Allergy Management

An allergy is defined as an immunological disorder where your body’s own defence mechanism, the immune system, is hypersensitive to one or several substances, so-called allergens. When the body is exposed to these substances, it responds with an allergic reaction which can greatly vary in its severity from person to person. While for most people allergies are mostly a nuisance causing temporary (or sometimes intermittent) inconvenience, symptoms can be very severe requiring immediate medical treatment and sometimes even end fatally. Fortunately, this is very rare.

Allergy Treatments

What types of allergy are there and how can they be diagnosed?

There are many different types of allergens such as certain animal foods (crustaceans, fish), dairy (lactose, a component of milk-derived products), nuts, gluten (this is called coelica disease), but also plants (causing hay fever), pet hair, dust mites, latex or certain chemicals such as perfumes, essential oils or detergents.

If you suspect that you are allergic to something, you should consult your doctor who will in many cases be able to make a diagnosis based on our description of the symptoms. It therefore is a good idea to keep a diary where you note in which situations (time of the day and year) you get a reaction as this can help distinguish allergy patterns. If this proves inconclusive or insufficient, your doctor will in many cases carry out a skin prick test. This involves a tiny prick of the surface of your skin, usually the inner forearm, through a drop of allergen extract. If the skin starts swelling or reddening, this suggest that you are allergic. In some cases, for example if you are already taking antihistamines or if you suffer from bad eczema, skin prick testing may not be suitable. A blood test may be more appropriate. Your doctor will take a blood sample and analyse it to see if it contains a certain type of protein called Immunoglobuline E (IgE), which is an antibody your body produces to match allergens, which also consist of proteins. IgE is released, together with histamine, when your body comes into contact with the substance you are allergic to. A white cell blood count may also be recommended.

Allergy Treatments

Below you will further information about 3 of the most common allergies:

1. Hay fever

The term used to name typical symptoms such as frequent sneezing, wheezing, blocked and runny nose and watery eyes was first coined in 1819 by John Bostock, a Liverpudlian physician. He observed that the frequency of symptoms would increase during the haying season i.e. the summer months. The medical term for hay fever as well as pet and dust mite allergies is allergic rhinitis, i.e. an inflammation of the nose resulting from the inhalation of an allergen. People suffering from hay fever are allergic to the pollen of wind pollinated plants. In the UK, the most common plant allergen is the pollen of grass, followed by the pollen of trees (especially birch), flowering shrubs (for example hazelnut shrubs), flowers (e.g. daisies) or weeds (ragweed). Depending on when the plant releases its pollen, you will suffer from symptoms at different times of the year.

2. Animal Hair

The most common animal allergies are to cats followed by dogs, however some people are allergic to horses, rabbits and theoretically any kind of furry or feathered animal. People colloquially refer to this type of allergy as pet hair allergy, however strictly speaking it is not the hair but the dander consisting of tiny skin scales, dandruff, urine and saliva particles that cause the allergy.

3. House Dust Mites

Dust mites are microscopic living organisms practically invisible to the naked eye which can be found in bedding, mattresses, carpets and textile upholstery. They feed off organic particles such as human skin flakes or dandruff which naturally accumulate in bedding, especially pillows. Their faeces consist of protein which, upon inhalation, causes an allergic reaction to some people and in some cases asthma.

Unlike hay fever, which is a seasonal condition, an allergy to animal dander or dust mites can occur irrespective of the season which is why it is referred to as perennial allergic rhinitis. An allergy can develop at any stage throughout life and sometimes disappear over time as the body develops resistance against the allergen.

People who have developed a pet allergy may have to give away their companion and it is advisable to ask about pets in the household prior to visiting somebody at their house. People allergic to house dust mites can usually manage their symptoms well using a combination of medicines and strict hygiene, i.e. regular hoovering, HEPA air filters, frequent changing and washing of the bed linen, bedding and towels. Special allergy-friendly bedding made of synthetic microfibers is now widely available.

How does an allergy manifest itself?

Symptoms will occur at the the entry site of the allergen. Since the allergies outlined above are all caused by airborne allergens, it is the mucous membranes and the airways that are affected when exposed to the allergenic substance, i.e. the eyes, nose and throat. Some people feel as though they have a permanent cold and typical symptoms include:

* stuffy nose and blocked sinuses
* wheezing and difficulty breathing
* watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
* headache
* fatigue and irritability
* loss of concentration
* sore throat
* snoring due to breathing problems

Allergy Treatments

How can these allergies be treated?

There are a few measures you can take yourself to minimise the chances of an allergic reaction, such as the hygiene measures outlined above. If you suffer from hay fever, it is advisable that you change your bed linen frequently during the hay fever season and that you take a shower and wash your hair before going to bed to wash off pollen. Keep windows shut and whenever possible, stay indoors. A HEPA air filter is also a good idea. Weather stations publish a pollen count or pollen loading index which indicates the likely amount of pollen in the air – it will be higher when it is dry and windy than on a damp, rainy day as pollen is washed into the ground then.

The most common medical allergy management consists of antihistamine medicines. When your body is exposed to the allergen, it responds by releasing large amounts of histamine resulting in the typical allergy symptoms. Antihistamines block the release of histamines and this alleviates or inhibits symptoms. A variety of antihistamines can be bought over the counter, however some of the stronger ones must be prescribed by a doctor. A selection of powerful prescription-only antihistamines is now available at Myonlinedoctor so you can manage your allergy symptoms effectively.

While oral antihistamines are traditionally said to cause drowsiness , newer, non-sedating second generation antihistamines only cause little if any drowsiness.

At Myonlinedoctor, the following antihistamines are now available for you to order, please have a look at our allergy treatment guide to find out more.

1. Oral Tablets
Telfast 120mg

2. Nasal Sprays
Avamys
Rhinolast

3. Eye Drops
Opticrom aqueous
Rapitil
Optilast

Allergy Treatments