Allergies
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Allergy is a medical term generally used to describe the symptoms that result from the bodys reaction to some foreign substance, called an allergen. Allergens (such as pollen, dust, pet dander, and some foods) are not usually harmful in themselves but trigger reactions in the body that result in a variety of physical discomforts. Symptoms of an allergy may include itching, skin rashes or hives, watery eyes, sore throat, sneezing, coughing, swelling of the lips or mouth, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
What causes an allergy?
An allergy develops through the reactions of the immune system, the same system that protects the body from invading organisms and substances. With an allergy, the immune system is overly sensitive to a foreign substance triggering reactions and attempts to remove that substance from the body. During this process, production of natural body chemicals result in many cold-like symptoms.
Who has allergies?
Everyone is capable of allergic responses. Some allergies seem to run in families and are possibly inherited. Examples of this type are asthma, eczema, and hay fever. Other allergies develop without any previous family history. Some allergies are seasonal in nature, for example hay fever or eczema.
Common allergies and their treatments
Common allergies include hay fever, food allergy, eczema, drug hypersensitivity, and asthma. Depending on the severity of the allergic reaction, treatment may include medications to relieve symptoms and depress the severity of the immune response or desensitization (hyposensitization) treatments. Eliminating the offending allergen from the surrounding environment, if possible, is important to help decrease the incidence of allergic reactions.
Hay Fever
Allergic Rhinitis(nose),
Allergic Conjunctivitis(eyes)
Hay fever is a common allergic problem caused by pollen or dust. Most people who experience symptoms of hay fever are bothered only during specific pollen seasons.
Symptoms: Sneezing, watery eyes, nasal congestion, headache, sore throat/scratchy throat.
Treatment:Treatment for hay fever is usually directed toward relieving uncomfortable symptoms with drug therapy. Antihistamine-based drugs can reduce the severity of nasal congestion, watery eyes, and sneezing. Newer medicines, such as steroid nasal sprays (Vancenase), may be helpful to people with severe symptoms. Avoid dust, molds, spores, and pollen. Exposure to pollen can be reduced by sleeping with the windows closed, avoiding heavily weeded or recently cut grassy areas during pollen season, and using an air conditioner to filter out the pollen in the air. Keeping the house clean and relatively dust free will also decrease hay fever attacks. Cool, wet compresses for the eyes will relieve much of the eye discomfort. Decerease the number of dust collectors where you sleep (i.e. stuffed animals or throw rugs) and use allergenic covers for bedding (i.e. mattress and pillow covers).
Eczema
Atopic Dermatitis
Eczema is an allergic skin condition characterized by dry, itching skin. Itchiness usually leads to scratching, which may irritate the skin and can result in infections. Eczema is usually found in families who also have a history of asthma and/or hay fever. Eczema can be aggravated by wool, synthetic fabrics, excessively warm clothing, deodorant soaps, excessive bathing, oily or greasy skin preparations, excessive perspiring and stressful situations.
Symptoms: Dry, red, scaly patches on the skin, usually localized on the back of legs, front of arms, and the hands. Eczema usually results in itchy patches that eventually form crusts and rough skin.
Treatment: Relief of eczema symptoms involves maintaining good skin care and avoiding substances that can aggravate the condition. Self-care treatment includes avoiding wool and irritating clothing, using mild soaps such as Dove, Purpose, or Neutrogena, or nonsoap cleansers, such as Cetaphyl lotion. Limit bathing to once daily or every other day with warm (not hot) water, and a body lotion, such as Alpha Keri, Lacticare, Eucerin, etc., should be applied just after bathing to keep the skin moist. Severe eczema may need special attention. Steroid creams may be useful but should be used only for a short time, due to possible side effects. Antibiotics may also be necessary for secondary infections.
Food Allergy
Almost any food can produce an allergic response. Food allergies are most common in children but may occur at all ages. Some common food allergies result from eating strawberries, cows milk products (especially in children), shellfish, eggs, wheat, chocolate, peanuts, and nuts.
Symptoms: Food allergies may produce headaches, swelling of mouth or lips, skin rashes, hives, asthma, runny nose, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Treatment: Treatment for food allergies may entail antihistamine drugs to alleviate watery eyes and reduce swelling in the nasal passages. Cool baths with baking soda may provide relief for skin rashes or hives. To prevent or limit food allergies, eliminate the offending food from the diet. An accurate record of frequently ingested foods and any accompanying reactions to them would help determine food allergies.
Allergic Asthma
Asthma is an allergic disorder that is characterized by spasm of the muscles in the walls of the small air passages to the lungs, which results in the shortness of breath and wheezing. An asthmatic attack may be triggered by environmental allergens, such as pollen, animal dander, mold spores, house dust, feather pillows, some foods, or any other sensitive |substance. Asthmatic attacks may also result from infections, emotional stress, fatigue, endocrine changes and temperature and humidity changes. Cigarette smoking is a major factor in asthma.
Symptoms: An attack may begin gradually, resulting in increasing respiratory distress; it also may begin dramatically with the onset of severe multiple symptoms, such as tightness in the chest, difficulties inhaling and exhaling, and coughing. Feelings of suffocation and difficulty in speaking may also occur.
Treatment: The best treatment for asthma is prevention by eliminating the allergens or irritants from your environment, Treatment of allergic asthma varies with the severity of the problem. Serious attacks may require injections of epinephrine and aminophyline. Less serious episodes usually respond to prescription medicines, such as slow-release Theophylline, the alpha agonists (Alupent, Ventolin, Brethine, Metrapel, similar to adrenaline but with fewer side effects), and possible corticosteroid pills or oral spray (inhalation pump, such as Vanceril). Drinking lots of fluids helps loosen the thick secretions in the lungs. Coughing is very important for cleaning out the chest; therefore, avoid cough suppressing medicines. Asthma is a complicated problem and usually requires co-management with your health care provider.
Drug Hypersensitivity
An allergic reaction may occur after exposure to a drug. Sulfa drugs, penicillin or related drugs, natural animal serums such as vaccines, allergens extracts, and biologicals are all common triggers in an allergic reaction.
Symptoms: Drug sensitivity produces a variety of allergic symptoms, which may include local skin reaction, such as swelling, hives, or rashes. Symptoms may be more severe, including a feeling of extreme illness, episodes of low blood pressure, severe headaches, and shock.
Treatment: Treatment for drug sensitivity involves discontinuing use of the offending drug. With any sign of a drug reaction (skin rash, etc.) stop using the drug and consult your health care provider immediately. To prevent an allergic reaction, recognize and report to your health care provider any early signs of hypersensitivity to a drug. Often, someone who develops an allergic reaction to one drug may develop sensitivity to a related drug.
Allergy testing and hyposensitization
Allergy testing is used to identify an allergen. Skin testing is the most common method used to determine an allergen, because several allergens can be tested safely at the same time. Allergy testing is not a treatment, nor is it always accurate. After an allergy test is completed and an allergy identified, two treatment approaches are possible, avoiding the allergen and hyposensitization. Hyposensitization, or desensitization, involves injections of tiny amounts of the known allergen. The amount of the allergen is gradually increased per injection until you are able to tolerate exposure to the allergen with only mild symptoms. Hyposensitization takes 3 - 6 months to begin to work, and it is usually continued for 3 - 5 years. It is expensive and provides varying degrees of success, depending on the condition. Hyposensitization usually begins when maximum avoidance and medical therapy is unsuccessful, and the allergic condition is interfering with your life, such as causing you to miss many days of school, work, etc., or requiring many emergency room visits for care.
Follow-Up instructions
(As arranged by health care practitioner)
- Return to clinic
Date:
Time:
- Make an appointment
Date:
Time:
-Name of Health Care Practitioner
The health service does not provide allergy testing, but will do allergy injection (for a small fee) as arranged by your allergist.