Allergies are a common health issue that can cause a wide range of symptoms, from mild to severe and even life-threatening. During the spring season, allergies can manifest in different forms, such as prolonged stomach pains, unexplained headaches, chest pains simulating a heart attack, fatigue, and weakness. Some of the most common allergens in Israel during this time are grass, cypress, juniper, pecan, olive, Judean cattail and house dust mites.
It is important to note that allergies are not only caused by plants but also by foods. In Israel, an allergy to sesame is common due to the popularity of tahini while an allergy to eggs and rice is less common than in other countries. Children who grew up around animals may be less likely to develop allergies.
The diagnosis of an allergy involves skin tests or blood tests such as RAST which tests for the presence of anti-allergies in the blood to various components such as plant pollens, eggs, milk, fish and more. Some allergies may go away on their own while others require treatment with vasoconstrictor drugs or antihistamine pills such as Penistil
