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Posted on: 06/02/2006
Question
After I mow the grass, my hands are itchy and throb slightly. Although I refrain from scratching them, they still swell slightly and remain so for a few days. Other than that there are no other problems. How abnormal is this and is there anything I can do to perhaps stay the swelling next time I mow the grass?
Answer
The itching component strongly implicates allergy, and grass-pollen allergy is the most common outdoor allergy in the US. I would recommend starting simply with a non sedating oral antihistamine (such as Allegra or Zyrtec), taken ideally about 1-2 hours ahead of mowing the lawn and continued at once-daily dosing for at least the next 2-3 days (if not daily during the grass-pollen season).
Both Allegra and Zyrtec are excellent medications. Ninety percent of adolescents and adults will have no side effect with Zyrtec, whereas ten percent may note mild drowsiness. If this is the case, taking Zyrtec at bedtime virtually always solves the sedation issue, since it is only a rare patient that will have "carryover" drowsiness into the next day.
I hope that this is helpful.