2. Allergies
Allergies are your body’s reaction to normally harmless substances. Allergy
symptoms range from mild to life-threatening. Treatments include
antihistamines, decongestants, nasal steroids, asthma medicines and
immunotherapy.
3. What are allergies?
Allergies are your body’s reaction to a foreign protein. Usually, these proteins
(allergens) are harmless. However, if you have an allergy to a particular
protein, your body’s defense system (immune system) overreacts to its
presence in your body.
4. What is an allergic reaction?
An allergic reaction is the way your body responds to an allergen.
If you have allergies, the first time you encounter a specific allergen, your
body responds by creating immunoglobulin E (IgE). Your immune system makes
antibodies to form IgE.
IgE antibodies bind to mast cells (allergy cells) that live in your skin,
respiratory tract (airways) and the mucus membrane in the hollow organs that
connect to each other from your mouth to your anus (gastrointestinal or GI
tract).
The antibodies find the allergens in your body and help remove them by
taking them to the mast cell (allergy cell), where they attach to a special
receptor. This causes the allergy cell to release histamine. Histamine is what
causes your allergy symptoms.
5.
6.
7. Certain foods
Food allergies develop when your body releases a specific antibody to a particular
food. An allergic reaction occurs within minutes of eating the food, and symptoms
can be severe. Symptoms may include:
Itching all over your body (generalized pruritus).
Itching in just one certain part of your body (localized pruritus).
Nausea and vomiting.
Hives.
Swelling around your mouth, including your throat, tongue or face.
If you have an IgE-mediated food allergy, symptoms may also include anaphylaxis.
It may present as any one of the above symptoms or a combination of the above
symptoms. It usually occurs within 30 minutes of ingesting a food you’re allergic
to.
8. Inhalants
Inhalant allergies are airborne substances that you inhale (breathe in). They include allergens
that may affect you throughout the year (perennial allergens) and seasonal allergens.
Inhalant allergy symptoms include:
Runny nose.
Stuffy nose.
Itchy nose.
Sneezing.
Itchy eyes.
Watery eyes.
If you have asthma, inhalant allergies can also trigger or worsen your symptoms, including
wheezing and shortness of breath.
9. Perennial allergens include:
Pets. Pet allergens include certain proteins in animal fur, skin (dander), urine
(pee) and saliva (spit).
Dust mites. Dust mites are tiny, eight-legged relatives of spiders. They’re too
small to see with your eyes. They live in dust and the fibers of household objects,
such as pillows, mattresses, carpets and upholstery.
Cockroaches. Cockroaches are reddish-brown insects that are 1.5 to 2 inches (in)
long. The proteins in their feces (poop), spit, eggs and dead body parts can cause
allergic reactions.
Molds. Molds are tiny fungi (plural of fungus). They have spores that float in the
air, like pollen. Common mold allergies include Aspergillus, Cladosporium and
Alternaria.
Seasonal allergies include pollens. Pollen is microspores from trees, grass or weeds
that appear as a fine dust on surfaces or float in the air. Tree pollens generally
appear in the spring, while weed pollens generally appear in the fall.
10. Medications
Certain medications can cause an allergic reaction. The medicines may be herbal, over-the-counter (OTC)
or prescription.
Common medications that cause allergies include:
Antibiotics.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Insulin.
Chemotherapy drugs.
Symptoms include:
Rash.
Hives.
Itching.
Shortness of breath.
Swelling.
11. Latex
Latex allergies develop after repeated contact with natural rubber latex.
Common natural rubber latex products include:
Rubber gloves.
Balloons.
Bandages.
Rubber balls.
The most common reaction to latex is skin irritation (contact dermatitis). It manifests as a rash on
the area of skin that touched the latex. It may develop within minutes of exposure to latex. Other
symptoms may include:
Hives.
Runny nose.
Itchy nose.
Difficulty breathing.
12. Venoms/stinging insects
Stinging insects can inject venom, which is a toxic substance. The venom in insect stings can cause an allergic reaction. The most common stinging insects
that cause allergic reactions include:
Bees.
Fire ants.
Hornets.
Wasps.
Yellow jackets.
Venom symptoms are consistent with anaphylaxis. They may include:
Difficulty breathing.
Hives.
Swelling in your face, mouth or throat.
Wheezing.
Difficulty swallowing.
Rapid pulse.
Dizziness.
Drop in blood pressure.
13. Can allergies cause a fever?
No, allergies can’t cause a fever.
What causes allergies?
Allergies develop when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance or
protein.
Are allergies contagious?
No, allergies aren’t contagious. You can’t spread your allergies to another
person.
14. How are allergies diagnosed?
If you think you have allergies, don’t wait to see if your symptoms go away. If
your symptoms last longer than a week or two or tend to come back during
certain times of the year, make an appointment with an allergist.
An allergist is a healthcare provider who specializes in allergies. They can
help diagnose your allergies through tests.
15. How do I test for allergies?
There are different types of allergy tests. The most common allergy tests are
skin prick tests and blood tests.
Skin prick (scratch) tests can identify the allergens that cause your allergy
symptoms. An allergist will use a thin needle to prick your skin with a tiny
amount of different possible allergens. They then check to see if your skin
reacts to the allergen.
Blood (IgE) tests can also identify allergies. However, they’re not as sensitive
as skin prick tests. Blood tests evaluate IgE antibodies that your immune
system produces against a specific protein.
16. How are allergies treated?
Avoiding allergens is an important treatment approach. However, it often
doesn’t completely end allergic reactions. Over-the-counter and prescription
allergy medications are also a solution to managing your allergies. These may
include:
Antihistamines
Fexofenadine.
Loratadine.
Cetirizine (All Day Allergy-D® or Zyrtec®).
17. Nasal sprays
These medications are very effective and safe to use daily but they may take a
few days to a week to kick in.
Fluticasone nasal spray (Flonase® or ClariSpray®).
Cromolyn sodium.
Antihistamine nasal sprays
Decongestants
These medications should be used cautiously when treating allergies due to higher
side effects and concerns related to long-term use.
Oxymetazoline.
Phenylephrine (Sudafed PE® or Sudogest PE®).
Pseudoephedrine (Contac® or Sudafed®).
18. Asthma medications
Inhaled or oral bronchodilators.
Inhaled steroids.
Oral antileukotrienes, including montelukast, zafirlukast and zileuton.
Injected drugs, including omalizumab, dupilumab or benralizumab.
Immunotherapy
A healthcare provider may recommend immunotherapy (allergy shots) and/or sublingual
immunotherapy (allergy drops) if you can’t manage your allergy symptoms through over-the-
counter and prescription medications and avoiding allergens. The provider will expose you to
small amounts of allergens and gradually increase the dosage over several months. Gradual
exposure creates a tolerance to the allergen.
Nasal saline irrigation
A neti pot is an over-the-counter device that pushes a saline (salt) solution through your nasal
passages. It helps clear out mucus and allergens trapped inside your nasal passages.
19. How can I prevent allergies?
The best way to prevent allergies is to avoid allergens. You can also take
antihistamines or other medications daily to help control your symptoms and
reduce your allergic reaction.
If you have animal allergies, avoid petting, hugging or kissing animals. Don’t
allow them in your bedroom or on your furniture.
Regularly vacuuming rugs, carpets and other surfaces helps remove dust,
animal dander, pollen and other allergens.
High-efficiency particulate (HEPA) air filters can also help. These air purifiers
remove airborne allergens from your environment.
