Have you ever felt your eyes itching, runny nose or started to sneeze from pollen? These are flu-like symptoms, but they can be kafunsho.

What is hay fever?

It is an allergy that occurs when the body reacts excessively against the pollen that has entered the body.

What are the symptoms?

The body tries to rid itself of pollen by either “sneezing” and washing it out in the form of tears and nasal mucus. Other symptoms can occur including inflammation, itchy eyes or stuffy nose.

When does pollen usually occurs in the air?

Pollen spreads at any time of the year. However, the period in which symptoms appear depends on person to person. In spring, the main pollens are from trees such as cedar and cypress (sugi and hinoki). In early summer, grasses pollen is common, while from mid-summer to fall, pollen levels of chrysanthemum, sunflower, among others increases.

What to do when you have the symptoms?

It is recommended to visit the otolaryngologist (in Japanese, called Jibiinkou-ka or Jibi-ka) for nose-related symptoms, and the ophthalmologist (in Japanese, called Gan-ka) for eye symptoms.  It is also possible to consult at general practitioners (Nai-ka), allergists (allergy-ka) or pediatricians (shouni-ka) for children.

About the treatment

There are various methods of therapies such as drug treatment, desensitization, surgical treatments, etc. Therefore, it is important to consult with a doctor.

With the right treatment and prevention methods, you can reduce your symptoms. If you have kafunsho, make an appointment before the start of the kafunsho period and prevent it as soon as possible.

Prevention: what to do daily?

1. To prevent inhaling and entering pollen in the body:

• Wear masks and glasses when leaving home
• Wear clothes and hats with smooth surface.
• Wash your hands, gargle and take the pollen off your clothes when you get home
• Constantly clean your home with wet clothes or mops
• Hang you laundry indoors

2. Have a good quality sleep
3. Have a healthy routine
4. Eat balanced meals
5. Be careful of excessive alcohol consumption.
6. If you smoke, try reducing the number of cigarettes.

When airborne pollen level increases, many patients experience the symptoms immediately, and others take longer. The intensity is also different for each person.

Symptoms may be stronger or weaker according to the amount of pollen in the air, so there are many people who have no symptoms when the amount of pollen is low.

It is important to be careful so there will be no symptoms of kafunsho. Pay attention to recent information and avoid leaving home in times when there are plenty of pollen. Use the information in this video to protect yourself from kafunsho!

Reference:

http://www.pref.mie.lg.jp/KENKOT/HP/84849050608.htm

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/new-info/kobetu/kenkou/ryumachi/kafun/ippan-qa.html

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-10900000-Kenkoukyoku/0000077514.pdf