Seasonal, food, drug, pet, mold, insect, and latex are some of the common allergies. An allergy is the overactive immune response of an otherwise harmless substance known as an allergen, such as pollen or dust. It results in symptoms like sneezing, congestion, and rashes. Some allergic reactions are fatal.
Allergies affect up to 20% of the world’s population. Diagnostic features include the history of physical examination during medical history and allergy testing. Treatments for allergies include medications, immunotherapy, and lifestyle changes.
Types of Allergy
There are various types of allergies, each with individual causes and symptoms. It’s very important to know the various types of allergies to diagnose and treat the condition the right way. These are the classifications:
- Drug allergy: Drug (medicine) allergies are those in which your body reacts to a certain type of medicine.
- A food allergy: If your body’s immune system responds to a given food item and identifies it to be dangerous then it creates some allergic reactions by causing itch, hives and difficulty in breathing.
- An insect allergy: Here, insect venom is causing such allergic reaction while your body does not allow one to survive insects like bees, wasps.
- Latex allergy. A latex allergy occurs when the body reacts to natural rubber latex, which contains many products and items, among them being the bandages as well as balloon.
- Mold allergy. Mold allergy occurs when there are spores from the spores of this mold that entered your airway, and consequently, your body reacts to this spore caused by the mode, which primarily occurs in humid or damp air.
- Other in-door allergies are cockroaches and dust mites.
- Pet allergy: A pet allergy is a condition where your body reacts to proteins in an animal’s skin cells, urine, or saliva.
- Also, pollen allergy may be called as hay fever or allergic rhinitis; a condition whereby the body reacts with pollen of grasses, trees, and weeds.
Allergy Symptoms
Symptoms for allergies vary wide and depend upon the type. Allergic reaction usually affects a part of your body that would come into direct contact with allergen.
In case of season allergies, often known as hay fever, the effect is due to inhaling the pollen. Respiration tract effects such as sneezing, and runny nose in most cases often occur.
Skin Allergy
Contact dermatitis is a common allergic reaction in the skin caused by exposure to an allergen. The common environmental allergens include poison ivy and poison oak. The other common allergens are some cosmetics and fragrances, nickel, and preservatives in topical medications.
- Skin allergy can have symptoms of burning or gritty sensation in the eyes
- Red, itchy eyes
- Swollen eyelids
- Watery eyes
Gastrointestinal Allergy
A gastrointestinal allergy results in allergic response in the intestines. Generally, food allergens are leading causes of developing gastrointestinal allergies from a variety of foods such as peanuts, nuts, dairy products, eggs, soy, or wheat. More common symptoms involving gastrointestinal allergy comprise:
- Abdominal pain –
- Cramping
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is an acute, life-threatening allergic reaction that may come on without much warning and occurs rapidly. Anaphylaxis can impact many systems of the body including skin, respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems. Symptoms of anaphylaxis may include:
- Chest tightness
- Difficulty breathing
- Hives or skin rash
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pale skin
- Rapid or weak pulse
- Fear or impending doom
- Swelling of face or tongue
- Wheezing
What Causes Allergies?
Allergies are a result of the immune system of the body mistakenly perceiving a harmless substance, such as pollen or food, as a threat. The immune system responds to the allergens by releasing chemicals, including histamines, leukotrienes, and cytokines. These chemicals can trigger the onset of allergy symptoms.
The exact reason for allergies has not been ascertained but is believed to be due to genetic and environmental factors. Generally, people suffering from allergies have a predisposition in the family. Also, exposure to such allergens while the immune system is weak – like during pregnancy or after any illness – has been considered an important factor that contributes to allergy.
Risk Factors
Some risk factors can increase the risk of developing allergies. The common allergy risk factors include the following:
- Family history of allergies
- Having asthma or eczema
- Urban living
- Age, as most allergies develop in childhood and adolescence.
How Are They Diagnosed?
To diagnose allergies, a healthcare provider or allergist—a specialist in allergies—will first ask about your symptoms. They’ll likely ask how often you experience the symptoms and how severe they are.
They will also ask about your home and work environments to identify potential allergens you are exposed to. You may also answer questions about your health history and whether you have family members with allergies.
A healthcare provider will also perform a physical exam of your eyes, ears, nose, and lungs. For respiratory symptoms of allergy like cough or runny nose, they may perform a lung function test to determine how well you exhale air from your lungs.
The allergist may recommend allergy testing to determine what allergens you are allergic to provide an accurate diagnosis. Common allergy diagnostic tests include:
- Skin prick test: This method entails exposing your skin to a little amount of allergen. In case you have an allergy towards a specific allergen, your exposed skin will be inflamed, reddened, and itchy in about 15 minutes.
- Blood test: In the blood test known as the specific IgE (sIgE), your blood is drawn. These are the quantities of allergen-specific antibodies as an affirmation for the allergy.
- Intradermal test: Like the skin prick test, a small amount of allergen is injected into the outermost layer of the skin. This can be done if the result from the skin prick test is negative but an allergist still believes you are allergic to something.
- Patch test: This is the most commonly used test to determine what allergen causes contact dermatitis. It involves placing small patches containing an allergen on your skin, covering it with a bandage, and then examining it for an allergic reaction after 48-96 hours. If you are allergic to that allergen, you will develop a rash.
- Challenge test: A doctor supervises a challenge test in which the patient takes or inhales a small amount of a suspected allergen, either food or medication, into the doctor’s office to look for signs of an allergic reaction.
Treatment
There is no cure for allergies. The aim of allergy treatment is to reduce the severity of symptoms and prevent future allergic reactions. The type of treatment a healthcare provider recommends will depend on the type of allergy you have and your symptoms.
Allergen Avoidance
The most effective approach in dealing with allergies is by avoiding the known allergens. Avoidance is challenging, though it may sometimes be done if possible to prevent exposure and decrease allergic reactions. It can vary according to your allergy but include:
- Avoiding certain foods
- Avoiding outdoor activities
- Installing air filters in your home
- Wearing a mask during peak pollen season
Medications
Over-the-counter and prescription medications can help control allergy symptoms. Common allergy medications include:
- Antihistamines: These oral drugs inhibit the production of histamine after exposure to an allergic to alleviate symptoms such as itching, redness, hives, runny nose, and sneezing.
- Decongestants: These oral drugs constrict the blood vessels in the nasal passages to decrease inflammation and relieve nasal congestion.
- Corticosteroids: These reduce inflammation and swelling to alleviate allergy symptoms. Corticosteroids can be applied topically, taken orally, or administered as a nasal spray.
- Mast cell stabilizers: These are oral or inhaled medications that prevent the release of histamine and other chemicals to reduce allergy symptoms.
- Leukotriene modifiers: These oral medications alter the way the immune system reacts to allergens, thereby avoiding symptoms.
- Epinephrine: This is administered intramuscularly through an Epi-Pen for a full-blown, life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.
Talk to a healthcare provider about getting epinephrine auto-injectors if you have a history of allergies. A common brand of epinephrine auto-injectors is EpiPen. Experts recommend carrying two epinephrine auto-injectors in case of an emergency. Epinephrine works by rapidly
- Increasing low blood pressure
- Improving breathing
- Decreasing swelling
Go to the emergency room after taking an epinephrine auto-injector prescribed for you, unless the doctor or another health care provider tells you differently. You can then get extra treatment and medicines you may need in case of recurrence or increase of symptoms.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy gradually introduces small quantities of known allergens into the system over time in order to build up a person’s immunity. It might be suggested when patients suffer persistent and severe allergy attacks, are not managed appropriately by other medications, or face reactions due to several allergens.
There are two different forms of administering immunotherapy: subcutaneous immunotherapy and sublingual immunotherapy.
Subcutaneous Immunotherapy (SCIT)
Otherwise known as allergy shots, SCIT is injections given 1-2 times per week for about six months until a maintenance dose is reached. After that, the maintenance dose is usually continued at least once a month for three to five years.
The injections include a small dose of the allergen(s) at the beginning of therapy, and gradually increased doses over time reduce sensitivity to the allergen, shots can be given less frequently, and people typically start noticing improvements when they are given maintenance doses.
Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT)
For SLIT, a small dose of an allergen is given under the tongue in order to render the immune system less sensitive to the allergen and diminish the symptoms.
A difference in the symptoms can take up to 14 weeks from the SLIT.
How to Prevent Allergy Attacks
An allergic reaction cannot always be prevented, but prevention may help decrease the frequency and severity of allergic reactions. A healthcare provider can work with you to determine the best approach for preventing allergy attacks and managing symptoms when they do occur.
- Identify and avoid allergens: Learn what causes the allergy. Tests and monitoring help you know who to avoid (e.g., during pollen time) and whom to be extra vigilant with.
- Minimize indoor allergens: Try to keep all windows closed as much as possible, use beddings that trap allergens rather than letting them pass through and penetrate your system, install HEPA filters at home, and vacuum regularly, among others.
- Take allergy medications: Take medications as recommended by a healthcare provider and follow through with the treatment plan to alleviate symptoms.
Associated Medical Conditions
Allergies often occur with other medical conditions. Among the most common comorbid conditions that are associated with allergies include:
- : Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs characterized by a chronic cough, wheezing, or sensation of breathlessness. It is caused by persistent inflammation and narrowing of the airways.
- Eczema (atopic dermatitis): Eczema is a skin condition presented as itchy, red, dry, or painful skin.
- Sinusitis: Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses, causing headaches, facial pain, and nasal congestion.
- Gastrointestinal disorders: Patients with allergies are more prone to developing gastrointestinal conditions such as eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).
- Mental health conditions: The presence of allergies in your life can affect your mental health. According to studies, people suffering from allergic conditions have a higher chance of depression and anxiety.
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