Allergies: Meaning, Symptoms, Causes, Management, And Treatment

Health they say is wealth. Some people go through certain unpleasant situations all because of the perception and response of their bodies to certain conditions (although these conditions may not be bad).

I will be discussing one of the many challenges people face health-wise. One of these is Allergies. I will be considering this issue under different headings: the meaning of allergies, symptoms of allergies, causes of allergies, treatment of allergies and the management of allergies.

What is the meaning of allergies? Allergies can be defined as the response of an immune system to foreign substances in the body. It can also be said to mean how the body reacts (usually negatively) to certain things that affect the body.

Our immune system is designed to protect our bodies from unhealthy pathogens hence it helps to keep the body healthy by fighting substances if it perceives to be harmful that finds its way into the body. The symptoms of allergies range from sneezing to inflammation or some other symptoms (I will be discussing in detail about the symptoms of allergies later in this article).

Allergies vary from person to person. Some persons are allergic to certain foods while some others are not to the same foods Allergies arise from the perception of the immune system to the foods or other substances that come into the body.

Many allergies occur not because the substances involved are naturally dangerously but simply because the immune system perceived the substance to be dangerous. There is a certain symptom of allergic that varies from person to person. The symptom of allergy you have depends on the severity and type of allergy.

It is important to note that where medication has been taken before an anticipated allergic response, there will likely be the minimal experience of symptoms. Lets’ quickly scan through the symptoms related to allergies. Where an allergy is life-threatening, it is referred to as ‘anaphylaxis’

Symptoms of allergies

    

      Symptoms of allergies arising due to food include fatigue, swelling, around the tongue, throat, face or lips, nausea, tingling in the mouth.

          Insect bites allergies symptoms include cough, itching  all over the body, anaphylaxis, tightness of the chest, shortness of breath, swelling around the area that was bitten

         Atopic dermatitis. This is a skin condition also referred to as eczema. This condition can make the skin peel, itchy or become redden.

       

      Seasonal allergies. This includes symptoms such as swollen eyes, running nose, congestion.

          Certain allergies that may arise due to Intake of a drug include rashes, swollen face, itchy skin, anaphylaxis.

Causes of allergies

When discussing the causes of allergies, we mean stuff that triggers an allergy in people.

The causes of allergies will be considered under different categories

     

      Airborne allergies

      Under this category, we have pollen, dust mite, and animal dander

              

Pollen. Pollen is associated with seasonal allergies and also known as hay fever but experts refer to it as seasonal allergic minutes.  Most of the pollen causing allergies comes from grasses, weeds, and trees.

The issue of allergy of pollen is common to those produced by grasses, although there are certain species of trees such as cedar, birch and oak also contribute to producing pollen causing allergies.

Dust mite. This allergic reaction is associated with tiny bugs that live within the house. It represents one of the major causes of allergies. People that are victims of this allergy, sometimes experience symptoms of asthma.

Cases of dust mite allergy range from mild to severe. In a mild situation, the victim can experience runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes while in chronic cases, a person can experience a chronic asthma attack, persistent sneezing, and cough.

Animal dander. These are tiny flakes shed off by warm-blooded animals. It can be compared to dandruff in humans but it is not easy to see like dandruff in man. Dander floats in the air and settles as household dust. People that are allergic to it might find it hard to breathe well. This situation is common to those that have household pets such as dogs and cats.

                                                 

           Insect bites

Stings of insects such as bees, yellow jackets, wasps can result in an allergic reaction such as itching and swelling around the affected area. There can be life-threatening situations in which persons involved have a severe allergy. In such cases, feelings such as a swollen tongue, nausea, feeling of dizziness or even going into shock may arise.

    

     Medication

Some persons are allergic to certain drugs no matter the  form  it  comes  in,  either injection, tablets or syrup. Common drugs include antibiotics that contain sulfonamides, penicillin and other antibiotics that relate to it, anticonvulsants, ibuprofen, aspirin, chemotherapy drugs, etc. People with medication allergies may experience skin rashes, swellings, itching, dizziness, and vomiting.

    

      Foods

Some persons are allergic to certain foods such as eggs, milk, fish, wheat, peanuts, and tree nuts.

For every allergic situation, there is always a solution to it but the type of allergy will determine the treatment that will be applied. Some which include: Antihistamines help to relieve a person of mild symptoms like hives, rash, and itching.

       

      Epinephrine, given as an injection for the treatment of anaphylaxis.

         

      Corticosteroids can be given by mouth, given through the veins or applied on the skin.

       

      Decongestants saline nasal can be used for the treatment of allergies related to congestion.

        

      Immunotherapy, a long term treatment of allergies that appears to be severe.

Management of allergies

For the proper management of allergies, here are a few guidelines:

        Admit the situation

         Take the necessary steps for treatment immediately.

         Seek further counsel where necessary.

Conclusion.

In this article, I have been able to deal adequately with the meaning of allergies, symptoms of allergies, causes of allergies, treatment of allergies and the management of allergies

Do not try to compare your body to another because everyone is different and unique. Understand your body, how it works, its response to food and other things and deal with it appropriately.

You can join the conversation by leaving us a comment, sharing your thoughts and experience on this subject matter. Thank you for reading.