Written By: Sienna Chan
Exploring Allergies
Affecting many from young to old, allergies have become increasingly prevalent. This complex medical disease is actually more common than you think. According to Cleveland Clinic, more than 50 million people in the United States experience an allergic reaction each year. Allergies typically affect young children, and while some allergies go away with age, others can remain throughout a lifetime. While it is often misunderstood, allergies involve the body’s reaction to typically harmless substances, triggering many different responses that can range from mild responses such as a runny nose to life-threatening responses like anaphylaxis. This article is aimed to give you a better and easier understanding of allergies.
How Allergies Work
Allergies are the outcome of the immune system’s attempt to protect the body against perceived threats. When a person comes in contact with an allergen—a usually harmless substance that can cause an immune response—the body thinks that the allergen is a potential danger and releases chemicals like histamine to fight the intruder. Let’s explore the various symptoms associated with allergies.
Symptoms
Recognizing the signs of an allergy is crucial for effective and successful management. Allergy symptoms can occur even at the slightest exposure to the specific allergen the person is allergic to. Allergic reactions can happen fairly quickly, from seconds to within a few minutes.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include:
Respiratory symptoms - sneezing, runny or blocked nose, coughing, wheezing
Skin reactions - contact dermatitis (itchiness, rashes, etc.), hives, eczema
Gastrointestinal problems - bloating, gas, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting
Anaphylaxis - In severe cases, anaphylaxis can be triggered, characterized by the swelling of the throat, difficulty breathing, and loss of consciousness.
Common Allergens
It is crucial to identify your own allergens, as these allergens can potentially pose life-threatening risks if left unknown. Here are some of the most common allergens that people are exposed to:
Pollen - It’s mostly caused by grass pollen although other types of pollen can also trigger this. Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen when it comes in contact with the mouth, nose, eyes, and throat.
Dust mites - These tiny bugs that live inside house dust. People with this allergy experience signs of asthma, including wheezing and breathing difficulties.
Shellfish (shrimp, lobster, crayfish, scallop, etc.) - The protein called tropomyosin is the most common trigger of shellfish allergy. Shellfish should be avoided, even when it’s being cooked.
Egg - The second most common food allergy. Most of the proteins that trigger an allergic reaction are found in egg whites.
Cow’s milk (milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, etc.) - Cow’s milk allergy mostly affects children before the age of 3 and most children outgrow the allergy. This is often confused with lactose intolerance, but it’s important to note that lactose intolerance isn’t classified as an allergy since it doesn’t involve the immune system; rather, it refers to the inability to digest lactose!
Tree nut (almond, cashew, pine nut, walnut, etc.) - It is frequently connected to severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis, and tree nuts and their products should be avoided.
Wheat - Wheat allergy can be caused by sensitivity to any of the hundreds of proteins in wheat. Most people outgrow this allergy before they reach school age.
Peanut - Peanut allergies can cause serious allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis. Currently, the only treatment available for this is strictly avoiding all peanut and peanut-containing products.
Diagnosis
At a doctor’s appointment, the doctor asks for a medical history and arranges some allergy tests. They can also refer you to an allergy specialist or department.
Possible tests include:
1. Skin prick or patch test - where your skin is exposed to a small amount of the allergen to see if it reacts
2. Blood test - detects and evaluates the amount of allergen-specific antibodies in your blood
Although these tests are crucial in the diagnosis, It is also important to keep in mind that the tests can potentially show “false positives”, therefore, a positive test result does not necessarily confirm a genuine allergy to that specific allergen.
Treatment
Allergy management can be done through a combination of different methods:
Prevention - Identifying and avoiding certain allergens + eliminating or minimizing exposure to the sources of discomfort and allergic reactions
Medications - Medications like antihistamines to ease allergy symptoms, decongestants for runny/blocked nose, steroid medications to reduce inflammation, and sodium cromoglicate eye drops can provide relief to watery, red, and itchy eyes
Immunotherapy - Essentially, it is desensitization by exposing you to the allergen so the body slowly gets used to the allergen and will react to it less severely (only licensed medical professionals should perform this).
Conclusion
Allergies can be affected by a variety of factors, including genetics and the environment. While they might be challenging to manage due to their unpredictable nature, understanding the basics of allergies can encourage individuals to take proactive steps. If you suspect an allergy, it is crucial to seek help from a doctor or allergy specialist for a diagnosis and take steps to develop a personalized treatment plan which reduces allergic reactions.
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