Why do some people develop allergies later in life?
By Colby Denton
Spring has sprung, and with it, allergy season has begun. But what if you only started developing symptoms later in life after going allergy-free for years? New research is showing that age-related immune system changes may play a key factor in new sensitivities developing far beyond childhood.
We’ve all felt it year after year. The slight twinge in our noses. The scratch in our throats. These unpleasant feelings are always heralded by the gale of yellow dust lining our vehicles and streets. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 80 million Americans suffer from allergies annually, including over 25 percent of adults and 21 percent of children.
Carolyn Word, clinical assistant professor of Allergy and Immunology at MUSC, sees patients every day for everything from asthma and eczema to hives and other conditions.
“I work with patients struggling with these symptoms day-to-day. At an academic center, I also get to work with other specialties optimizing multi-disciplinary care for patients as well as teach residents and medical students,” Word said.
Adult-Onset Allergies
When most people refer to “allergies,” they are usually referring to allergic rhinitis with symptoms that include sneezing, congestion, runny nose and itchy, watery eyes. Providers typically see an uptick in rhinitis cases starting in early spring and extending into the summer. Tree pollen typically starts around February, peaking in March and the high burden of pollen is what often brings people into clinics for treatment.
A patient’s allergies can shift over time, but allergists cannot always explain why that happens. While some patients may go their entire childhood without allergies and then develop them during the “second peak” in early adulthood, sometimes a simple change of scenery can lead to the development of new allergies, such as moving to a place with a different pollen profile.
Dr. Meredith Moore, a local allergist with Charleston Allergy and Asthma, said that the natural changes in the immune system over time — called immunosenescence — may lead to lower levels of the antibodies involved in allergic reactions. As a result, some people notice that allergy symptoms get milder with age.
Charleston Pollen Season
“Pollen allergies are becoming more intense as warming temperatures lead to higher pollen levels. In Charleston, the heavy tree pollen each spring can cause significant symptoms that are sometimes difficult to control with over-the-counter medications,” Moore said.
Aside from allergic rhinitis, pollen can also cause allergic conjunctivitis and asthma. During the summer, tree pollen is the driving culprit of most allergist visits, as well as visits to the car wash.
Due to Charleston’s humid climate, outdoor mold is visible on some surfaces.
Grass pollen starts in late spring and extends throughout the summer. This is followed by weed pollen that starts in late summer and extends until the time of the year’s first frost. Word said that given our climate, most Charlestonians experience some form of pollen most months out of the year with a small break in winter.
“Not everyone will develop allergies and there are many factors that can contribute to one’s overall susceptibility to developing allergies,” Word said. “People who relocate to the Charleston area often notice allergy symptoms emerging after one or two years of exposure to the region’s unique pollens and high pollen levels,” Moore added.
When to See an Allergist
Thankfully for sufferers, MUSC and Charleston Allergy and Asthma and have teams of multiple board-certified allergists available to address most issues within a short timeframe in children and adult patients.
While most of the patients Word sees for environmental allergens aren’t having a life-threatening reaction, she has seen her fair share of patients experiencing serious allergic reactions related to food or drug allergens.
“Patients often see us for their allergic rhinitis because they are tired of feeling symptomatic for so long without having success from over-the-counter treatments,” she said.
At Charleston Allergy and Asthma, Moore suggests undergoing allergy testing and considering allergy immunotherapy, or “allergy shots,” for anyone who’d prefer a stronger approach than over-the-counter medications.
For anyone suffering with allergies — whether it be a stuffy nose or worse — both Word and Moore agree that a visit to a local board-certified allergist is paramount to identifying the cause of your suffering and addressing it head-on.
Thankfully, with the advent of modern medication and the way we understand allergies, maybe one day the only thing that’ll indicate that it’s allergy season is that yellow dusting on our cars.
To learn more about these two Lowcountry allergists and the variety of treatment options available, visit muschealth.org/medical-services or allergypartners.com.
