April 17th
Topic #loratadine#
rushed to the first place in the hot search on Weibo
As of now
The number of discussions has exceeded 100 million
It's the season when all kinds of allergens are active
Antihistamines represented by loratadine
It is a "life-saving medicine" for many people with allergies
Netizens asked questions one after another
What happened to my life-saving medicine?
High incidence of flying
The demand for allergy drugs is rising
Loratadine is a commonly used medicine for the treatment of allergy symptoms, and in order to alleviate allergy symptoms, it has recently become a must-have for many netizens
Relevant data show that since mid-March, the public's demand for drugs related to allergic symptoms has increased significantly, compared with the search volume of loratadine in early March, an increase of 1.5 times, and the search volume of the keyword "allergic rhinitis" has increased by 2 times
Every year in April and May
Fly floc in Guangdong is also an allergen
According to experts from the Meteorological Observatory, from April 16 to 21, the overall average temperature will rise further, and the weather conditions are conducive to the production and drifting of flying flotsam, and the flying floc will enter the second high incidence period
In Guangzhou, in April and May every year, kapok and isokapok wool fly in the wind, which is "extremely unfriendly" to people with allergies
When the fruit is ripe, the outer skin of the fruit falls off naturally, and a white flocculent mass hangs on the branch, like a ripe and cracked cotton ball.
Entering April,
On many roads in Guangzhou, you can see the kapok and different kapok wool falling to the ground like a layer of "thin snow"
Data map. The tidbits of kapok on the streets of Ersha Island in Guangzhou City drift to the roadside green belt with the wind. Guangzhou Daily New Flower City reporter: Photo by Chen Youzi
These flotsams seem to be romantic, but they are actually very unfriendly to people with allergies, especially when the sun is directly exposed and there is wind, which will form a relatively concentrated flocculation phenomenon
Data map. Kapok wadding
"April Snow" is a paste-faced face, leaving only a handful of snot and tears for people with allergies
It is said that it is a picture of people with allergies who will have an itchy nose after reading it
Loratadine does not eradicate the allergen
Long-term use of antihistamines should be taken into account
This time, loratadine topped the hot search, and it can be found in the comments of netizens that many people have been dependent on antihistamines for a long time. As the saying goes, "medicine is poisonous", are there any side effects of long-term use of antihistamines?
This starts with the principle of antihistamines -
In layman's terms, allergies are when the immune system overreacts and mistakes substances from the outside world as "harmful substances", at which point the immune system releases a substance called "histamine" that binds to histamine receptors in the body. As a result, patients will have a variety of symptoms such as respiratory tract, eyes, skin, etc., at the same time or one after another. H1 antihistamines, represented by loratadine and cetirizine, as the name suggests, are drugs that can block the binding of histamine to receptors and make histamine unable to work. Therefore, after taking antihistamines, we will find that symptoms such as itchy skin and sneezing are quickly relieved, so antihistamines are called "life-saving drugs" by many people with allergies. However, it is important to note that H1 antihistamines do not eradicate allergens, and long-term use may cause some adverse reactions:
- First-generation antihistamines (such as diphenhydramine, brompheniramine) can cause drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness and other adverse reactions, and will produce anticholinergic effects, which may cause blurred vision, dry eyes, nose and mouth, urinary retention, constipation, etc., and should be used with caution by the elderly and children.
- Second-generation antihistamines (such as loratadine and cetirizine) have weak sedative effect, are not easy to cause drowsiness, and have a high safety profile, and have no obvious anticholinergic adverse reactions, so they have no antitussive function.
- Third-generation antihistamines (such as levocetirizine hydrochloride and desloratadine) have relatively strong anti-allergic effects and relatively few toxic side effects, and some drugs can be used in pregnant and lactating women and children.
Summary of medications
1. Choose your medication carefully. Antihistamines should only be used to relieve the symptoms of allergic diseases under the guidance of a doctor, especially pregnant and lactating women, the elderly and children, and should be used with caution. 2. Pay attention to the time and dosage of medication, even if loratadine and cetirizine are considered clinically very safe, it is generally not advisable to take them for more than one month. Due to individual differences in medication, if the symptoms do not improve, the dose of drugs should not be increased without authorization, and other drugs or treatments should be selected under the guidance of a doctor. 3. Do not drink alcohol while taking antihistamines, otherwise it will increase the burden on the liver and inhibit the central nervous system. 4. It cannot be taken before the skin test, loratadine will prevent or reduce the occurrence of positive reactions in the skin test and affect the results. 5. Do not use it in combination with antifungal drugs and macrolide antibiotics, these two types of drugs will lead to an increase in the content of loratadine in the blood, which is easy to aggravate adverse reactions. 6. In the case of rational drug use, the liver and kidney toxicity of antihistamines is very small, but there is literature showing that some first- and second-generation antihistamines may have potential cardiotoxicity, although it is relatively rare, but people with heart disease or cardiovascular risk need to pay attention to the long-term use of antihistamines.
These allergic diseases have recently been in high prevalence
Put away the "Self-Help Guide".
The following is a practical "self-help guide" for four types of high-incidence allergic diseases. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ (Swipe up and down to view)
allergic rhinitis
It is the most common allergic disease, and house dust mites, molds, animal fur and other allergens are the main allergens in the southern region, which can occur all year round, and pollen allergies are also more common in the northern region in addition to indoor allergens.
In addition, changes in air composition and air pressure during the change of seasons can also lead to airway hyperreactivity (commonly known as "tracheal allergy").
Allergic rhinitis is not only about itchy nose, sneezing, runny nose and nasal congestion, but also may induce sinusitis, nasal polyps, secretory otitis media.
How to deal with it?
(1) Medication. Use antihistamines, glucocorticoid sprays, antileukotrienes and others to relieve symptoms, but be sure to follow your doctor's prescription.
(2) Desensitization therapy. Also known as immunotherapy, it can be divided into two ways: sublingual and subcutaneous. However, it is not suitable for everyone, and it is currently mainly for patients with well-defined allergens such as dust mites and/or house dust mites.
(3) Nasal irrigation. Nasal irrigation with warm saline or saline solution routinely removes allergens and secretions from the nasal cavity and relieves nasal congestion and itching.
(4) Keep away from allergens. Avoid contact with pollen, animal fur and other allergens, open windows regularly for ventilation, wash and change bed sheets and bedding frequently, dry mattresses frequently, and clean air conditioning filters regularly. Reduce outdoor activities during the pollen season, wear a mask when you go out, and change your clothes in time when you get home.
(5) Enhance immunity. Exercise appropriately, such as swimming, walking, jogging and yoga, and eat more foods rich in antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, such as vegetables and fruits. If symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing occur repeatedly, seek medical attention in time and carry out standardized treatment.
Allergic asthma
Allergic asthma attacks are often preceded by aura symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy throat, cough, chest tightness and shortness of breath, etc., if not treated in time, shortness of breath, wheezing, dyspnea, and even life-threatening.
Once an asthma attack occurs, it is imperative to get out of the allergic environment and use medications that can quickly and effectively relieve asthma symptoms.
How to deal with it?
The drugs that are currently widely used are combinations containing inhaled glucocorticoids + long-acting beta-2 agonists, which are controlled by an inhalation device.
If you have a seasonal asthma attack, you may want to consult a specialist to diagnose whether you can start taking regular medication before the peak season and continue to use it until the peak season.
Once the asthma attack, if the wheezing is heavy, you should rest in a sitting or semi-recumbent position, keep the airway open, and take medication in time; if it is a severe asthma attack, you should be sent to the doctor for treatment in time when you have difficulty breathing, unable to finish a sentence completely, wheezing loudly, and rapid pulse.
Allergic skin diseases
Common allergic skin diseases in spring mainly include allergic urticaria, contact dermatitis, photosensitive skin diseases, eczema, etc.
If you notice a large patchy wheal on your body, accompanied by obvious itching, redness and swelling, you should be alert to allergic urticaria, which may come from infections, drugs, physical objects, insect bites, or contact with certain allergies. In general, allergen prevention is the mainstay, and glucocorticoids are used for treatment with antihistamines.
If you come into contact with plant pollen, detergents, skin care cosmetics, etc., small pimples, redness, swelling, erythema, burning, blisters, etc., should be alert to contact dermatitis. Glucocorticoid creams, anti-inflammatory and antipruritic drugs, immunosuppressants, and phototherapy may be used under the guidance of a dermatologist.
How to deal with it?
For patients who are refractory to treatment and prone to recurrence, allergens can also be identified through patch tests, blood draws for allergens, etc., to avoid contact.
Pay attention to the maintenance of the skin in spring, cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection are the key. When skin problems occur, do not use drugs or home remedies indiscriminately, do not scratch or scald with hot water, and seek medical attention in time.
During the acute attack, it is appropriate to avoid eating, and the food with a positive test of food allergen greater than the second level should be eaten with caution; regular work and rest, appropriate exercise, and stress relief can play a positive role in reducing the occurrence of allergies.
Allergic conjunctivitis
During the high incidence of allergies, if you have symptoms such as itching, frequent eye rubbing, conjunctival redness, frequent tearing, burning sensation, photophobia, increased secretions, and decreased vision, especially when accompanied by nasal allergies and skin allergies, you should seek medical attention in time to determine whether you have allergic conjunctivitis. For the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis, antihistamines, antiallergic drugs, antibiotics and other drugs can be used under the guidance of a doctor, and the eyes should be washed with appropriate cold compress or normal saline, and the eyes should not be rubbed. Patients with recurrent attacks need to identify and remove allergens, often plant pollen, dust mites, clammy and cold air, animal hair, etc. It should be noted that when the allergen has not been determined, it is also necessary to pay attention to keeping the home environment clean, reducing the chance of contact with animals, flowers and plants, eating less seafood, etc., avoiding possible allergens as much as possible, and at the same time exercising well and improving immunity to reduce allergic attacks.
How else can I protect it?
Wear a mask! Wear long sleeves!
In addition to the use of anti-allergy drugs, many "senior patients" said that the best way to cope is actually to wear a mask!
The doctor reminds people with allergic constitution and respiratory diseases, especially asthma, to minimize outdoor activities in the past month, if you go out, try to stay away from places with flying flotsam, avoid inhalation, wear masks, goggles, and wear long-sleeved clothes.
2024
China Women's Daily, China Women's Movement
Source/Guangzhou Daily Comprehensive People's Daily, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Appointment, China Rational Drug Use, Modern Nursing Weekly, Tencent Medical Codex, Panyu Daily Editor-in-Charge/Chen Xiaobing, Tianyuan Huang Die's Review/Yifan Producer/Zhifei