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There
are a number of different allergy-causing substances.
The most common include pollen, dust mites, mold, animal
dander, insect stings, latex, and certain food and medication.
If you have an allergy your symptoms can range from
mild eye irritation and congestion to a more severe
reaction causing swelling and difficulty breathing.
And, if you have asthma, a reaction to any offending
allergy-causing substance can worsen your asthma symptoms.
But, there are steps you can take to prevent and treat
allergy attacks when they occur.
Pollen
Exposure
to pollen can trigger hay fever, or seasonal allergies.
Symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion,
and itchy, watery eyes. Treatments include over-the-counter
and prescription antihistamines such as Benadryl, Clarinex,
or Allegra, decongestants like Sudafed, nasal steroids
like Beconase and Flonase, Nasalcrom and drugs that
combine antihistamines and decongestants like Allegra-D,
Claritin-D or Zyrtec. Allergy shots, also called immunotherapy,
are also an option.
Prevent
hay fever symptoms by staying indoors when pollen counts
are high, closing windows, and using air conditioning.
Dust
Mites
Dust
mites are microscopic organisms that live in house dust.
House dust is a mixture of potentially allergenic materials
including fibers from different fabrics, dander from
animals, bacteria, mold or fungus spores, food particles,
bits of plants, and others. Symptoms of dust mite allergy
are similar to pollen allergy but often occur year round
rather than just seasonally. Treatment may include medications
such as antihistamines or decongestants.
Prevent
dust mite allergy by putting plastic covers over mattresses,
using hypoallergenic pillows, washing sheets weekly
in hot water and keeping all areas of the house, especially
the bedroom, free of dust collecting stuffed animals,
curtains, and carpet.
Molds
Molds
are parasitic, microscopic fungi with spores that float
in the air like pollen. Mold is a common trigger for
allergies and can be found in damp areas such as basements
or bathrooms, as well as in grass, leaf piles, hay,
mulch, or under mushrooms. Symptoms of mold allergies
can occur seasonally, especially in the summer and fall
or year round if mold is in your home. Symptoms are
like those of pollen and dust mite allergies and include
sneezing, congestion, itchy and watery eyes, runny nose,
and coughing. Treatments are the same as those for dust
mites or pollen.
Prevent
mold allergies by avoiding activities that trigger symptoms,
such as raking leaves. Keep windows and doors closed,
and make sure moist places in the home, such as the
basement and bathrooms, are well ventilated.
Animal
Dander and Cockroaches
Proteins
secreted by oil glands in an animal's skin, as well
as the proteins present in an animal's saliva, can cause
allergic reactions in some people. Allergies to animals
can take two or more years to develop and symptoms may
not subside until months after ending contact with the
animal. Symptoms include sneezing, congestion, and itchy
and watery eyes. Treatments include avoiding exposure
to animals that cause your allergies when possible.
Medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, nasal
steroids, or others may be helpful. Immunotherapy may
be recommended if your symptoms are chronic.
Cockroaches
can cause similar symptoms. The treatments are the same.
Prevent
allergies to pet dander and cockroaches by removing
the pet from the home, or at least the bedroom. Keep
pets off upholstered furniture, wash the pet weekly.
Cockroach allergy can be prevented by keeping trash
in closed containers and taking it out regularly.
Insect
Stings
Everyone
who gets stung by an insect will have pain, swelling,
and redness around the sting site. However, people who
are allergic to stings can have a severe or even life-threatening
reaction. Symptoms of insect sting allergy include extensive
swelling and redness from the sting or bite that may
last a week or more, nausea, fatigue, and low-grade
fever. On rare occasions, insect stings may cause a
full-body allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Symptoms
of anaphylaxis may include difficulty breathing, hives,
swelling of the face, throat or mouth, wheezing or difficulty
swallowing, restlessness and anxiety, rapid pulse, dizziness,
or a sharp drop in blood pressure. For people who are
severely allergic to insect stings, the medicine epinephrine
should be administered soon after being stung to prevent
the development of a life-threatening situation.
Prevention
is the best treatment. Minimize exposure to insects
by not wearing brightly colored clothes and scented
cosmetics and by keeping insecticide available, wearing
shoes outdoors, and avoiding outdoor garbage. If you
do get stung, remove the stinger. If you are at risk
of anaphylaxis, get an epinephrine injection immediately.
An oral antihistamine, like Benadryl, may be taken to
reduce itching, swelling, and hives, and a pain-reliever
may be taken and ice pack used to dull pain caused by
the sting. Occasionally corticosteroid medicines are
used to decrease swelling and inflammation.
Allergy
shots to prevent insect sting allergies are also available.
Insects
that cause allergic reactions include various bees,
fire ants, yellow jackets, hornets, and wasps.
Latex
Rubber
gloves are the most common offending product for people
with a latex allergy, but a latex allergy can also be
triggered by latex in condoms and certain medical devices.
Symptoms of latex allergy include skin rash, hives,
eye tearing and irritation, runny nose, sneezing, cough,
wheezing, shortness of breath, and itching of the skin
or nose. Allergic reactions to latex can range from
skin redness and itching to a much more serious reaction,
called anaphylaxis which can cause difficulty breathing,
hives, or sudden gastrointestinal problems.
Treatments
include removal of the latex product. To relieve symptoms,
antihistamines or epinephrine will be given. If you
have a latex allergy, it is important for you to wear
a MedicAlert bracelet and carry an emergency epinephrine
kit at all times. To prevent a latex reaction, sensitive
individuals should avoid products containing latex.
Foods
Milk,
fish and shellfish, nuts, wheat, and eggs are the most
common foods that cause allergies. A food allergic reaction
usually occurs within minutes of eating the offending
food and symptoms, which can include asthma, hives,
runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, and swelling in the
area around the mouth, can be severe. The best treatment
is to avoid the offending food altogether; but when
exposed, treatment with antihistamines or steroids is
recommended. In life-threatening situations, an epinephrine
injection is needed to reverse symptoms.
Medication
Some
people develop allergies to certain medications, such
as penicillin or aspirin. Symptoms can range from mild
to life-threatening and can include hives, skin rash,
itchy skin or eyes, congestion, and swelling in the
mouth and throat. The best treatment of drug allergies
is to avoid the offending drug altogether; however,
when exposed, treatment with antihistamines or steroids
is recommended. For coughing and lung congestion, drugs
called bronchodilators may be prescribed to widen the
airways. For more serious symptoms epinephrine may be
needed.
Reviewed
by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Department of
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine.
Edited
by Charlotte E. Grayson, MD, Feb. 2004, WebMD.
Portions
of this page © The Cleveland Clinic 2000-2004
.
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