Hay Fever

[OneMind]

Hi, I am living in Australia but will be moving to Thailand shortly. It is spring here in Oz and as usual, I have hayfever like every spring. I was wondering if anyone in Thailand gets hayfever and could tell me what time of year it occurs. Do they have good hayfever medicine in Thailand or should I bring my own?

Thanks for any info

[Sulaphat]

It depends upon what you are allergic to. I think that mold spores are worst during the rainy season, May to October. Pollen can be year-round. My particular nemesis is mango tree pollen, or so I believe. So for me January through April seems to pose the greatest threat.

I've never had problems getting antihistimines or other allergy meds here. Most major hospitals will have allergy clinics, or at least an allergy specialist or two on staff.

[katana]

Funnily enough, all my hayfever/rhinitis clears up when in LOS but returns when back home. I think you get sensitized to allergens in your home place, but can escape hayfever when abroad.

[Sulaphat]

Katana,

I have heard that if the allergy trigger is specific to a location, as is the case with types of pollen, a change in location can provide a respite from symptoms.

I understand however that sometimes one's immune system then gradually changes to be sensitive to another type of allergen and allergy symptoms then re-appear.

[penzman]

My allergies were back every summer in Canada. Since I`ve moved to Thailand, nothing... The only times I get congested are when in Bangkok or riding over Sukhumvit on the expressway where you can actually see what you are breathing, a hazy brown cloud coming from under the expressway.

[OneMind]

Thanks everyone

I suppose I will just hope for the best

[brianbrain]

Hi, I am living in Australia but will be moving to Thailand shortly. It is spring here in Oz and as usual, I have hayfever like every spring. I was wondering if anyone in Thailand gets hayfever and could tell me what time of year it occurs. Do they have good hayfever medicine in Thailand or should I bring my own?

Thanks for any info

Hi OneMind,

I've been here for nearly two years and only recently started to get hayfever. Maybe it had something to do with a recent spell of travelling. I had hayfever several years back living in the UK but the symptoms gradually disappeared.

You can buy Claritin (29 baht per tablet - 2 per day) or the unbranded version sold as Loratadine (about 50 baht for ten days supply). The pharmacist will of course try to sell you Claritin. I tried both - they worked the same.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginf...er/a697038.html

>> Loratadine is used to relieve hay fever and allergy symptoms, including sneezing; runny nose; and red, itchy, tearing eyes. Loratadine is in a class of medications called antihistamines. It works by blocking histamine, a substance in the body that causes allergic symptoms. Loratadine may cause less drowsiness than other antihistamines.

Hope that helps,

Brian

[astral]

Bring the medication you are used to.

As others have suggested you may have a pleasant surprise here.

After 30 years of suffering my hay fever almost cleared up here,

especially beside the sea.

In the cities I still get a general allergic reaction to all the fumes in the air.

Having said this, I was in the NE a month ago, and got the classic symptoms of Hay Fever.

Now it is winter here, not spring when I generally used to get it.

It was bad enough to have to retreat indoors, and Clarytine (Loratadine) did not help me!!