It is my understanding that some people are being given cyclosporine and other strong immunosuppresive treatments to reduce allergies. There are some problems with this kind of treatment, including:
Allergens can be inhaled, ingested, or enter through the skin. Common allergic reactions such as hay fever, certain types of asthma, and hives are linked to an antibody produced by the body called immunoglobulin E (IgE). Each IgE antibody can be very specific, reacting against certain pollens and other allergens. In other words, a person can be allergic to one type of pollen, but not another. When a susceptible person is exposed to an allergen, the body starts producing a large quantity of corresponding IgE antibodies. Subsequent exposure to the same allergen may result in an allergic reaction. Symptoms of an allergic reaction will vary depending on the type and amount of allergen encountered and the manner in which the body's immune system reacts to that allergen.
Allergies can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or socioeconomic status. Generally, allergies are more common in children. However, a first-time occurrence can happen at any age, or recur after many years of remission. Allergies tend to run in families. Hormones, stress, smoke, perfume, or environmental irritants may also play a role in the development or severity of allergies.
There are two types of tests to find out if a child is allergic:
Skin prick tests è The skin is punctured with a small lancet through a drop of the suspect allergen. A minute amount of allergen gets into the skin, to see if a reaction occurs. After 15-20 minutes, the presence of a wheal lets know which allergens the patient is sensitized to.
Blood tests è They are complementary to skin tests. They allow to confirm and to quantify the degree of sensitization. A sample of 2-3 cc of blood is enough to study sensitization to a dozen of different allergens.
The Phadiatop® test is a blood qualitative test for the presence of sensitization: a positive result means that the patient will most probably be allergic, while a negative test means the patient will most probably not be allergic. This test is used as a screening method for allergy.
It has been estimated that a person will come in contact during lifetime with thousands of substances capable of inducing allergy.
Fortunately, only a few of them will cause problems. Finding the cause of allergy is sometimes a very difficult task, and the number of tests to be performed for a patient is limited, specially in children. People usually become allergic to substances they have a close and frequent contact with: the more frequent and more intense a contact with a substance, the more probable that one becomes allergic to it. Therefore, the tests to be performed must be based on a detailed medical record, to select the allergens which more probably are involved. For instance, a child with conjunctivitis when near a cat, will probably be sensitized to cat dander. When symptoms appear in Spring, in the countryside, pollen allergy is probable. The specialist must know what are the most relevant plants, molds or mites in the area. Sensitization to pollen of olive tree is very common in the Mediterranean area, while allergy to birch pollen is exceptional. The opposite happens in North Europe countries. House dust mites species may vary according to climate conditions.
On the other side, it is essential to make a correct interpretation of results of tests. Not seldom, a patient may have positive results in tests against some allergens that are not clinically relevant, that is, allergens which are not responsible for triggering symptoms in that patient.
It is important to realize that sometimes symptoms appear when there is a time coincidence of several factors which would not be able to induce those symptoms separately (an amount of allergens together with a viral infection, or exercise, or cigarette smoke, cold air, pollution,…).
This means that the physician who performs, reads and interprets these tests must be a skilled specialist, with the necessary experience and training to reach a accurate diagnosis.
Predisposing factors:
The Atopic Condition. Some people have a genetic predisposition to develop allergic diseases. This predisposition is inheritable. It is more probable that a child is allergic, when other members of the family (mother, father, siblings) are allergic.
Gender. Some allergic diseases (asthma) are more frequent in boys than in girls.
Causal factors è ALLERGENS
Indoor allergens:
House dust mites
Molds
Pets dander
Cockroaches
Outdoor allergens
Molds
Pollens
Animal dander
Occupational Allergens è They affect adults who are exposed to some substances because of their jobs (flour in the case of bakers, wood dust in carpenters,…)
Coadjuvating and Triggering Factors: These factors do not cause allergy by themselves, but they facilitate that someone becomes allergic to factors described above, or they can trigger symptoms in an already allergic person:
Air pollution
Cold air
Cigarette smoke
Exercise
Respiratory infections
Symptoms of Allergies
Causes of allergy
Allergies can be caused due to some of the following:
Allergy Treatments and cures
A classical allergy is caused by a foreign protein getting into the body and not being recognised by that body as part of itself. The body therefore makes vigorous attempts to rid itself of the offending protein. This reaction may be very severe and excessive.
There are many things that can cause problems:-
The reactions may become more severe each time you are exposed to the offending protein and have the potential to lead to a fatal anaphylaxis.
You must seek medical help if you think that you have a classical allergy.
The editorial board feels that because allergies are potentially very serious they are initially best dealt with by mainstream medicine, if possible.
Once a diagnosis is made and the appropriate rescue medicine has been prescribed there is often a great deal that can be done to prevent attacks. You can for instance reduce the population of house dust mites by using special bedding and so on.
