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By: Ikedi Ani-okoye

Coping with allergy

Allergic responses may be minor or they may be severe. At worst, an allergen can cause anaphylactic shock, which demands immediate medical help to prevent serious illness and even death. People with allergic illnesses, such as asthma and eczema, are likely to develop allergic responses to other allergens. A relatively minor response on the first exposure may be followed by a much more dramatic response the next time. You should be familiar with the first aid necessary to assist the casualty and know how to prevent exposure in future.

The immune system is designed to protect us,but in allergy it works against us. Normally harmless substances, such as pollen or cat fur, are called allergens, because they can cause an allergic reaction if they come into contact with the immune system of a susceptible person. The immune cells act as if the allergens are dangerous invaders and the cells release damaging chemicals, such as histamine, in order to eradicate the invader. This causes allergic symptoms in the sufferer.

Once sensitized to a particular allergen, the immune system will react to it in every future contact. This may cause inflammation of the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin or digestive system causing a wide variety of symptoms from wheezing and running eyes to vomiting. The respiratory allergens such as pollen, dust and animal hairs tend to lead to fairly mild reactions, while allergens such as penicillin or bee stings may be much more severe.

At its worst, an allergic reaction can cause anaphylactic shock, with the risk of serious illness and death.

How to spot an allergy

AIIergic reactions vary depending on which part of the body is reacting. Respiratory allergies tend to cause hay fever and asthma. Intestinal allergies cause diarrhoea and vomiting as well as stomach pain. Skin allergies may cause a rash called hives or urticaria that looks like a nettle sting but is often more widespread.

You may start to recognize a seasonal pattern to certain symptoms, or that they only happen when there is a cat in the house or when mowing the lawn. Certain blood tests can help identify if a reaction is allergic or not, but they cannot tell you reliably what the allergen is. Skin prick tests are not very reliable, especially for food allergies.

Food allergy or intolerance?

Many people believe they have allergies to foods when, in fact, they have a food intolerance. A food intolerance is due to a lack of one or more of the digestive enzymes that break down food, such as those that digest lactose or monosodium glutamate.

A true food allergy should be suspected if the person has repeated symptoms, such abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and cramps after eating a particular food. The only way to test for food allergy is to follow an exclusion diet reintroduce the excluded food to see if there is a recurrence of the symptoms.

Common allergens

Almost any substance can be an allergen but these are the most common culprits:
Foods -fish, shellfish. milk, nuts, eggs, chocolate, wheat and soya. Antibiotics - penicillin, tetracycline. Other drugs, for example insulin. Venoms- wasp, bee, snake. Dust, pollens and moulds. Chemicals in plants. lodine-containing dyes used in certain X-ray investigations.