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Allergy may be defined as an unusual reaction to normally
harmless substances that contact the body surfaces. These
surfaces include the eyes, nose, lungs, stomach and skin.
Allergies reflect an overreaction of the immune system to
certain substances, which can cause sneezing, wheezing, coughing
and itching.
The most common allergic diseases are:
- Allergic Rhinitis (hay fever) - Nasal stuffiness and itching, sneezing and clear nasal discharge are common characteristics. It is an inflammation of the mucus membranes in the nose, throat, sinuses, and/or ear passages which occurs when you inhale an allergen.
- Allergic Asthma - Characterized by airway obstruction that is at least partially reversible with medication and is always associated with allergy. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or rapid breathing, chest tightness, and slight chest pain.
- Eye Allergy- inflammation of the eyes. Symptoms can include itchy, watery eyes, and lid distress.
- Hives- characterized by the development of itchy raised white bumps on the skin surrounded by an area of red inflammation.
- Sinusitis- inflammation of the sinuses. Symptoms include frontal head discomfort, facial pain that often worsen when patients are bending or straining, and yellow or green discharge.
- Food Allergy- broad range of allergic reactions including itching or swelling of lips or tongue. For more information on food allergies contact the
Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network
- Skin Allergies - Atopic Dermatitis (eczema) - a chronic or recurrent inflammatory skin disease characterized by lesions, scaling, and flaking.
Contact Dermatitis - characterized by skin inflammation. It results from direct contact with an outside substance. For more information on skin allergies contact the
American Academy of Dermatology
On the home page click on Public Resource Center, Dermatology A to Z.
- Latex Allergy - allergic response to proteins in natural latex rubber. Symptoms include hand dermatitis, eczema, hives, sneezing, coughing and shortness of breath. For more information on latex allergy go to Center for Disease Control & Prevention,
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
and on the home page Site Index, click on the letter "L."
- Insect Sting Allergy - allergic reaction to bees, hornets, wasps, yellowjackets, and fire and harvest ants. Symptoms include pain, itching and swelling at the sting site or over a larger area, and can cause anaphylaxis.
- Medication Allergy - allergic reaction to drugs, characterized by variety of allergic responses.
- Anaphylaxis - life threatening reaction to food, medications, and insect stings. This is the most severe form of allergic reactions which is a medical emergency.
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What Causes Allergies?
The substances that cause allergic disease in susceptible people are known as allergens. They enter our body in a variety of ways.
Inhaled into the nose and the lungs
Examples are airborne pollens of certain trees, grasses and weeds; house dust that include dust mite particles, mold spores, cat and dog dander and latex dust.
Ingested by mouth
Frequent culprits include shrimp, peanuts and other
nuts.
Injected
Such as medications delivered by needle like penicillin or
other injectable drugs, and venom from insect stings and
bites.
Absorbed through the skin
Plants such as poison ivy, sumac and oak and latex are
examples.
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Diagnosis
Personal and medical history
Your doctor will ask you questions to get a complete understanding of your symptoms and their possible causes
Physical examination
If your doctor suspects an allergy, he/she will pay special attention to your ears, eyes, nose, throat, chest, and skin during the physical examination. This exam may include a pulmonary function test to detect how well you exhale air from your lungs. You may also need an X-ray of your lungs or sinuses.
Tests to determine your allergens
Your doctor may do a skin test, patch test or blood test.
Skin test
For most people, skin tests are the most accurate and least expensive way to confirm suspected allergens.
Patch test
This test determines if you have contact dermatitis. Your doctor will place a small amount of a possible allergen on your skin, cover it with a bandage, and check your reaction after 48 hours.
Blood tests
Allergen blood tests (also called RAST, ELISA, FAST, MAST, RIST, STALLERSYM, or CAP tests) are sometimes used when people have a skin condition or are taking medicines which interfere with skin testing.
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Treatment
Good allergy treatment is based on the results of your allergy tests, your medical history, and the severity of your symptoms. It can include three different treatment strategies: avoidance of allergens, medication options and/or immunotherapy (allergy shots).
Avoidance
The best way to prevent allergy symptoms and minimize your need for allergy medicine is to avoid your allergens as much as possible and to eliminate the source of
allergens from your home and other environments.
Medications
Antihistamines and decongestants are the most common medicines used for allergies. Antihistamines help relieve rashes and hives, as well as sneezing, itching, and runny nose. Prescription antihistamines are similar to their non-prescription counterparts, but many of them do not cause drowsiness. Decongestant pills, sprays, and nose drops reduce stuffiness by shrinking swollen membranes in the nose.
Eye drops may provide temporary relief from burning or bloodshot eyes. However, only prescription allergy eye drops contain antihistamines that can reduce itching, tearing and swelling.
Corticosteroid creams or ointments relieve itchiness and halt the spread of rashes. If your rash does not go away after using a non-prescription corticosteroid for a week, see your doctor.
Corticosteroid nasal sprays help reduce the inflammation that causes nasal congestion without the chance of the "rebound" effect found in non-prescription nose sprays.
Cromolyn Sodium prevents the inflammation which causes nasal congestion. Because it has few, if any, side effects, cromolyn can be safely used over long periods of time.
Oral Corticosteroids may be prescribed to reduce swelling and stop severe allergic reactions. Because these medications can cause serious side effects, you should expect your doctor to carefully monitor you.
Epinephrine comes in pre-measured, self-injectable containers, and is the only medication which can help during a life-threatening anaphylactic attack. To be effective, epinephrine must be given within minutes of the first sign of a serious allergic reaction.
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