Allergy Symptoms || Types,Causes,Treatment

Allergy Symptoms:

Allergy symptoms, which depend on the substance involved, can affect your airways, sinuses and nasal passages, skin, and digestive system. Allergic reactions can range from mild to severe. In some severe cases, allergies can trigger a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis.

Main Allergy Symptoms are:

• Sneezing and an itchy, runny or blocked nose (allergic rhinitis)
• Itchy, red, watering eyes (conjunctivitis)
• Wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and a cough
• A raised, itchy, red rash (hives)
• Swollen lips, tongue, eyes or face
• Tummy pain, feeling sick, vomiting or diarrhea
• Dry, red and cracked skin

Your immune system is responsible for defending the body against bacteria and viruses. In some cases, your immune system will defend against substances that typically don’t pose a threat to the human body. These substances are known as allergens, and when your body reacts to them, it causes an allergic reaction.

You can inhale, eat, and touch allergens that cause a reaction. Doctors can also use allergens to diagnose allergies and can even inject them into your body as a form of treatment.

Allergy Symptoms || Types,Causes,Treatment

Allergy Symptoms || Types,Causes,Treatment

                     

                
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) reports that as many as 50 million people in the United States suffer from some type of allergic disease.

What causes an allergic reaction?

Doctors don’t know why some people experience allergies. Allergies appear to run in families and can be inherited. If you have a close family member who has allergies, you’re at greater risk for developing allergies.

Although the reasons why allergies develop aren’t known, there are some substances that commonly cause an allergic reaction. People who have allergies are typically allergic to one or more of the following:

• Pet dander
• Bee stings or bites from other insects
• Certain foods, including nuts or shellfish
• Certain medications, such as penicillin or aspirin
• Certain plants
• Pollen or molds

What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction?

The symptoms of an allergic reaction can vary from mild to severe. If you become exposed to an allergen for the first time, your symptoms may be mild. These symptoms may get worse if you repeatedly come into contact with the allergen.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

• Hives (itchy red spots on the skin)
• Itching
• Nasal congestion (known as rhinitis)
• Rash
• Scratchy throat
• Watery or itchy eyes
• Severe allergic reactions can cause the following symptoms:
• Abdominal cramping or pain
• Pain or tightness in the chest
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty swallowing
• Dizziness (vertigo)
• Fear or anxiety
• Flushing of the face
• Nausea or vomiting
• Heart palpitations
• Swelling of the face, eyes, or tongue
• Weakness
• Wheezing
• Difficulty breathing
• Unconsciousness

A severe and sudden allergic reaction can develop within seconds after exposure to an allergen. This type of reaction is known as anaphylaxis and results in life-threatening symptoms, including swelling of the airway, inability to breathe, and a sudden and severe drop in blood pressure.

Types of Allergies and their Causes:

A food allergy can cause:

• Tingling in the mouth
• Swelling of the lips, tongue, face or throat
• Hives
• Anaphylaxis

An insect sting allergy can cause:

• A large area of swelling (edema) at the sting site
• Itching or hives all over the body
• Cough, chest tightness, wheezing or shortness of breath
• Anaphylaxis

A drug allergy can cause:

• Hives
• Itchy skin
• Rash
• Facial swelling
• Wheezing
• Anaphylaxis

Atopic dermatitis, an allergic skin condition also called eczema, can cause skin to:

• Itch
• Redden
• Flake or peel
• Anaphylaxis

Symptoms of anaphylaxis:

Some types of allergies, including allergies to foods and insect stings, can trigger a severe reaction known as anaphylaxis. A life-threatening medical emergency, anaphylaxis can cause you to go into shock.

Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include:

• Loss of consciousness
• A drop in blood pressure
• Severe shortness of breath
• Skin rash
• Lightheadedness
• A rapid, weak pulse
• Nausea and vomiting

Common allergy triggers include:

Airborne allergens, such as pollen, animal dander, dust mites and mold

Certain foods, particularly peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, eggs and milk

Insect stings, such as from a bee or wasp

Medications, particularly penicillin or penicillin-based antibiotics

Latex or other substances you touch, which can cause allergic skin reactions

Risk factors:

You might be more likely to develop an allergy if you:

• Have a family history of asthma or allergies, such as hay fever, hives or eczema
• Are a child
• Have asthma or another allergic condition

Complications:

Having an allergy increases your risk of certain other medical problems, including:

• Anaphylaxis: If you have severe allergies, you're at increased risk of this serious allergy-induced reaction. Foods, medications and insect stings are the most common triggers of anaphylaxis. 

• Asthma: If you have an allergy, you're more likely to have asthma — an immune system reaction that affects the airways and breathing. In many cases, asthma is triggered by exposure to an allergen in the environment (allergy-induced asthma). 

• Sinusitis and infections of the ears or lungs: Your risk of getting these conditions is higher if you have hay fever or asthma.

Prevention:

Preventing allergic reactions depends on the type of allergy you have. General measures include the following:

Avoid known triggers: Even if you're treating your allergy symptoms, try to avoid triggers. If, for instance, you're allergic to pollen, stay inside with windows and doors closed when pollen is high. If you're allergic to dust mites, dust and vacuum and wash bedding often.

Keep a diary: When trying to identify what causes or worsens your allergic symptoms, track your activities and what you eat, when symptoms occur and what seems to help. This may help you and your doctor identify triggers.

Wear a medical alert bracelet: If you've had a severe allergic reaction, a medical alert bracelet (or necklace) lets others know that you have a serious allergy in case you have a reaction and you're unable to communicate.

Diagnosis:

To evaluate whether you have an allergy, your doctor will likely:

• Ask detailed questions about signs and symptoms
• Perform a physical exam
• Have you keep a detailed diary of symptoms and possible triggers

If you have a food allergy, your doctor will likely:

• Ask you to keep a detailed diary of the foods you eat
• Ask if you've stopped eating the suspected food during the allergy evaluation
• Your doctor might also recommend one or both of the following tests. However, be aware that these allergy tests can be falsely positive or falsely negative.

Skin test: A doctor or nurse will prick your skin and expose you to small amounts of the proteins found in potential allergens. If you're allergic, you'll likely develop a raised bump (hive) at the test location on your skin.

A skin test is most valuable for diagnosing:

• Food allergy (like shellfish or peanuts)
• Mold, pollen, and animal dander allergy
• Penicillin allergy
• Venom allergy (such as mosquito bites or bee stings)
• Allergic contact dermatitis (a rash you get from touching a substance)

Blood test: Specific IGE  blood testing, commonly called radioallergosorbent test (RAST) or  Immunocap testing, measures the amount of allergy-causing antibodies in your bloodstream, known as immunoglobulin E (IGE) antibodies. A blood sample is sent to a medical laboratory, where it can be tested for evidence of sensitivity to possible allergens.

A blood test for an allergy checks your blood for antibodies against a possible allergen. An antibody is a protein your body produces to fight harmful substances. Blood tests are an option when skin testing isn’t helpful or possible.

Allergy treatments include:

Allergen avoidance: Your doctor will help you take steps to identify and avoid your allergy triggers. This is generally the most important step in preventing allergic reactions and reducing symptoms.

Medications: Depending on your allergy, medications can help reduce your immune system reaction and ease symptoms. Your doctor might suggest over-the-counter or prescription medication in the form of pills or liquid, nasal sprays, or eyedrops.

Immunotherapy: For severe allergies or allergies not completely relieved by other treatment, your doctor might recommend allergen immunotherapy. This treatment involves a series of injections of purified allergen extracts, usually given over a period of a few years.

Another form of immunotherapy is a tablet that's placed under the tongue (sublingual) until it dissolves. Sublingual drugs are used to treat some pollen allergies.

Emergency epinephrine: If you have a severe allergy, you might need to carry an emergency epinephrine shot at all times. Given for severe allergic reactions, an epinephrine shot (Auvi-Q, EpiPen, others) can reduce symptoms until you get emergency treatment

Some allergy symptoms improve with home treatment.

Sinus congestion and hay fever symptoms: These often improve with saline nasal irrigation — rinsing out the sinuses with a salt and water solution. You can use a neti pot or a specially designed squeeze bottle to flush out thickened mucus and irritants from your nose. However, improper use of a neti pot or other device can lead to infection.

Household airborne allergy symptoms: Reduce your exposure to dust mites or pet dander by frequently washing bedding and stuffed toys in hot water, maintaining low humidity, regularly using a vacuum with a fine filter such as a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and replacing carpeting with hard flooring.

Mold allergy symptoms: Reduce moisture in damp areas, such as your bath and kitchen, by using ventilation fans and dehumidifiers. Fix leaks inside and outside your home