Understanding Allergies

Achoo! Your eyes water and you sneeze profusely whenever you approach your closest friend's cat. Additionally, each spring and autumn when he takes you on hikes in the woods, your father gets a runny nose.

What is happening? You and your father might both be allergic.

Reactionary Network

Your immune system's response to particular foods, plants, animals, bites from insects, or other items is called an allergy (pronounce it: AL-ur-jee). By combating pathogens like viruses and bacteria, your immune system defends you from illness. However, when you have allergies, it overreacts and makes attempts to "fight" commonplace things like grass, pollen, or particular meals. Sneezing, itching, and other allergic responses are brought on by this.

Allergens are things (such as grass, pollen, foods, pet byproducts, insects, etc.) that trigger allergies (say: AL-ur-jenz). You may be allergic to one of these allergens if your immune system responds to it and you experience symptoms.

Why do people sneeze and wheeze?

Numerous factors can cause allergies in people. Typical allergies consist of:

dander mites (tiny insects that live in dust)

a protein that some animals' dander (dry skin), saliva, feces, or other excretions contain.

pollen from trees, flowers, and vegetation (the fine dust from plants)

fungus and mildew (small living things that grow in damp places)

foods like peas, beans, and peanuts latex, as well as dairy, wheat, soy, eggs, nuts, shellfish, and legumes (stretchy stuff that some of the gloves doctors and dentists use are made of)

Symptoms

Sneezing, runny nostrils, itchy eyes and ears, and a sore throat are some of the symptoms of these allergens. Other items on the list, such as foods, may result in hives, a stuffy nose, stomach pains, vomiting, or diarrhea. Hives are a red, bumpy, itchy skin rash.

Less frequently, allergies can result in respiratory issues like wheezing and shortness of breath (asthma). Some allergies, like foods, cause issues all year round. Others, however, might only annoy individuals at particular times of year. For instance, you might have an allergy to tree pollen, which is only prevalent in the springtime air.

What Causes Asthma In Children?

People may have a genetic (pronounce it: juh-NET-ik) predisposition to allergens, making them more susceptible to developing them than other people. Since many allergies are hereditary—transmitted to children in the DNA they inherit from their parents—you have a higher chance of developing them if your mother, father, or other members of your family do.

Allergies can manifest in infants, kids, teenagers, or adults, though they frequently subside as people age.

A lot of individuals grow out of food allergies. Other allergies, though they might be milder or worse at various times throughout your life, can last your entire life.

Allergies vs. Colds

Because the symptoms of an allergy and a cold can sometimes be identical, diagnosing one condition from the other can be challenging. You most likely have an allergy rather than a cold if your cold symptoms last longer than two weeks.

There are additional distinctions between allergens and colds that you can search for. When you have allergies, your eyes and sinuses itch. A cold doesn't hurt. Mucus, or the liquid you cough up or expel from your nostrils, also varies. It's transparent like water when you have allergies. It's typically viscous and yellowish when you have a cold.

How Can I Determine Whether I Have Allergies?

Your doctor might want to check you for allergies if you frequently get sick after consuming a particular food, wheeze, or sneeze a lot. He or she will query you extensively about your diet, household pets and plants, and your general health. Your responses will give hints as to what you might be sensitive to, and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain animals or foods in order to see if your symptoms subside.

Your doctor might refer you to an allergist, a specialist who treats allergy sufferers (pronunciation: AL-ur-jist). To determine whether a tiny amount of an allergen will result in a response on your skin, an allergist may perform a scratch test on you. When the doctor makes the scratch or scratches, you'll experience a brief pinch. One or more of the spots will become bumpy, itchy, and red if you have an allergy, just like a mosquito attack.

Some medical professionals may also examine a child's blood to check for IgE, a substance known as an antibody (pronounce it: AN-tie-bah-dee) that indicates an allergic response. You are likely sensitive to the allergen if you have high levels of this antibody in your blood.

Taking Charge

Most likely, your doctor will advise you on how to avoid the allergen or will write a prescription for you to attempt. Allergy medications can come in the form of tablets, liquids, or even nasal sprays. If your allergies are not too severe or if you can fully avoid the allergen, you may not need to take medication — avoiding the allergen may be sufficient to control your allergy.

An allergist may suggest allergy injections if your symptoms don't improve after avoiding allergens and taking medications. These injections can help you feel better by reducing your immune system's sensitivity to allergens.

Unfortunately, injections and the majority of medications do not treat dietary allergies. People who have food allergies must learn to stay away from any foods that contain the allergenic components. You can get reading assistance from your parents and your therapist. Fortunately, many children overcome milk, egg, wheat, and soy allergies. However, allergies to seafood, tree nuts, and peanuts may persist for a very long period or never go away.

On the Asthma Front, combat

Even though you might not be able to fully manage your allergens, you can still help yourself by avoiding the triggers of your symptoms.

Pets. You might need to locate your pet a new home if you are allergic to animals. If you're unable to do that, keeping pets out of your bedroom, having someone give them a bath at least once per week, or having the animal reside outside can all be helpful. Additionally, you shouldn't bring pets into other people's houses.

dander mites. If dust mites are a problem for you, your parents can use special bed covers and wash your blankets and linens in extremely hot water to get rid of the problem. Maintaining a tidy and spotless space will also be beneficial. Keep stuffed creatures and other dust-attracting items out of your room.

food sensitivities Always read food labels if you have food allergies to verify the ingredients and become familiar with the various names for the allergens. Always read the label of food you may have consumed in the past because the contents may have changed. Don't consume a food if you're unsure about it. Ask an adult if it is secure instead. You can learn which foods and components to avoid from your parents.

Additionally, your folks can assist you in preparing healthy snacks for outings where other people might be enjoying foods that you can't, like peanut butter ice cream. Then, rather than feeling left out, you can enjoy a snack with your companions without running the risk of having an allergic reaction or, worse yet, having to leave early!

Location:

Berbagi :