YOUR HEALTH

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: For the past two springs, my 13-year-old son has had what I think is hay fever. He sneezes and rubs his nose constantly. What would make him more comfortable? Do allergy shots work? I don't want to commit him to an entire life of shots. -B.W.

ANSWER: Hay fever's typical symptoms are sneezing, a runny nose and itchy, watery eyes. The nose and throat often itch. Because the nasal linings are swollen, breathing through the nose is difficult.

Hay fever is an allergic reaction. When an allergen -in your son's case, pollens -lands in the nose, a series of things happen that culminate in the release of histamine and other body chemicals. The chain of events begins with antibodies reacting with the allergen -here, pollen. The released body chemicals create the itch, the sneezing and all the other symptoms of hay fever.

In early spring, from March through May, tree pollens are at their peak and are the prevalent allergen. In June and July, it's grass pollen. From mid-August through October, ragweed is the major pollen.

Avoidance of allergens is the best treatment, but practically speaking, that's all but impossible. Antihistamines can quiet symptoms, and the newer ones like Allegra, Claritin and Zyrtec provoke less drowsiness than the older ones. Cortisone nasal sprays open up nasal passages and soothe the nasal lining. Names include Beconase, Nasarel and Nasonex.

Immunotherapy -allergy shots -do work, and they are not given lifelong. Usually they're given for three to five years and then, if symptoms are controlled, they're stopped. On top of that, hay fever is not routinely

a lifelong condition. Ordinarily it starts during childhood or adolescence, and it wanes in adulthood. No matter what treatment is chosen, it is not likely to be forever.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: What's ischemic heart disease? -W.F.

ANSWER: "Ischemia" (isKEY-me-uh) and "ischemic" are favorite medical words that mean tissues or organs are not getting enough blood. It's often used with heart disease. Arteriosclerotic heart disease, coronary artery disease and angina are ischemic heart diseases.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.