Pollen allergy: How to control the season
Are you one of the many who dreads the birch tree or the grass growing? Pollen allergies can severely impact quality of life, but with the right assessment and treatment, most people can become virtually symptom-free.
Some need a quick prescription, while others need a more thorough assessment and evaluation of allergy shots. See the overview below to find the service that suits you best today.
Video doctor
When it's urgent – where you are
Have you run out of prescriptions, or do you need a quick assessment of acute ailments? Our doctors on video can help you with:
Renewal of regular allergy medications.
Advice on over-the-counter alternatives and relief.
Referral if medications do not have the desired effect.
General Practitioner
Your supporter in everyday life
During a physical meeting with your general practitioner, we can go deeper into your medical history. We help you with:
- Blood tests to map out exactly what you react to.
- Preparation of a personal treatment plan.
- Assessment of whether you are a candidate for allergy vaccination (pollen tablets or injections).
Ear, nose and throat (ENT)
The respiratory specialists
If your nose is constantly stuffy or your sinuses are causing problems, an ENT specialist can thoroughly examine your upper respiratory tract. We offer:
- Binocular examination of the nasal passages and mucous membranes.
- Assessment of polyps or abnormalities that worsen allergy symptoms.
- Specialized treatment for chronic nasal congestion.
Pediatrician
Safety for the little ones
Allergies in children can often be confused with a cold, but require different follow-up. Our pediatricians have extensive experience with:
- Gentle allergy testing of children.
- Dosage adjustment that is safe for growing children.
- Advice to parents on adaptations in kindergarten and school life.
Common symptoms of pollen allergy
Pollen allergy (hay fever) is often confused with a common cold, but is characterized by the fact that the symptoms last for a longer period of time and often occur in series.
Typical signs from the nose and eyes
- Symptoms: You sneeze many times in a row, often immediately after going outside.
- Itching and irritation: Itchy nose, throat and even ear canals. The eyes become red, runny and itchy.
- Watery snot: In allergies, the snot is usually completely clear and thin, unlike in an infection.
- Congestion: The mucous membranes swell, which makes it difficult to breathe through the nose and can put pressure on the sinuses.
General condition and "pollen fog"
Allergy is an inflammatory reaction that drains the body of energy. Many people experience:
- Severe fatigue: A feeling of being exhausted that does not go away with sleep.
- Reduced concentration: Difficulty focusing at work or school.
- Irritability: As a result of poor sleep and constant physical discomfort.
When symptoms move to the lungs
In some people, pollen allergies can trigger or worsen asthma. Be especially careful if you experience:
Wheezing or labored breathing with moderate activity.
A persistent dry cough, especially at night or with physical exertion.
How we test you for allergies
For å finne den mest effektive behandlingen, må vi vite nøyaktig hva immunforsvaret ditt reagerer på. Vi tilbyr grundig utredning gjennom flere testmetoder:
Blodprøve (S-IgE)
En enkel blodprøve kan avdekke om du har dannet allergiantistoffer mot spesifikke pollentyper som bjørk, gress eller burot. Dette er ofte det første steget i en utredning og kan tas uavhengig av om du bruker allergimedisiner eller har aktive symptomer.
✅ Gjennomføres hos allmennlege, Øre-nese-hals-spesialist eller barnelege.
Prikktest
Dette er "gullstandarden" for raske svar. Sykepleier drypper små dråper med allergenekstrakter på underarmen og lager et lite prikk i det øverste hudlaget.
- Raskt svar: Resultatet er klart i løpet av 15 minutter.
- Synlig reaksjon: Dersom du er allergisk, vil det oppstå en liten, kløende hevelse (vable) der dråpen ble plassert.
- Viktig: Du må vanligvis slutte med allergimedisiner (antihistaminer) noen dager før testen for at resultatet skal bli korrekt.
✅ Du får henvisning i timen av allmennlege, Øre-nese-hals-spesialist eller Barnelege.
Sykehistorie og klinisk vurdering
Testing er mer enn bare prøver. Våre leger ser testresultatene i sammenheng med dine faktiske plager:
- Når på året starter symptomene?
- Hvor i landet oppholder du deg?
- Hvordan påvirkes hverdagen din?
Treatment of pollen allergy
For most people, the goal is to become symptom-free with the simplest possible treatment. We follow a step-by-step model to ensure that you get the right help:
- Topical treatment (First choice): For many, targeted treatment with allergy-reducing nasal sprays and eye drops is enough to keep everyday life going.
- Symptom-relieving tablets: Antihistamines (such as Zyrtec or similar) can be combined with topical treatment for better effect throughout the day.
- Allergy vaccination (Allergy vaccination): If regular medications do not provide good enough control, vaccination may be the solution. This is a long-term treatment that teaches the body to tolerate what you are allergic to.
- For birch and grass, this is now available as simple melt-in-the-mouth tablets that you take at home.
Important information about cortisone injections
Important information about cortisone injections
In line with national guidelines from Norwegian health authorities, Dr.Dropin has moved away from cortisone injections for allergies.
Why?
Cortisone injections can cause unwanted local side effects, such as sagging skin (tissue loss) or pigment changes at the injection site. Today, there are far more modern and targeted treatments that are both safer and more effective for long-term control.