Allergy: Symptoms, Types, Causes, Treatment, And Prevention 

An allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system in which the body overreacts to an allergen (usually safe environmental substances, ranging from food to common medicines, dust and pollen, and many more). This causes an inflammatory response in the affected individual's body.

Allergic responses vary and can range from mildly discomforting symptoms to life-threatening anaphylactic reactions in the most extreme cases. 

It is important to understand your allergy symptoms and what is triggering them. That way, you can avoid allergic reactions and have a treatment plan if a reaction occurs. 

In this article, let’s discover the most common allergy symptoms, types, causes, treatment, and prevention.

Allergy types 

There are many types of allergies. Some are seasonal, and others can haunt you all year round. Below are some of the most common allergies.

Food allergy

A food allergy is when your body reacts to a certain food. Not to be confused with food intolerance, food allergy is usually mild but can be serious for some people, putting them into anaphylactic shock. 

People suffering from food allergies can avoid allergic reactions by adhering to strict food safety and hygiene guidelines. Some common food allergens include eggs, milk, fish, peanuts, tree nuts, and soybeans.

Drug allergy

Most drug reactions aren’t allergic but side effects. Drug allergy symptoms include rash, hives, or difficulty breathing after taking certain medications. 

Skin allergy

Not to be confused with skin infection, a skin allergy is an immune system reaction to a substance (poison ivy, certain metals, etc.) that the body mistakenly identifies as harmful. Skin allergy symptoms include itching, redness, and swelling. 

Mold allergy

Mold and mildew are fungi. Since they grow in so many places, indoors and outdoors, allergic reactions to mold can occur year-round. However, controlling mold and mildew is easy with the most effective Dettol mold and mildew remover spray. 

Pollen allergy

Pollen is one of the most common causes of seasonal allergies. As a result of the body’s response to inhaled pollen, the generated symptoms include a runny, itchy, congested nose and watery and red eyes.

Seasonal allergy

Seasonal allergies, sometimes called "hay fever" or seasonal allergic rhinitis, occur during spring, summer, or fall, usually when trees, grasses, and weeds release tiny pollen particles into the air. 

Pet allergy

Pet allergies are reactions to proteins in an animal’s skin cells, saliva, or urine. Some common pet allergy symptoms include hay fever, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and difficulty breathing. 

Allergy causes 

Thousands of allergens can trigger allergies, but some of the most common include:

• Airborne allergies: Dust, dirt, pollen. 
• Food allergies: Milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, and fish. 
• Skin allergies: Poison ivy, nickel, latex, fragrances, and certain medications.
• Pet allergies: Dead flakes of skin (dander) a pet sheds
• Medications: Aspirin, antibiotics, insulin, and penicillin.
• Insect stings: Wasps, fire ants, hornets, yellow jackets, and bees.
• Plants: Grass and stinging nettles.

Allergy symptoms 

The most common allergy symptoms include:

• Itching
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hives
• Swelling around the mouth, including throat, tongue, or face.
• Vomiting and/or stomach cramps
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Repetitive cough
• Shock or circulatory collapse
• Swelling of the tongue, affecting the ability to talk or breathe
• Pale or blue coloring of the skin
• Dizziness or feeling faint
• Rash
• Red itchy eyes
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Asthma attacks
• Abdominal pain
• Anaphylaxis
• Difficulty swallowing

Allergy diagnosis

An allergist is a healthcare provider who specializes in allergies. They can help you diagnose your allergies through different types of allergy tests. 

The most common allergy tests are skin prick tests and blood tests.

• Skin Prick Test: This test can identify the allergens that cause your allergy symptoms. The allergist will use a thin needle to prick your skin with different allergens to see if your skin reacts to any one of them. 
• Blood (IgE) Test: This test evaluates IgE antibodies that your immune system produces against a specific protein to determine the allergen you are allergic to. 

Allergy treatment

Good allergy treatment is based on your medical history, allergy test results, and whether your allergy symptoms are mild or severe. The three most common allergy treatment types include avoiding allergens, medicines, and immunotherapy.

Avoid allergens

Avoiding your allergens as much as possible is the best way to prevent allergy symptoms and limit your need for medicines. This includes removing the allergen sources from every environment you spend time in. 

Medicines

There are many over-the-counter medicines to relieve allergy symptoms. Below are the most common allergy medicines: 

• Nasal corticosteroids: Nose sprays. Effective for nasal allergies. 
• Antihistamines: Pills, liquids, tablets, and nose sprays. Effective for seasonal and indoor allergies. 
• Mast cell stabilizers: Eye drops or nose sprays. Relieves itchy, watery eyes or an itchy, runny nose. 
• Decongestants: Nose spray. Reduce stuffiness by shrinking swollen membranes in the nose.
• Corticosteroid creams or ointments: Relieve itchiness and stop the spread of rashes
• Oral corticosteroids: Reduce swelling and stop severe allergic reactions. 

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy through allergy shots or allergy drops helps you manage your allergy symptoms without medication. This treatment exposes you to small amounts of allergens to increase your allergen tolerance. 

Allergy precautions

The best way to prevent allergies is to avoid exposure to allergens you know you react to. This is easier for food and medicine allergies. Read all food and medicine labels thoroughly to avoid ingredients that cause an allergic reaction.

For airborne allergies such as dust and pollen, the best way to help reduce exposure to allergens is to thoroughly vacuum soft surfaces (such as carpets, upholstered furniture, and pillows) and damp dust hard surfaces with a product like antibacterial multiuse wipes. 

These convenient wipes kill 99.9% of germs and are proven to remove 90% of allergens, such as pollen particles, dust mites, and pet dander.

Keeping the house clean, especially the living rooms, reduces the likelihood of indoor allergens spreading. 

Medications such as antihistamines can reduce and minimize the effects of allergies. They are particularly helpful for airborne allergens (such as hay fever) as they are all around us in the environment. 

In addition, decongestants and nasal sprays can handle some of the common symptoms caused by airborne/respiratory allergies.

FAQs

What can I expect if I have allergies?

If you have allergies and experience an allergic reaction, you might experience a runny nose, sneezing, pain or tenderness around the cheeks, eyes, or forehead, coughing, itchy skin, or breathlessness. 

Can children outgrow allergies?

About 80 percent of children with egg, milk, and wheat allergies outgrow them, usually by age 16. However, allergies to tree nuts, fish, and shellfish may be tougher to outgrow and are often lifelong.

If I am allergic to something, will my children be?

Allergies can be inherited from parents. However, increases in allergic reactions cannot be explained solely by genetic factors, and scientists are looking at environmental factors such as allergen levels and pollution to better understand the root causes of allergic responses.