These antibodies travel to cells throughout the body, releasinghistamineand other chemicals that cause an allergic reaction.
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Is It Allergies or Something Else?
Colds tend to be milder and do not cause fever or body aches.
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They typically resolve on their own within a few days.
Causes
Allergies occur when the immune system reacts to a usually harmless allergen.
While it is not well understood why allergies occur,genetics can play a role.
Reactions to specific allergens, such as peanuts, are not passed down.
However, parents with allergies are more likely to have kids with allergies.
Suddenly developing allergies as an adult is not unusual.
Sometimes they can be traced to environmental change, but many emerge for unknown reasons.
Existing allergies may also go away suddenly.
Do Allergies Cause Asthma in Kids?
Children who suffer from allergies are at a greater risk of developingasthma.
Allergies can worsen asthma symptoms in children with the condition.
Managing allergy symptoms can play an important role in preventing asthma attacks.
Common Allergens
Common allergens include:
Irritants vs.
Allergens
Irritants can cause symptoms resembling an allergic reaction, but they arent allergens.
Spring allergiesare resulting from tree pollen and typically occur from around February to early summer.
However, over two-thirds of people with spring allergies experience symptoms yearly.
Mold spores can cause allergies in the spring, summer, and fall.
They can cause allergies throughout the year for people who live in buildings with high moisture levels.
Symptoms
Symptoms of an allergic reactioncan vary from person to person.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxisis a severe, sudden life-threatening allergic reaction that involves the whole body.
Symptoms often occur within 30 minutes of exposure to the allergen.
However, in some cases, symptoms can take more than an hour to develop.
Call 911 for any symptoms of anaphylaxis.
These include:
If left untreated, the condition can result in death.
Anaphylaxis is treated withepinephrine(adrenaline).
Epinephrine autoinjectors (EpiPens) contain a prescribed single dose of medication injected into the thigh.
If the skin reacts, the person may have an allergy.
Intradermal testing is often used for allergies topenicillinand insect stings.
It involves injecting a small amount of the allergen under the skin using a needle.
A specific IgE blood test measures the amount of IgE your body produces in response to a single allergen.
However, this is not always possible.
Medications and treatments can help.
Prescription
A healthcare provider may recommendprescription medicationsif over-the-counter (OTC) medications do not relieve your allergies.
Many also find relief from allergy symptoms by usingnasal irrigation devices, such as neti pots and bulb syringes.
These devices can effectively flush the nasal passages and filter out allergens.
It’s important to avoid using tap water when flushing the nose.
Tap water is not considered safe to use as a nasal rinse.
It isn’t adequately treated or filtered and can contain bacteria and protozoa.
Always use sterile or distilled water when using nasal irrigation devices.
Prevention
The best way to prevent allergies is to avoid exposure to the allergen.
The precise cause is unknown but environment and genetics can be factors.
Allergies may start and stop suddenly throughout life.
Symptoms include itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, and rashes; anaphylaxis is also possible.
Diagnosis involves skin testing or a specific IgE blood test.
Work closely with a healthcare provider or allergist to implement prevention and treatment strategies that work for you.
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