Allergies: Allergy Symptoms
An allergy is the body’s reaction to what are usually harmless substances. The body’s reaction to allergies can range significantly, from mild to life-threatening reactions. There are several treatments for allergies and allergic reactions, such as asthma medicines, antihistamines, nasal steroids, some over-the-counter and others prescription only.
What are Allergies?
An allergy is the body’s reaction to a foreign protein that is harmless to most people and causes the immune system to overreact when the foreign protein enters the body. An allergic reaction is the body’s response and develops from the creation of immunoglobulin that the immune system makes. These antibodies find the allergens in your body and help remove them by taking them to the allergy cell which makes it release histamine, and the histamine is what causes the allergic reaction.
Common Causes of Allergic Reactions
There are many common allergies, from food to materials in products and insects to animals:
Food Allergies
Symptoms of food allergies include:
- nausea and vomiting
- hives
- swelling around the mouth, in the throat, tongue, and face
- itching all over the body or localized to one part
Common food allergies include:
- milk
- eggs
- soy
- wheat
- peanuts
- tree nuts
- shellfish
Medications
Prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medications can cause an allergic reaction as well. Common medications include:
- Antibiotics
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Insulin
- Chemotherapy
Symptoms of these allergies include:
- rash
- hives
- itching
- shortness of breath
- Swelling
Venom from Insects
Stinging insects inject venom which can cause an allergic reaction, while it’s true that insects like bees affect everyone to a degree, an allergy to the venom can be life-threatening rather than only painful. Common insect allergies include:
- Bees
- Fire ants
- Hornets
- Wasps
- Yellow jackets
Common symptoms that are consistent with anaphylaxis include:
- Hives
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling in the face, mouth, or throat
- Wheezing
- Rapid pulse
- Difficulty Swallowing
- Drop in blood pressure
Latex
A latex allergy typically develops after repeated contact with natural rubber latex. Common products with natural rubber latex include:
- condoms
- balloons
- rubber gloves
- bandages
- rubber balls
Symptoms of a reaction to a latex allergy include:
- hives
- runny nose
- itchy nose
- difficulty breathing
- skin irritation
Inhalants
Inhalants are airborne substances that are breathed in, the symptoms include:
- stuffy nose
- itchy nose
- itchy eyes
- runny nose
- watery eyes
- sneezing
Perennial Allergens
These are allergens that can cause a reaction year-round rather than seasonally, such as:
- Pet dander, pet urine, and pet saliva
- Dust mites
- Cockroaches
- Molds
Allergy Treatments & Diagnosis
To diagnose an allergy, a person must see an allergist. An allergist is a doctor who specializes in allergies and can administer allergy tests. These tests are usually performed via a skin prick test or blood tests. It’s important to not wait for symptoms to disappear, if they last for a week or two and come back around the same times of year, make an appointment for an allergy test.
Treatment for allergens can be as simple as avoidance, but over-the-counter and prescription allergy medications provide a quality treatment for allergy management, such as:
- Antihistamines
- Nasal sprays
- Decongestants
- Asthma medications
- Immunotherapy
- Nasal saline irrigation
