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Allergies are your body's reaction to a material that it perceives as a potentially hazardous "invader." Coming into contact with a generally harmless chemical, such as pollen, for example, may induce your immune system (your body's defense mechanism) to react. Allergens are substances that induce these reactions.
WHAT EXACTLY IS AN ALLERGIC REACTION?
The way your body reacts to the allergen is referred to as a "allergic reaction." An allergic reaction is the outcome of a series of events.
If you are allergic, your body produces allergic (IgE) antibodies the first time you are exposed to a specific allergen (such as pollen). These antibodies are responsible for locating allergens and assisting in their removal from your system. As a result, a molecule called histamine is generated and produces symptoms of allergies.
TYPES OF ALLERGIES AND HOW THEY ARE TREATED
Allergies can occur to a wide range of things, including pollen, animal dander, mold, and dust mites.
Pollen
Seasonal allergic rhinitis, sometimes known as hay fever, is an allergic reaction to pollen. It inflames and swells the lining of your nose as well as the protecting tissue around your eyes (conjunctiva).
Sneezing, congestion (feeling stuffy), and itchy, watery eyes, nose, and mouth are all symptoms. Over-the-counter and prescription oral antihistamines, anti-leukotrienes, nasal steroids, nasal antihistamines, and nasal cromolyn are among the treatment choices. Pollen exposure can trigger allergic asthma symptoms (wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, and/or chest tightness) in certain persons.
Your symptoms can be lessened by avoiding pollen. When pollen levels are high, stay inside, close your windows, and use air conditioning. In order to manage pollen allergies, consult your doctor about immunotherapy (sometimes known as "allergy shots").
Molds
Molds are small fungus (like Penicillium) with pollen-like spores that float in the air. Mold is a common allergen trigger. Mold can be found both indoors and outdoors, in wet locations such as the basement, kitchen, or bathroom, as well as in grass, leaf piles, hay, mulch, or under mushrooms. Mold spores are most prevalent in hot, humid weather.
Medication to control your nasal/eye and chest problems may be prescribed. If your symptoms are not well controlled by avoidance and medicine, immunotherapy may be considered.
Dust mites
Dust mites are microscopic organisms that dwell in dust and the fibers of home items including pillows, mattresses, carpet, and upholstery. Dust mites thrive in warm, humid environments.
Dust mite allergy symptoms are comparable to pollen allergy symptoms. Dust mite encasements (airtight plastic/polyurethane covers) over pillows, mattresses, and box springs can help manage dust mite allergies. Also, vacuum or remove carpet periodically using a high-efficiency filter vacuum cleaner. Medication to control your nasal/eye and chest problems may be prescribed. If your symptoms are not well controlled by avoidance and medicine, immunotherapy may be considered.
Animal dander
Proteins released by sweat glands in an animal's skin and shed in dander, as well as proteins in an animal's saliva, can induce allergic reactions. Avoidance techniques are not as effective as just removing the pet from your home. However, because many people are hesitant to do so, second-best solutions include keeping your pet out of your sleep, utilizing HEPA-filtered air cleaners, and often cleaning your pet (cat or dog).
Medication to control your nasal/eye and chest problems may be prescribed. If your symptoms are not well controlled by avoidance and medicine, immunotherapy may be considered.
Latex
After repeated contact with latex, some people acquire a latex allergy. Rubber gloves, such as those used in surgery or household cleaning, are a primary source of this reaction. If you have a latex allergy, you may experience skin rash, hives, eye tearing and irritation, wheezing, and itching of the skin.
Latex allergies can cause modest symptoms such as skin redness and itching. When your mucosal membranes are exposed, such as during an operation or a dental or gynecologic exam, more severe reactions can occur.
The removal of the offending latex product is the first step in treating latex reactions. If you are allergic to latex, it is critical that you wear a Medic Alert® bracelet and carry an emergency epinephrine kit. All procedures should be performed in a "latex-safe" manner. Because there is no cure for latex allergy, the recommended treatment is prevention and avoidance.
Certain foods
Food allergies occur when your body produces an antibody to a specific food. An allergic reaction starts within minutes after ingesting the item and can be severe. The most frequent food allergies in adults are shellfish, peanuts, and tree nuts. They include milk, eggs, soy, wheat, shellfish, peanuts, and tree nuts in youngsters.
Itching, hives, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, breathing difficulties, and swelling around your mouth are all indications of a food allergy.
It is critical to avoid foods that trigger allergy reactions. If you (or your child) have a food allergy, your doctor may recommend that you carry injectable epinephrine (adrenaline) with you at all times. This is required in the event that you eat items that trigger allergies by accident. Oral immunotherapy is a new treatment option for peanut allergies.
Venom from insects (stings)
A typical reaction to a bee sting is pain, swelling, and redness surrounding the sting site. Swelling that goes beyond the sting site is a sign of a severe, local reaction. If you are stung on the ankle, for example, you may notice swelling in your leg.
An allergic reaction to an insect sting is the most serious and requires rapid medical intervention. An allergic reaction to an insect sting might cause the following symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing.
- Hives that are generalized (widespread) and manifest as a red, itchy rash that extends to locations other than the area that was stung.
- Face, throat, or mouth tissue swelling.
- Wheezing or swallowing difficulties.
- Anxiety and restlessness.
- Rapid pulse.
- You may experience dizziness or a rapid drop in your blood pressure.
If you have a reaction like this, a re-sting can trigger a severe reaction that can be fatal.
Epinephrine is used to treat allergic reactions (adrenaline). If you've experienced an allergic reaction to bee stings, contact a board-certified allergy/immunologist for a skin and/or blood test to confirm your bee venom allergy. If venom allergy is diagnosed, venom immunotherapy is advised. This will assist to lessen the likelihood of a significant reaction from a re-sting.
ALLERGIC RHINITIS
Allergic rhinitis refers to nasal allergy symptoms and hay fever. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is characterized by nasal allergies that alter with the seasons as a result of plant pollen (trees, grasses, or weeds). Seasonal symptoms appear during pollination seasons for specific plants. Because you can be allergic to multiple things, your symptoms may worsen at different periods of the year or remain consistent.
DOES EVERYONE SUFFER FROM ALLERGIES?
No. Most allergies are hereditary, which means they are handed down from parents to children. People are born with a proclivity to be allergic, but not to any specific allergen. If your child has an allergy, you or your partner are quite likely to have allergies as well.
SYMPTOMS OF ALLERGIES
Allergy symptoms are classed as mild, moderate, or severe as follows:
- Local symptoms (affecting a specific area of your body) such as a rash or hives, itching, watery/red eyes, hay fever, and a runny nose are examples of mild reactions. Mild allergic reactions do not extend to other parts of your body.
- Symptoms that spread to other parts of your body are examples of moderate reactions. Itching, hives, swelling, and difficulty breathing are all possible symptoms.
- Anaphylaxis, or severe allergic reaction, is a rare, life-threatening emergency in which your body's reaction to the allergen is immediate and affects the entire body. Anaphylaxis might start with acute itching of the eyes or cheeks. Within minutes, more significant symptoms emerge, such as throat swelling (which may cause swallowing and breathing difficulties), abdominal pain, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, and swelling (angioedema). Because anaphylaxis can induce a reduction in blood pressure, you may also experience mental disorientation or dizziness.
CAUSES OF ALLERGIES
Anything you come into touch with that your body perceives as a "harmful invader" can trigger an allergy. Pollen, animal dander, mold, dust, foods, insect venom, and latex are all examples of normally harmless items that can induce allergies.
Your symptoms are technically the outcome of a chain of events that constitute your body's response to the "harmful invader." When your body "sees" an invader, it produces antibodies to combat it, releasing histamines that trigger allergic symptoms.
ALLERGY DIAGNOSIS
If you suspect you have allergies, don't wait for your symptoms to go away. Make an appointment with an allergy/immunology specialist if your symptoms linger more than a week or two and tend to reoccur.
Allergy skin testing can help you determine which allergens are causing your allergy symptoms. The test involves pricking your skin with an allergen extract and then observing your skin's reaction.
If a skin test is not possible, blood work may be conducted. This test does not have the same sensitivity as a skin test. The test determines how many antibodies your immune system produces. Increased levels of particular antibodies indicate a possible sensitivity to that antigen.
There are several methods of allergy testing available.
TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ALLERGIES
Although avoiding the allergen is an important therapy strategy, it rarely entirely eliminates the allergic reaction.
To treat your allergy symptoms, drugs such as antihistamines (e.g., Allegra®, Zyrtec®), decongestants (e.g., Sudafed®, Contact®), or a combination of over-the-counter and prescription medications are utilized. To treat allergy symptoms, nasal sprays such as topical nasal steroids (e.g., Flonase®, Nasonex®), cromolyn sodium, and topical nasal antihistamines can be utilized.
- Asthma drugs that alleviate allergy symptoms include:
- Inhaled bronchodilators.
- Inhaled steroids.
- Oral bronchodilators (theophylline).
- Oral anti-leukotrienes (montelukast [Singulair®], zafirlukast [Accolate®] and zileuton [Zyflo®]).
- Injected medications, such as omalizumab (Xolair®), dupilumab (Dupixent®), reslizumab (Cinqair®), benralizumab (Fasenra®), or Mepolizumab (Nucala®).
If your symptoms aren't properly controlled by a combination of avoidance measures and regular medication use, immunotherapy ("allergy injection therapy") or allergy oral immunotherapy is indicated. This shot has been found to be effective in patients with allergic rhinitis and/or allergic asthma who are adequately selected.
Saline irrigation with a sinus rinse kit is another therapy option. These rinse kits (for example, Neilmed®) are available over the counter or can be produced at home. In eight ounces of distilled or boiling water, add one-half teaspoon non-iodinated salt and one-half teaspoon baking soda. This solution rinses allergens out and reduces the amount of inflammation (edema) they cause.
CONCLUSION
Allergies cannot be cured, but symptoms can be managed with a combination of avoidance and medication, as well as allergen immunotherapy in carefully selected instances.