Allergies and Asthma
Allergies and asthma are two of the most common diseases affecting both children and adults. Hence, we provide you here an insight about their signs and symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention.
What is an Allergy?
Allergy is a type of autoimmune disorder and a form of hypersensitivity characterised by the immune system’s over reaction to what is normally harmless environmental substances or allergens such as pollens, dusts, moulds, and food. This allergic reaction to substances is triggered by the excessive activation of mast cells and basophiles by allergic antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE).
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Signs and Symptoms
Allergic reaction can be identified as mild, moderate or severe. Mild to moderate reactions such as runny nose, itchiness, eczema, allergic rhinitis, hives, and food allergies can be treated at home and pose no serious health risk. While severe allergic reactions like anaphylaxis could be life threatening. Anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock is triggered by exposure to one or more allergens, especially insect sting and medications like penicillin, aspirin and antibiotics.
People experiencing an allergic reaction may experience either one or more of the following symptoms:
- Stuffy, itchy nose, swelling of the nasal mucosa, allergic rhinitis
- Red, stinging, itchy, watery or swollen eyes
- Allergic sinusitis
- Sneezing, wheezing, constriction of the airways that may trigger asthma attack
- Rashes, eczema, or hives
- Food allergies such as Diarrhoea, bloating, abdominal pain, and vomiting.
Treatment, Management and Prevention
Sad to say, allergic reactions to environmental substances cannot be completely treated; however, they can be prevented and controlled through either of the following methods:
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Traditional treatment and management of allergies involve avoiding or reducing exposure to allergens to avoid symptoms. This is the most cost-effective way to prevent allergic attacks that might result to severe reactions like anaphylaxis.
Pharmacotherapy drugs such as antihistamines, hydrocortisone, and epinephrine can block the action of allergic mediators (mast cells and basophiles), while decongestants, and mast cell stabilizer help alleviate the symptoms of allergy.
Immunotherapy. It is true that drugs cannot cure allergy, but immunotherapy can do a lot alter how the immune systems response to environmental allergens. Immunotherapy has been proven to reduce symptom severity and reduce future development of allergies.