Allergies by Shevaun Sidhu
- shevaun.sidhu
- Sep 25, 2021
- 2 min read
Allergies are very common and on average are thought to affect more than 1 in 4 people in the UK at some point in their lives. An allergy is a reaction the body has to a particular food or substance and they can vary from being quite mild to a very severe allergy. Allergies are particularly common in children and some may go away as a child gets older how many are lifelong.
The most common allergens (substances that cause allergic reactions) include grass and tree pollen, dust mites, animal dander or flakes of skin or hair as well as food.
There are many different diagnosis testing and the main two include: skin prick testing which involves putting a drop of liquid onto your forearm that contains a substance you may be allergic to. The skin under the drop is then gently pricked. If you're allergic to the substance an itchy, red bump will appear within 15 minutes. Another example is a blood test: which may be used instead of, or alongside, skin prick tests to help diagnose common allergies. A sample of your blood is removed and analysed for specific antibodies produced by your immune system in response to an allergen.
Allergies occur when the body’s immune system reacts to a particular substance as though it's harmful. Most people affected have a family history of allergies or have closely related conditions, such as asthma or eczema. The number of people with allergies is increasing every year. The reason for this is not understood, but one of the main theories is it is the result of living in a cleaner, germ-free environment, which reduces the number of germs our immune system has to deal with. It's thought this may cause it to overreact when it comes into contact with harmless substances.
In general allergic reactions usually happen very quickly within a few minutes of exposure to an allergen and the main symptoms include sneezing, runny or blocked nose, red or itchy eyes, wheezing or coughing as well as a rash.
In rare cases, an allergy can lead to a severe allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock, which can be life threatening. This affects the whole body and usually develops within minutes of exposure to something you're allergic to. Signs of anaphylaxis include swelling of the throat and mouth, difficulty breathing, light-headedness, confusion, blue skin or lips and collapsing or losing consciousness. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.
The most effective way of managing an allergy is to avoid the allergen that causes the reaction whenever possible. There are also several medicines available to help control symptoms of allergic reactions, including: antihistamines andthese can be taken when you notice the symptoms of a reaction, or before being exposed to an allergen, to stop a reaction occurring. Another example is decongestants, which include tablets, capsules, nasal sprays or liquids that can be used as a short-term treatment for a blocked nose. For some people with very severe allergies, a treatment called immunotherapy may be recommended. This involves being exposed to the allergen in a controlled way over a number of years so your body gets used to it and does not react to it so severely.
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Thanks for giving so much information of symptoms of allergies and everything about it