COVID-19 that overlap. However, there also are many COVID-19 symptoms that would not occur with seasonal allergies, such as a fever, a loss of taste or smell, and body aches or pains. It’s important to pay close attention to your symptoms to ensure that you are seeking the proper medical care.
Learn MoreAllergy Cough vs. COVID Cough
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy facts and figures.Schmidt CW.Pollen overload: seasonal allergies in a changing climate.Environ Health Perspect.2016;124(4):A70-5. doi:10.1289/ehp.124-A70American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Common seasonal allergy triggers.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Indoor allergens.Oktaria V, Dharmage SC, Burgess JA, et al.Association between latitude and allergic diseases: a longitudinal study from childhood to middle-age.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol.2013;110(2):80-5.e1. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2012.11.005Emeryk A, Emeryk-Maksymiuk J, Janeczek K.New guidelines for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2019;36(3):255-260. doi:10.5114/ada.2018.75749Medline Plus.Nasal corticosteroid sprays.Hermelingmeier KE, Weber RK, Hellmich M, Heubach CP, Mösges R.Nasal irrigation as an adjunctive treatment in allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Rhinol Allergy.2012;26(5):e119-25. doi:10.2500/ajra.2012.26.3787National Health Service.Prevention: allergies.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Allergy shots.Durham SR, Shamji MH.Allergen immunotherapy: past, present and future.Nat Rev Immunol. 2022;1-12. doi:10.1038/s41577-022-00786-1
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy facts and figures.Schmidt CW.Pollen overload: seasonal allergies in a changing climate.Environ Health Perspect.2016;124(4):A70-5. doi:10.1289/ehp.124-A70American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Common seasonal allergy triggers.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Indoor allergens.Oktaria V, Dharmage SC, Burgess JA, et al.Association between latitude and allergic diseases: a longitudinal study from childhood to middle-age.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol.2013;110(2):80-5.e1. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2012.11.005Emeryk A, Emeryk-Maksymiuk J, Janeczek K.New guidelines for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2019;36(3):255-260. doi:10.5114/ada.2018.75749Medline Plus.Nasal corticosteroid sprays.Hermelingmeier KE, Weber RK, Hellmich M, Heubach CP, Mösges R.Nasal irrigation as an adjunctive treatment in allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Rhinol Allergy.2012;26(5):e119-25. doi:10.2500/ajra.2012.26.3787National Health Service.Prevention: allergies.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Allergy shots.Durham SR, Shamji MH.Allergen immunotherapy: past, present and future.Nat Rev Immunol. 2022;1-12. doi:10.1038/s41577-022-00786-1
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy facts and figures.Schmidt CW.Pollen overload: seasonal allergies in a changing climate.Environ Health Perspect.2016;124(4):A70-5. doi:10.1289/ehp.124-A70American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Common seasonal allergy triggers.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Indoor allergens.Oktaria V, Dharmage SC, Burgess JA, et al.Association between latitude and allergic diseases: a longitudinal study from childhood to middle-age.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol.2013;110(2):80-5.e1. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2012.11.005Emeryk A, Emeryk-Maksymiuk J, Janeczek K.New guidelines for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2019;36(3):255-260. doi:10.5114/ada.2018.75749Medline Plus.Nasal corticosteroid sprays.Hermelingmeier KE, Weber RK, Hellmich M, Heubach CP, Mösges R.Nasal irrigation as an adjunctive treatment in allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Rhinol Allergy.2012;26(5):e119-25. doi:10.2500/ajra.2012.26.3787National Health Service.Prevention: allergies.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Allergy shots.Durham SR, Shamji MH.Allergen immunotherapy: past, present and future.Nat Rev Immunol. 2022;1-12. doi:10.1038/s41577-022-00786-1
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy facts and figures.
Schmidt CW.Pollen overload: seasonal allergies in a changing climate.Environ Health Perspect.2016;124(4):A70-5. doi:10.1289/ehp.124-A70
American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Common seasonal allergy triggers.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Indoor allergens.
Oktaria V, Dharmage SC, Burgess JA, et al.Association between latitude and allergic diseases: a longitudinal study from childhood to middle-age.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol.2013;110(2):80-5.e1. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2012.11.005
Emeryk A, Emeryk-Maksymiuk J, Janeczek K.New guidelines for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2019;36(3):255-260. doi:10.5114/ada.2018.75749
Medline Plus.Nasal corticosteroid sprays.
Hermelingmeier KE, Weber RK, Hellmich M, Heubach CP, Mösges R.Nasal irrigation as an adjunctive treatment in allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Rhinol Allergy.2012;26(5):e119-25. doi:10.2500/ajra.2012.26.3787
National Health Service.Prevention: allergies.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Allergy shots.
Durham SR, Shamji MH.Allergen immunotherapy: past, present and future.Nat Rev Immunol. 2022;1-12. doi:10.1038/s41577-022-00786-1
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