Different allergies affect have varying impact on different people. While dealing with it, the cause of the allergy should be traced first. This is the primary step towards addressing the disease effectively. Different allergens like the pollen grains can cause the respiratory tract to constrict and this may even prove fatal. Sometimes certain drugs cause allergies, here, desensitization is followed to cure the disease. This should be done under proper medical supervision as it may go out of control leading to medical emergencies.
1. Allergenic Rhinitis
It is a very common allergy and is usually characterized by a running nose, itching of the nose and sneezing. It is connected to allergenic conjunctivitis. Allergenic conjunctivitis is in turn characterized by itching, watering and redness of eyes. Allergic rhinitis is caused as a reaction to allergen in the air like pollen grains, dust, etc. These get attached to the conjunctiva and the mucus membrane of the nose.
Hay fever, also known as seasonal allergenic rhinitis, develops as a reaction to seasonal pollen grains. However, it is commonly believed that perennial rhinitis results as a reaction to house mite dusts and other allergens which are present through out the year.
2. Allergic Asthma
Allergic asthmatic bronchitis also known as allergic asthma, is characterized by wheezing (making abnormal sounds while breathing), breathlessness or cough. This usually affects those who get exposed to air-borne allergens. Inhaling these allergens increases mucous secretion and constriction of the bronchi. It is often seen to be associated with allergic rhinitis and other allergic disorders. Exposure to certain allergens aggravates the problem. Allergens such as dust, pollen, smoke, cold, animal fur, scales can cause an attack and can also worsen the situation.
3. Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is characterized by wheezing, respiratory breathlessness, low blood pressure and skin problems such as itching and flushing. It can pose a serious threat to the patient and can result in an emergency condition when the patient has to be rushed to the hospital due to an extensive allergic attack. Anaphylaxis can also be caused as a reaction to certain food items such as milk, sea food and eggs. Drugs like lidocaine and penicillin can also cause an acute reaction. Insect bites can also start the problem but it could take some time for it to react after you are exposed to the allergen.
4. Urticaria
Patients who are affected by Urticaria can get red lesions and itchy skin. These lesions can appear anywhere on the body and can vary in size and usually last for a few hours and vanish later. Many patients may have angioedema as it is associated with Urticaria.
Angioedema is a disease which is characterized by swelling of the skin, mucosa, submucosa and subcutaneous tissue due to allergic reactions. This infection usually affects the face, feet, hands and genitals. Angioedema like laryngeal edema, can cause an obstruction in the airway passage causing a medical emergency situation. Angioedema can be caused by a variety of reasons. Allergic reactions usually connected to Urticaria can cause angioedema. Histamines along with other inflammatory agents, are released from the mast cells into the bloodstream. This happens as a result of allergic reactions leading to Urticaria. The permeability of the blood vessels increases along with dilation which leads to swelling of the mucosal or cutaneous tissues. Angioedema is not mediated by antibodies in some patients but is caused by the stimulation of mast cells to release histamine. Some food agents like eggs, milk, seafood, food additives and preservatives, animal dander, insect bites and fish can lead to Urticaria or Angioedema. Several drugs like Dextran, ACE inhibitors, opioids, aspirin and NSAIDs also cause Urticaria.
5. Allergic Contact Dermatisis
It is a hypersensitive reaction to allergens. The regions of your body which are exposed to the allergens may develop reddish lesions which are itchy. The condition can get worse and may need medical attention. The lesions will disappear once the allergen is removed. You may also get hyper-pigmentation and fine scales on the skin of the affected area even after the allergic reaction is treated.
6. Drug or food allergy
Food and drug allergies are very common among many and is usually caused by specific foods and drugs. This allergy causes itching in and around the mouth area. It may also cause some gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Sometimes the symptoms can get grave and cause rash, angioedema, urticaria and anaphylaxis.
Certain drugs can cause severe allergies and so a skin test should be done before prescribing or administering a specific drug. Skin patch tests also helps to find out allergies caused by food items. Avoiding the agents which cause allergies will help you manage allergies. If there are no alternatives for that particular drug then desensitization can be carried out if the drug is very necessary. This can be done by giving the patient small doses of that drug and then increasing the amount slowly and then reaching the full therapeutic dose. This can be done only under medical supervision or the patient can be affected by anaphylaxis.
Slow administration of a drug which causes allergy, causes stimulation of the mast cells slowly. It also causes slow release of histamines which the body can tolerate. The activated mast cells will get exhausted soon and this allows further administration of the drug on the patient. This allows desensitization of the patient but only through the administration of the drug.
