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.5 Simple Steps to Creating an Allergy Friendly Home
It will seem horribly unfair to any child who suffers withallergies that they cannot have a pet or must loose one whom theyhave grown attached to. Is there a way to deal with pet allergieswhich may lessen or even eliminate the suffering for adults andchildren with allergies?
WHAT ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO?
By establishing whether the animal is actually the cause of anallergy is certainly the best starting point. However, that canbe a difficult task if you already have an animal since theallergens are extremely difficult to remove entirely.
If an existing pet can be removed and the home thoroughly cleaned(carpets, walls, furniture etc.) you MAY be able to verify theallergy in several months. Obviously that is not the easiestsolution.
Having the child stay with a friend or relative for a week (aslong as there are no pets in the home) may show an improvementthat might indicate an allergy to the family pet.
A visit to the doctor can confirm an allergy with a simple test.The tests vary, but some can be mildly uncomfortable and wouldprobably not be considered if the allergy symptoms were mild.
Some allergy symptoms are compounded by exposure to severalallergens. By identifying other sources and removing them you mayfind the reaction to pets is lessened and not a barrier toenjoying their presence.
CREATING AN ALLERGY FRIENDLY HOME
There are several steps you can take to reduce the build up ofallergens and bring relief to allergy sufferers.
The first recommendation is to have hardwood or other smoothsurface for your flooring. Carpets hold far more of the particlesthat cause allergies and hard flooring makes it easy to clean.
Leather furniture is also ideal for homes with pet allergies. Forthe same reason as hard flooring is more suitable than carpet,leather holds far less allergens than fabric.
Keep a seat for the allergy sufferer that pets are not allowed tosit on. Also be certain that animals do not sleep on the beds orenter the bedrooms of allergy sufferers. Consider keeping thesleeping area of the home as a pet-free zone.
MAKING YOUR PET AS HYPO-ALLERGENIC AS POSSIBLE
There are even things you can do with your pet to reduce theallergic effects of having them in your home.
Frequent grooming and bathing with a mild soap to prevent overdrying will reduce the dander that is one of the main causes ofpet allergies. It would be recommended that someone withoutallergies take on this task.
Washing hands after playing with a pet and avoiding touching yourface with unwashed hands will also help. Since some individualsare also allergic to the saliva of pets it would be sensible tonot allow your pet to lick you.
In the case of more serious allergies or asthma it may be bestthat no pet share the home. For older children or adults it maybe possible to find a medication or treatment which makes thesituation tolerable if they prefer to keep the pet despite theallergy.
How to Take Care of Your Food Allergy?
You will never know what kind of food you’re allergic to if you never had reaction on food you have eaten. Not everyone is allergic to food they have eaten. But there are some who suffer this kind of situation. What about you? Do you have any allergic to something you eat?
Are you vomiting after eating peanuts? Or are you itching after taking only a little amount of seafood? Well, there’s a great possibility that you suffer from food allergy.
Yes, a person can be allergic to certain foods, even foods which are considered common to people like meats, fruits, and vegetables. However, there are actually some foods in which people are more allergic to. Milk, egg, peanut, fish, shellfish, and wheat are some of the foods that can cause food-allergic reactions more than the others.
How to Recognize Food Allergy?
What is food allergy actually? Well, before going further, let’s learn first about the general thing - the allergy itself. Allergy is the body’s reaction (an abnormally high sensitivity) to certain substances which are normally harmless. Thus, food allergy means the reaction of the body’s immune system to a particular food that is considered harmful.
When someone with food allergy eats a particular food, the body’s immune system will release antibodies which lead to triggering some allergic symptoms. Some of these symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, itching of the lips and mouth, sneezing, abdominal cramps, and difficulty in breathing.
Can a food allergy be cured? Well, it’s sad to say that food allergy cannot be cured. How do you treat this food allergy then? The only way that can be done is to strictly avoid the food that can cause the allergic reactions or symptoms. Don’t forget to read the ingredients of food you’ll consume. If there isn’t any, ask the store staff to explain the ingredients. If you still cannot get the information, in order to prevent allergic reactions, just find another food which is safe for your body!
If you suddenly get the reactions, there are some over-the-counter prescriptions you can use to relieve them. However, it’s of course better for you to consult with your doctor before taking any medications, especially if your food allergy has become worse.
