Medications for Allergy

The exact cause of allergic reactions is not known. However, there appears to be a hereditary component to the more common forms of the condition. If one parent has allergies, a child‘s risk of developing the condition is 48%. If both parents suffer from allergic reactions, the child is 70% likely to develop allergies. When it comes to allergies, the important question to ask is not why, but what. If a person can determine — through experience that is confirmed by testing — what it is that triggers symptoms, treatment can begin.

There is an extensive list of known or suspected allergens. Each person with allergies reacts to specific substances. Someone for whom pollen is a problem might have no allergic reaction to mold. People who are allergic to cats are not necessarily sensitive to dogs. Some foods and medications trigger reactions in people; others do not. Some people can work in an environment in which they are exposed to a chemical that triggers an allergic reaction within days of their first exposure. For other people, this reaction might take years to appear.

Allergic reactions:
Skin contact. Injection. Ingestion. Inhalation

Anaphylaxis can be caused by exposure to some common substances, such as foods, medications, insect bites, and certain material, such as latex. Exercise can also produce anaphylactic symptoms, but not consistently. Allergens that induce anaphylaxis include the following:

• Foods and additives: A trace amount of peanuts, tree nuts (for example, walnuts or almonds), shellfish, fish, milk, or eggs can trigger an allergic reaction in some people. This reaction can occur quickly. Additives such as sulfides — found in beer, dried fruit, pickles, and potato products — can also cause anaphylaxis, especially in asthmatics.

• Medication: There is an increased chance of developing an allergy to medication if the medicine is given frequently, in large doses, or by injection. This reaction usually occurs within hours of exposure.

• Insect stings: Honeybees, bumblebees, yellow jackets, hornets, wasps, fire ants, and harvester ants are the insects that cause most anaphylactic symptoms, which occur within minutes of the sting or bite.

• Latex: Those who work in the health care or rubber industries are exposed to latex so often that some develop allergic reactions to the material. Children who have congenital diseases like spina bifida often have many early exposures during their numerous surgeries. They, too, can develop an allergy to latex. Certain foods that cross-react with latex can trigger allergic reactions in these same people. These foods include bananas, kiwi, avocados, European chestnuts, potatoes, tomatoes, peaches, plums, cherries, and other fruits with pits.

A less common type of allergic reaction is called food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis. Symptoms occur after a person exercises within 3 or 4 hours of eating a certain food. The foods that have been known to cause this reaction are wheat, shellfish, fruit, milk, cereal, and fish. Usually, those who experience the reaction already have asthma as well as other allergies.

In some cases, a person can experience what is called a biphasic reaction. This happens when an anaphylactic reaction occurs. After the reaction, the symptoms go away, only to return hours later. For this and other reasons, it is important for a person having these symptoms to stay at a hospital for several hours following the first signs of trouble. Even if medical staff indicate that a person is free to go home, it is best to sit in the hospital lobby for a few hours just to make sure that the symptoms do not return. Doing so could save the person’s life.

How pollen makes us sneeze and wheeze

1. Pollen enters eyes, nose, lungs sensitizing the immune system.
2. Specific antibodies to the pollen are produced.
3. Antibodies attach to mast cells found in tissues.
4. Pollen enters the body again, attaches to antibodies causing histamine and other chemicals to be released from mast cells.
5. Allergic reaction is triggered resulting in runny eyes and nose, throat and nose itching, sneezing, nose and sinus congestion and asthma.

Source: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 12th, 2010 at 1:24 am and is filed under Allergies and Asthma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.