People with drug allergy may experience diverse symptoms with a spectrum from rashes, itching, breathing difficulties, swelling to a severe life threatening reaction called anaphylaxis.
Common drug allergies include:
Dry Powder Inhalers* (known as DPIs) deliver medication without using chemical propellants, but they require a strong and fast inhalation. With inhaled medications, the medicine is delivered directly to your bronchial tubes, helping to open your airways. Also, these medicines have fewer side effects compared to others that are taken by mouth or by injection. * see Asthma Inhalers.
If you have eczema (atopic dermatitis*), taking care of your skin is important for maintenance and treatment of the condition. Eczema is an allergic skin reaction resulting in a red, scaly, itchy rash. The rash often appears on the face, elbows, knees, hands or scalp. Triggers include allergens, overheating or sweating, emotional stress, food and contact with wool, pets or soaps.
If you have eczema, avoid drying soaps or harsh detergents. The average pH level (acidity or alkaline) of soap is 9 to 10. The skin’s normal pH level is 4 to 5. Because of this difference, soap increases the skin’s pH to an undesirable level and can worsen eczema symptoms. It is best to use a non-soap cleanser because they are usually free of sodium lauryl sulfate. This chemical creates soap’s foaming action and can irritate skin.
Examples of non-soap cleansers:
Other Eczema tips:
Moisturize immediately after bathing/showering to seal in moisture.
Epinephrine is an injection-based medication used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions called anaphylaxis* (an-a-fi-LAK-sis). These very serious reactions are most commonly caused by foods, drugs and stinging insects. People with severe allergy or a history of anaphylaxis should carry (2) auto injectable epinephrine with them at all times. Epinephrine typically comes as a single-dose pre-filled automatic injection device to be injected into the thigh. In some very severe cases, patients may require a second dose of epinephrine after a few minutes to stop the anaphylactic shock and avoid death. After you use the automatic injection device, go the closest emergency room immediately. Later, check back with your allergist.
Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction (also known as exercise-induced asthma) is a narrowing of the airways causing difficulty moving air out of the lungs during exercise. If you have chronic asthma, your symptoms may be worse when you exercise. Yet some people who don’t have asthma experience symptoms only when they exercise.
Symptoms include:
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Tight chest
These symptoms are often worse in cold, dry air. Warm and humid air may lessen the symptoms. Exercise is a very important aspect of good health, so your allergist may prescribe taking medication prior to exercising to control symptoms.
Food allergy is an adverse reaction caused by an abdominal response of the immune system to food allergens. Behaving like recognizing an invader and sending out chemicals to defend against it.
A specialist in allergy and immunology would take a comprehensive clinical history (such as; reaction to the culprit food, diet history, etc.) to guide the selection and tests to perform and interpret the results. The ultimate goal of the allergy test result is to determine the probability of clinical relevant allergy.
Eight types of food can cause 90% of all reactions: egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, soy.
Skin prick test provide results in 20 minutes.
Serum testing allows evaluation of patients who cannot stop the routine antihistamines therapy prior to testing. Serum specific IGE techniques are less efficient (results available in about a week) and are more expensive than skin testing.
Once the food allergy is diagnosed the most effective treatment is to avoid the food. Once you have been diagnosed with food allergy, your allergist/immunologist should prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector.
Oral food challenge is the most accurate test to diagnose food allergy. But requires expensive resources, highly trained personnel, and carries the risk of causing an acute allergic reaction.
A food intolerance, or a food sensitivity occurs when a person has difficulty digesting a particular food. This can lead to symptoms such as intestinal gas, abdominal pain or diarrhea. A food intolerance is sometimes confused with or mislabeled as a food allergy*. Food intolerances involve the digestive system. Food allergies involve the immune system. With a food allergy, even a microscopic amount of the food has the potential to lead to a serious or life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis.
Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis, often referred to as ‘hay fever’, is typically caused by outdoor allergens such as pollen from trees, grasses and weeds.
Perennial Allergic Rhinitis occurs year-round. It is usually triggered by allergens such as pets or dust mites.
Allergic Rhinitis is caused by allergens, which are usually harmless substances but trigger an allergic reaction in some people. People with rhinitis are prone to symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, congestion and sinus pressure. Rhinitis can contribute to other problems such as asthma, sinus or ear conditions or trouble sleeping. Some people with rhinitis symptoms don’t suffer from allergies. The symptoms may be similar, but the causes are different.
Strong odors, pollution, smoke, medications and other chronic health conditions may also contribute to Non-Allergic Rhinitis.
Histamine is a chemical released by mast cells* in the immune system when the body encounters an allergen. This causes an allergic reaction.
Hives (also known as, urticaria), involve red, itchy, swollen areas of the skin that range in size and appear anywhere on the body. They can appear suddenly, and may be the result of an allergic reaction. Some people have chronic urticaria that occurs almost daily for months or, in some cases, years. Treatment with oral antihistamines* is frequently successful, but in severe cases, steroids may be needed. In addition to allergic reactions to medications, foods or other substances, hives may be triggered by viral infections, temperature extremes, water, sun and physical exercise.
