Patient education: Seasonal allergies – ED discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — 

Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").

What should I know? — 

You came to the ED for seasonal allergies, also sometimes called "hay fever." This is when you have allergy symptoms only during certain times of the year, when the thing you are allergic to is around.

You are most likely allergic to 1 or more of these things:

●Pollens from trees, grasses, or weeds

●Mold spores, which are in the air when the weather is humid or after rain

Being around what you are allergic to probably makes you sneeze, and gives you a stuffy or runny nose and itchy eyes.

The doctor might suggest allergy testing to find out what you are allergic to. They also might have given you medicines. If you so, take them exactly as instructed.

How do I care for myself at home? — 

Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

You should also do the following:

●Call your regular doctor and tell them you were in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment if you were told to.

●Use over-the-counter medicines to help with allergy symptoms as instructed. You might need to take:

•A steroid nose spray can help with a stuffy nose and post-nasal drip. (This is when mucus runs down the back of your throat.)

•An antihistamine can help stop itching, sneezing, and runny nose symptoms. Some can make you tired.

•An antihistamine eye drop can help with itchy eyes.

•A decongestant can reduce stuffy nose symptoms. But do not use one for longer than 3 days in a row. Taking it for longer can make symptoms worse. If you have high blood pressure, do not use decongestants.

●To try to prevent more allergy symptoms:

•Stay inside during the times of the year when you have symptoms.

•Keep car and house windows closed, and use air conditioning instead.

•Take a shower before bed to rinse pollen off your hair and skin.

•Wear a dust mask if you need to be outside.

•Rinse out your nose with salt water to clean the inside of your nose and get rid of pollen. Different devices can be used for this.

●Ask your doctor about allergy shots, or allergy pills that dissolve under the tongue. These might help reduce symptoms.

When should I get emergency help?

●Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if you:

•Are having so much trouble breathing you can only say 1 or 2 words at a time

•Need to sit upright to breathe, or cannot lie down

•Have severe swelling of your tongue, lips, or mouth

●Return to the ED if you:

•Have trouble breathing when talking or sitting still

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call for advice if you have:

●A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills

●Green or yellow mucus

●New or worsening symptoms

More on this topic

Patient education: Environmental allergies in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Environmental allergies in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Allergy skin testing (The Basics)
Patient education: How to rinse out your nose with salt water (The Basics)