Allergy - Triggers, Symptoms And Treatment

Allergies happen when the body’s immune system reacts to any foreign substance such as pet dander, bee venom, pollen or any food that doesn't normally cause any reaction in most people. When an allergic individual comes in contact with an allergen, the reaction doesn’t take place immediately. The body’s immune system slowly starts to recognize and remember the allergen, builds sensitivity to it and then starts producing antibodies for attacking it. In some cases when the process of sensitization isn’t completed, the individual experiences light symptoms and not the allergy. The severity of an allergy varies from person to person and can range from a minor irritation to a potentially life-threatening emergency known as anaphylaxis.

The symptoms of an allergy depend on the allergen type. It can affect the individual’s skin, sinuses & nasal passages, airways, or the digestive system. These reactions can range from mild to severe, and sometimes can be confused with other conditions, like Hay fever creating similar irritations as the common cold. The more common triggers and symptoms regularly found in people who are allergic are:

• ·         Dust and pollens (itchy eyes & nose, blocked nose, runny nose, cough, swollen & watery eyes)

• ·         Skin reactions (itching, flaking, peeling, rashes)

• ·         Foods (swollen tongue, vomiting, itchiness/ tingling in the mouth, swelling of throat, face & lips, shortness in breath, stomach cramps, diarrhea, rectal bleeding)

• ·         Insect stings (swelling, wheezing, a sudden blood pressure drop, hives, chest tightness)
• ·         Medication (wheezing, swelling, itchiness, skin rash, possible anaphylaxis)