• Home
  • diseases
  • Understanding Allergies: What You Need to Know

Understanding Allergies: What You Need to Know

Understanding Allergies: What You Need to Know

Share :


Allergies can arise at any age, but they frequently start in childhood and last a lifetime. The symptoms of allergies can fluctuate over time, getting worse or getting better.

 

Different types of allergens

Substances known as allergens have the potential to trigger allergic reactions in those who are susceptible to them. Most people are essentially unaffected by these substances, but those who have allergies experience an atypical or heightened immune response.

Allergens can come from a variety of sources, including:

  • Pollen
  • Animal fur or feather
  • Dust mites
  • Foods like wheat, eggs, milk, nuts, fish, and shellfish
  • Prescription drugs such as aspirin, NSAID painkillers, and some antibiotics
  • Latex
  • Stings of certain insects
  • Mold

 

Are allergies cureable?

There is no cure for allergies. You can, however, treat them to manage the symptoms.

Doctors typically recommend one of several treatment plans when you suffer from allergies, which include:

Avoiding allergens

Steering clear of allergens is a crucial part of treating allergies. This implies that you must be aware of the things that cause your allergies. To find out what causes your allergies, you can take allergy tests, keep an eye on your surroundings, and pay close attention to what you eat.

Taking medications

Some medications can help reduce the immune system's reaction and alleviate allergy symptoms. Medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, eye drops, nasal steroids, and epinephrine are frequently utilized.

Antihistamines work by inhibiting the action of histamine released by the immune system. This lessens the itching, congestion in the nose, and sneezing that come with allergies.

Decongestants aid in lessening sinus and nasal passage swelling. While severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis are emergency scenarios that usually call for the use of epinephrine.

Allergen immunotherapy

Reducing sensitivity to specific allergens and managing allergy symptoms can be achieved with the help of allergen immunotherapy. To determine the precise allergens that cause allergic reactions, prior skin or blood testing is required. This allows for proper dosing of the allergen during immunotherapy.

 

Understand the risks of anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. One of the most frequent causes of anaphylaxis is food allergies.

When someone has anaphylaxis, they should go to the hospital right away for emergency care. Severe anaphylaxis can result in shock or even death.

The following are some signs of anaphylaxis to be aware of:

  • Swelling of the tongue, lips or throat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Hives
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Reddish rash
  • Abdominal pain
  • Chest tightness
  • Diarrhea
  • Cramps
  • Vomiting
  • Wheezing

In more severe situations, you might not be conscious, your blood pressure might be dropping, your heart rate might be faster, and you might even have heart failure. This is why you should seek emergency medical attention at the hospital as soon as you experience any allergy symptoms, especially if you experience anaphylaxis.

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

 

Looking for more information about other diseases? Click here!

 

 

Writer : Agatha Writer
Editor :
  • Sean Edbert Lim, MBBS
Last Updated : Thursday, 2 May 2024 | 09:15

Cleveland Clinic (2022). Allergies. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8610-allergies 

Hannah Nichols (2021). Are allergies permanent?. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-allergies#is-there-a-permanent-cure 

WebMD (2023). Allergies: Your Top Questions Answered. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/allergies/allergies-faq 

Mount Sinai: Types of Allergies. Available from: https://www.mountsinai.org/care/allergy-immunology/allergy-types 

Mayo Clinic (2022). Allergies. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/allergies/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351503 

Stephanie Watson (2023). Do I Need Antihistamines for Allergies?. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/allergies/antihistamines-for-allergies 

Medline Plus (2023). Epinephrine Injection. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a603002.html 

Cleveland Clinic (2023). Anaphylaxis. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8619-anaphylaxis 

American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Allergy Immunotherapy. Available from: https://acaai.org/allergies/management-treatment/allergy-immunotherapy/