Hay Fever (KAFUNSHO)

Allergies, including the common condition known as hay fever, affect an estimated 40 to 50 million people around the world. Also known as Kafunsho here in Japan, hay fever is a common condition hallmarked by symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, itching and watery eyes.

What does it mean?

The name ‘hay fever‘ was originally coined because of symptoms in the late summer and fall that were believed to be due to the harvesting of hay. Similar symptoms in the spring were dubbed ‘rose fever’, since they occurred about the time roses began to bloom. We now know the symptoms are due to pollens trees in the early spring, grass later in the spring/summer and weeds in the late summer/fall) and mold allergens (which occur year-round when temperatures are above freezing with no snow cover), and call the condition seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR).

Year-round symptoms are called perennial allergic rhinitis, which are typically due to indoor allergens and mold. The most common indoor allergen are dust mites, followed by furry animals. Other indoor allergens include mold, cockroaches and mice.

Ways to improve indoor air quality

1. No smoking inside the home at anytime.
2. Measure indoor humidity using a digital humidity and temperature monitor and keep it below 50 percent. Do not vaporizers or humidifier, you may need a dehumidifier. Use vent fans in the bathrooms and when cooking to remove moisture.
3. Wear mask when vacuuming, dusting or sweeping floors.
4. If you have pets, keep them out of your bedroom. Good grooming of pets is also a nice way to improve the air quality
5. Always keep pillow case and bed sheets clean by washing them every week.
6. Leave a fan on to create “whole house” air filtration and remove particles that trigger allergies and asthma.
7. Have your heating, air conditioning inspected every six months, usually the filters needs to be changed.