Every spring and autumn pollen season, many people fall into the "suffering mode" of allergic rhinitis: nasal congestion to the point of being unable to sleep, frequent sneezing, unbearable nasal itching, and eye allergy symptoms such as eye itching, tearing, and redness.
Some patients rely on oral anti-allergic drugs and nasal spray hormones for maintenance, but find that the effects of the drugs are getting weaker and weaker, and symptoms come and go, seriously affecting the quality of sleep, work and daily life.
Recently, a drug for seasonal allergic rhinitis, sprucizumab, has attracted widespread attention. What conditions is it suitable for? How to deal with allergies in autumn? Let’s find out together.
Pollen allergy in autumn can easily damage the lower respiratory tract
In northern my country, autumn pollen allergens mainly come from four types of weeds: Asteraceae (artemisia, ragweed); Cannabaceae (humulus "Lara"); Chenopodiaceae (such as gray-green pigweed); Gramineae (such as Setaria).
Pollen allergy in spring mainly presents upper respiratory tract symptoms such as itchy eyes, itchy nose, sneezing, and runny nose. In autumn, weed pollen allergy tends to "go down", involving the lower respiratory tract, and even induces asthma. The symptoms are more stubborn and may also induce "pollen-food allergy syndrome."
Allergies are different in the fall than in the spring, and some people's symptoms are more severe than in the spring. Usually, the summer and autumn pollen seasons are concentrated from July to September, with the peak from late August to early September. Among them, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, and Ningxia are all high-incidence areas.
Autumn pollen is more allergenic
Although pollen concentration is higher in spring than in autumn, autumn pollen is more allergenic. Autumn pollen mostly comes from weeds. The particles are small and dry, and easily float in the air, making it difficult to prevent. Artemisia pollen is one of the important allergens. Some people can have severe allergic reactions after being exposed to only a small amount of wormwood pollen.
More mold growth in the fall
Morning dew or rainfall residue, fallen leaves and rotting vegetation in autumn help mold grow. Allergies can also occur when people come into contact with or inhale mold spores.
Autumn climate is drier than spring
In autumn, when the air is dry and ultraviolet rays are strong, the skin loses moisture easily and its barrier function weakens. Dry eczema and allergic dermatitis often occur. In addition, autumn is also a period of high incidence of indoor allergies, which is mainly related to the lack of ventilation, resulting in excessive indoor dust mites and dander, triggering allergic reactions.
How to deal with allergies in fall
After the beginning of autumn, the window period for high pollen incidence in autumn begins. It is recommended to take precautions in advance and not wait for symptoms to occur before intervening.
Pollen allergy ≠ common cold: generally no fever, no body aches, nose itching, sneezing, and eye itching recur, fluctuating with the pollen cycle.
Wear a mask and goggles when going out during high-incidence periods, and try to avoid prolonged outdoor activities when pollen concentration peaks in the afternoon.
Change your outdoor coat as soon as you get home, wash your face and nasal cavity, and don't bring pollen into the bedroom.
Keep doors and windows closed during the day when pollen concentration is high, and you can use an air purifier to reduce indoor pollen load.
Rinse the nasal cavity with physiological saline to wash away attached pollen, which is suitable for long-term daily care.
Oral antihistamines, nasal spray anti-inflammatory drugs, and anti-allergy eye drops only provide symptomatic relief, so be sure to use them according to your doctor's advice.
Desensitization treatment is a treatment plan for the cause. It is generally recommended to evaluate and start treatment after the pollen season is over.
If you have severe symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, or severe sleep disturbance, please go to the allergist department in time.
Which types of patients are suitable for sibuqibizumab to be included in the medical insurance?
Sprucizumab is the world's only IL-4Rα antibody drug for the treatment of moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis, and it is also the first domestically produced biological agent to treat moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. The three indications of this drug will officially enter the scope of medical insurance reimbursement on January 1, 2026.
As an injectable biological agent, the administration process of sprucizumab is simple and does not require frequent administration. The routine frequency of subcutaneous injections is once every 2 weeks.
This drug has a clear clinical scope of application and may not be suitable for all rhinitis patients.
Applicable diseases: Seasonal allergic rhinitis (rhinitis induced by pollen allergy in spring and autumn); Applicability: moderate to severe patients; Treatment premise: after standard treatment with nasal corticosteroids and oral antihistamines, symptoms are still poorly controlled and relapse; Applicable age: only applicable to adults 18 years old and above, not suitable for children and adolescents.
Special note: Currently there is no cure for all allergic diseases. Targeted biological agents can deeply suppress allergic inflammation for a long time, reduce the frequency of seasonal attacks, reduce the intensity of attacks, and stabilize the state to achieve long-term control.
If you need to use Sprucizumab, the specific course of treatment needs to be formulated by a doctor based on the severity of the patient's symptoms and the seasonal cycle to accurately meet the treatment needs of the pollen season.
Autumn allergies cannot be overcome by "tolerating it". Active prevention and standardized treatment are the key. If you have suspected allergic symptoms, please seek medical advice promptly.
