Everything About Allergy

An allergy specialist, or allergist-immunologist, is a medical doctor that has undergone years of training to be able to manage and treat allergic diseases such as asthma. In the United States, before one becomes an allergist-immunologist, one has to complete medical school, then undergo three years of training for internal medicine or pediatrics. After that, one has to pass the American Board of Internal Medicine or American Board of Pediatrics. In the US, allergy-immunology is a sub-specialty of internists or pediatricians, where another two-year training is needed, and a certifying exam of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology should be passed.

Source: Wikipedia

The most common allergy triggers are pollen, pets, dust mites, insect stings , molds, food, latex, medicines, fragrance, and cockroaches.

Pets trigger allergies not because of its fine fur, but the proteins secreted by oil glands in the animal’s skin and saliva. To avoid allergic reactions to pets, bathe the animal at least once a week, avoid carpets and do not allow the pet in the bedroom.

Dust mites live in house dust and feed on human and animal dead skin cells, pollen, bacteria and fungi. It accumulates in pillows, carpets, stuffed toys – such items should be washed at least once a week in hot water.

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Cigarette smoke is an allergen that may aggravate allergies. Aside from harming the smokers themselves, the families of smokers are exposed to second hand smoke which increases the risk of allergic complications like sinusitis and bronchitis. Watery eyes, nasal congestion, hoarseness and shortness of breath, and coughing are among the symptoms of smoke irritation.

Preventive strategies are suggested by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health:

- Don’t smoke.
- If already a smoker, start your journey to quit smoking, and seek support from these websites: National Cancer Institute, Nicotine Anonymous, American Lung Association, Centers for Disease Control, American Cancer Society.
- Look for non-smoking areas in public places such as restaurants, movie houses, etc.
- Do not smoke in enclosed areas, and avoid smoking in the presence of other people who may be exposed to second- hand smoke.

There are two kinds of allergic responses: acute response and late-phase reaction. Acute responses are physical reactions that manifest immediately after exposure to a certain allergen. It may subside after manifestation, or it may develop into a late-phase reaction which may be harmful. During initial exposure, the immune system reacts and produces anti-bodies. This process lead to symptoms such as mucous secretion, nerve stimulation and smooth muscle contraction. These symptoms may manifest in a certain area of the body, or localized, or in several areas at the same time or system-wide. For example, asthma is localized to the respiratory system.

(source: Wikipedia)

While staying germ-free can prevent the spread of disease and infections, are cleaner lifestyles responsible for the rise of allergies in children today?

“It’s called the hygiene hypothesis,” says Marc McMorris, M.D., a pediatric allergist at the University of Michigan Health System. “We’ve developed a cleanlier lifestyle, and our bodies no longer need to fight germs as much as they did in the past. As a result, the immune system has shifted away from fighting infection to developing more allergic tendencies.”

The body’s immune system is designed to fight infections, but also recognizes foreign substances as allergens. The use of vaccines and antibiotics has eased the immune system of the burden of fighting.

Even our homes have changed how our immune system functions. Air tight doors and windows – designed to save energy – have created an increased concentration of indoor allergens.

“The natural immune system does not have as much to do as it did 50 years ago because we’ve increased our efforts to protect our children from dirt and germs,” says McMorris.

He advises parents to just let kids be kids. Let them play outside and with friends, and don’t worry about them coming into contact with dirt and germs. But always be cautious with children with life-threatening food allergies, he cautions.

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When children with allergies reach school age, they are more exposed to allergens and bacteria that can trigger symptoms. The most common are nasal allergies, where symptoms include runny nose and sneezing. This is usually triggered by pollen from plants and trees, dust and mold.

Once your allergic child starts school, take time to talk with the teachers and the school’s nurse. If your child is allergic to certain foods, you may also want to talk with the person in charge with the canteen. Ask them to inform you of any symptom or changes in your child’s performance, which may be associated with his condition.

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Mold can also found outdoors ; on leaves, trees, piled wood, rocks, drainage, rain gutters, roof and walls. People allergic to molds should avoid mowing the lawn, raking leaves and gardening. Drainage ditches and rain gutters should always be cleaned, assuring the removal of leaves to avoid stagnant water from accumulating. Plant containers, especially if being kept indoors, should always be clean and dry.

Certain jobs expose you to environments where molds thrive like logging, baking, mill work, carpentry, plumbing, gardening, house cleaning, carpet washing and furniture repair. People allergic to molds should take caution, or prepare doctor recommended remedies just in case symptoms start to show.

Mold or fungi grow both indoors and outdoors, and is related to moisture. Molds grow where moisture is, and is not dependent on seasons, unlike pollen which is more concentrated during spring to fall.

Mold spores spread when the molds ripen. It is usually seen in dark, moist, humid rooms like the basement, bathroom, under the kitchen sink, and ceilings if the roof has leaks. It also grows in carpets and walls. Rooms should be well ventilated to allow moisture to evaporate. Carpets, ceilings, walls and floors should always be kept dry, and make sure clothes placed in cabinets are totally dry.

Rhinitis is associated with allergens in the air and is considered to be more of a seasonal illness by most. The surprising part is that allergic rhinitis is known to cause death if it is compounded by obstructed nasal passages which may explain the disassociation of the allergy to snoring or daytime sleepiness. The presence of a blockage in the nasal cavities tends to aggravate the effects of the rhinitis causing blockage of the pathway effectively suffocating people in their sleep. These blockages are also responsible for other symptoms such as headaches, thirst, disturbed sleep, sleepiness during the day and more, all of which can cause serious social disruption enough to make behavior unpredictable. Continue Reading »

Scientists have discovered that a specific compound chmokine eotaxin, to be responsible in the over-reaction of the human body to infections. This compound is the chemical marker that prevents our immune system’s security guards that detects invaders and then directs killer cells to the site to effect an attack to defend us. Exposure to eotaxin tends to block the ability of patrolling attack cells from becoming seekers that finds these invaders thus causing the system to go haywire. The jumble of cellular response triggers a confusing to the body’s immune systems that a violent mass production of killer cells ensues in what can be called a panic attack as it knows there are invaders for the normal defenses aren’t really working but they are not getting anything done. Continue Reading »