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Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The Open Encyclopedia Project attempts to provide precise and relevant information in the Health categories for educational purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy or currency of the information contained on these pages and cannot be responsible for any harm or adverse outcomes as a consequence of relying on or using this material. People who intend to rely or use this information as clinical advice or for treatment are advised not to but should consult an appropriate registered (licensed) medical professional.
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The immune system is designed to protect the body from foreign substances. Allergies result from an overreaction by the body's immune defense mechanism to a trigger factor, called an allergen. Allergens can potentially be anything that comes in contact with the body, such as certain foods, plants, etc. They can also be a normal part of the body, as seen in autoimmune disorders.
Allergies can either be inborn or acquired. They range from the minor itches, to moderate wheals and flares, to fatal reactions. Allergies can be maintained under control, but a cure is yet unavailable.
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The signs and symptoms of allergies include:
Sneezing or coughing
Runny or clogged nose
Sinus and/or Chest congestion
Allergic shiners (dark circles under the eyes caused by increased blood flow near the sinuses)
Watery or inflamed eyes
Itching eyes, nose and throat
Skin rashes or hives
Allergic contact dermatitis
Sweating
Increased blood pressure
Asthma or difficulty breathing
Anaphylactic shock (a life-threatening condition)
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If any of the following occurs, immediately seek medical attention.
Symptoms of a severe reaction, such as severe swelling and/or difficulty breathing.
Exposure to the smoke of burning poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac.
Rash covering more than one quarter of your body.
Rash occurs on your face, lips, eyes or genitals.
Initial treatment does not relieve symptoms.
Fever and/or the rash showing signs of infection.
One or more of the following three approaches are often used to treat allergies.
Avoidance. Staying away from the allergen to reduce or eliminate the exposure. This may require some clean-up/preventive measures in the home.
Medication. Drugs like antihistamines, antifungal creams, decongestants and corticosteroids may be effective at treating symptoms but do not and cannot cure the allergy. These drugs must be taken as long as the allergic symptoms persist. Consult a doctor before taking any medications.
Vaccine. These are typically hypodermic, subcutaneous or transdermic injections of medication that reduce the likelihood that your body will adversely react to allergen exposure.
Experts recommend that you see an allergist to be evaluated for allergies if you think you may be sensitive. An allergist is a doctor whose specialty is treating patients with allergies.
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Skin prick tests are the most common tests for allergy. Small amounts of suspected allergy triggers are introduced through the skin of the arm or back by pricking or puncturing the skin with a needle or similar device. If you are allergic to a substance, you will see a raised, red itchy bump, also called a ''wheal". Reactions usually appear within 15 minutes. This positive result indicates that the IgE antibody is present when you come in contact with the specific allergen. The size of the wheal is important: the bigger it is, the more sensitive you are to that particular substance. This test is the least time consuming and expensive. You may have to discontinue certain medications, especially antihistamines, several days prior to testing.
There are four kinds of skin tests: scratch, puncture, prick and intradermal. Your allergist may use one or more skin tests to analyze your response to various substances. Keep in mind that you may see a false positive or a false negative skin test. Results often depend on how well the test is performed.
Skin prick, puncture and intradermal tests may be difficult with young children afraid of needles. There is some possibility of a life-threatening anaphylactic response if a person is extremely sensitive to a substance. Your health care provider will be prepared to react swiftly to this kind of response.
The RAST (RadioAllergoSorbent Test) and related blood tests use radioactive or enzyme markers to detect levels of IgE antibodies. These tests are useful when a skin test is difficult due to a widespread skin rash or eczema, anxiety about skin pricks, or if there is potential for a sudden and severe allergic response to test allergens.
Skin tests and the type of blood tests described above are very comparable in their ability to diagnose sensitivity to specific allergens. Both kinds of tests are considered to be about 90 percent accurate.
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If any of the following occurs, immediately seek medical attention.
Symptoms of a severe reaction, such as severe swelling and/or difficulty breathing.
Exposure to the smoke of burning poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac.
Rash covering more than one quarter of your body.
Rash occurs on your face, lips, eyes or genitals.
Initial treatment does not relieve symptoms.
Fever and/or the rash showing signs of infection.
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