Overview and facts
An allergy is a blown up reaction caused by our immune system in response to contact of our body with some foreign bodies. These foreign substances do not cause any reaction in non-allergic people and appear to be harmless. The immune system of allergic people gets turned on with these foreign bodies. These allergy producing substances are foreign to our bodies and are called allergens. Pollens, dust, certain additives and molds are examples of allergens.
Whenever an allergen contacts the body, the immune system of the body develops an allergic reaction in individuals who are allergic to that allergen. People who frequently suffer from allergic reactions are called as allergic or atopic.
Around 60 million North Americans suffer from allergic conditions. In United States, the cost of allergies is about $20 billion dollars per annum. The most common allergies are Allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies) affecting about 40 million Americans followed by Asthma with 20 million patients
Symptoms
The symptoms of allergy vary from one person to another but the most common ones include:
- Trouble in breathing
- Burning, Watery or itchy eyes
- Red, inflamed eyes
- Itching in nose or mouth or any other area
- Throat infection or coughing
- Severe headache
- Redness of skin
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Red rashes on skin
- Pain in stomach
- Nausea or vomiting
Types of allergic conditions and their symptoms
Allergy can affect various parts of our body including eyes, nose, lungs, skin, and stomach. Certain common allergic disorders include:
Allergic Rhinitis
Also known as "hay fever", it is one of the most common allergic disorders. It points towards seasonal nasal symptoms which are caused by pollens. The persistent allergic rhinitis that remains throughout the year is generally caused by indoor allergens like molds, dust mites or animal dander. When these allergens are breathed in, they cause swelling of the tissues which line the mucus lining of the nose. The allergic reaction can affect the ears and throat. The common symptoms are:
- Running nose
- Stuffy nose
- Recurring Sneezing
- Nasal itching
- Throat itching and discomfort in ears
Asthma
Asthma is a kind of breathing trouble that occurs due to swelling and spasm in the bronchial tubes of lungs. The air passages get contracted and restrict the flow of air into and out of the lungs. Asthma is mostly linked to allergies. The symptoms are:
- Breathlessness
- Coughing
- Wheezing
Allergic Eyes
Allergic eyes also known as allergic conjunctivitis is swelling of the tissue membranes which envelop the eyeball and the tissue layers on inside of the eyelid. The condition occurs due to an allergic reaction and the common symptoms are:
- Redness of the eyes that extend under the lids
- Inflammation of the membranes
- Itching of eyes
Allergic Eczema
Allergic eczema or atopic dermatitis is an allergic condition that is generally linked with allergic rhinitis or asthma. The common symptoms are:
- Rash on face or at other places like elbow creases, behind knees or on trunk of body.
- Redness and dryness of skin
- Itching on the skin
Hives
Hives or urticaria is an allergic reaction of skin that turn up as scratchy swellings and they are present on any body part. Hives can be due to any type of food or medication. Characteristic symptoms of hive are:
- Elevated red swelling
- Extreme itching
Allergic Shock
Allergic shock (anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock) is a critical allergic reaction which can impact a number of organs simultaneously. This allergic response characteristically crops up on intake of allergen or when allergen is injected. It occurs due to some foods or insect bites like a bee sting. The symptoms include:
- Inflammation of throat
- Hives
- Severe headache
- Nasal blockage
- Pain in stomach
- Nausea or vomiting
- Wheezing and breathlessness
- Low blood pressure causing a state of shock.
The state of shock implies inadequate blood circulation in the body tissues. Allergic shock is a result of widened and leaky blood vessels that lead to low blood pressure
Diagnosis
The health care provider initially performs a physical examination and will ask questions related to allergy.
Allergy testing is required to check whether the symptoms are due to allergy or are due to some other problems.
Skin testing is the most frequently used procedure of allergy testing.
Scratch test: In this kind of skin testing, a small quantity of the suspected foreign bodies on the skin is placed. The skin is scratched softly and the substance seeps in the skin. The skin is intimately observed for symptoms of a reaction like inflammation and redness.
RAST: A blood test known as RAST (radioallergosorbent) checks the intensity of certain allergy causing substances. The blood test is generally performed if the outcome of scratch test is not clear.
Some other blood tests that aid in detecting allergies include Antibody/immunoglobulin (mainly IgE) levels, CBC and Complement levels.
Usage or Elimination Testing: The doctor might advise you to keep away from particular items to observe if you feel better. In some cases, the doctor can advise you to use suspected substances to observe any kind of bad effects. This is use or elimination testing. Generally, it is used to test food or medication allergies. The doctor can also investigate your response to physical triggers by making contact with heat or cold and observing for an allergic response. At times, an allergen is mixed and sagged into the lower eyelid to search for an allergic response.
Treatment & care
There is no treatment for allergies but there are many kinds of medicines including both over-the-counter and prescription that aid in relieving aggravating symptoms like Breathlessness, nasal blockage and watery eyes. The medications include antihistamines, combination medicines, decongestants, corticosteroids and others. You can also take allergy shots which can enhance your capability to endure allergens.
Antihistamines: Antihistamines is used over the years for symptomatic relief of allergy. They come in the form of pills, sprays, syrups and eye drops. The antihistamine nasal sprays are used to treat nasal allergies while eye drops are used to alleviate problems of eyes
Certain over-the-counter antihistamine medications include Chlor-Trimeton, Benadryl, Zyrtec, Claritin, Dimetane, and Tavist. The prescription medications are Clarinex and Allegra. A commonly used nasal spray is Astelin.
Decongestants
Decongestants aid in easing congestion and are used along with antihistamines. The eye drop decongestants are to be used only for few days as extended use can make symptoms worse. The examples include Sudafed tablets, Neo-Synephrine and Zytec-D. Certain tablets like allegra-D contain combination of a decongestant with allergy medication.
Steroids
Steroids are used to diminish swelling linked with allergies. They can treat worse symptoms of allergy like nasal blockage, breathlessness, and running nose caused by different types of allergies. Steroids are obtainable as tablets, inhalers, nasal sprays, eye drops, and cream for skin allergies.
Certain steroids are:
Eye drops: Dexamethasone and Alrex
Oral steroids: Prednisone
Nasal steroids: Flonase, Nasonex, Veramyst and Rhinocort
Inhaled steroids: Beclovent, Pulmicort Advair
Living & managing
As per your allergic condition, you must be able to manage your allergy while doing day to day activities.
Cleaning
Cleaning is a problem for those with indoor allergies. The allergens that you need to remove from your home - dust mites, mold spores, pet allergens — might cause allergic reactions while you try to clean them. Certain cleaning products also aggravate your risk of asthma. You must select proper kind of dusting equipment and cleaning products.
Kids and Allergies
In case your child is allergic to certain food or insect stings, you should have a complete knowledge of administering self-injectors of epinephrine. Since certain allergies are life-threatening, the complete usage of these self-injectors must be known.
Eating Out With Food Allergies
If you are suffering from a food allergy, the initial way to manage your symptoms is to have complete knowledge of proper triggers. Before eating out, you must know exact ingredients of food you eat. You should also carry your prescribed epinephrine self-injector to be used in case of emergency.
Managing allergy caused by Indoor Air Pollution
Indoor allergies include allergy from the pet dander, mildew, mold, and other allergens present in home. It is also seen that wood smoke, moist mats, other cleaning products and lead-based products also turn on the reactions in people with indoor allergies. By installing filters and prohibiting smoking, you can improve the air quality in your home, thereby reducing allergens.
Diet
Extreme food reactions are called food allergies and they are responsible for many health problems. Many doctors aid in recognizing adverse food reactions through an Allergy Avoidance Diet. Some health care practitioners go for an Elimination Diet. In an Elimination Diet, any type food that might result in an allergy is eliminated for a time period of four days to three weeks till allergy reactions subside. Then suspected food is added one by one in the diet and any resulting symptoms are recorded.