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Patient Tips
It's spring time again and about 50 million Americans across the country will
suffer from allergies.
Definition of Allergies
Allergies are abnormal reactions by
our immune system to ordinarily
harmless substances called allergens.
Allergens that most frequently cause problems are: pollens, mold spores, dust mites, animal dander, foods, insect bites or stings, plants, latex rubber, viruses, bacteria, medications and environmental conditions (such as cold temperatures).
Symptoms of Allergies
The signs and symptoms of allergic reaction are:
? sneezing, coughing, runny or clogged nose
? watery eyes, itching eyes, nose and throat
? conjunctivitis (inflammation of eyelids, causing red-rimmed, swollen eyes and
crusting of the eyelids)
The signs and symptoms of skin allergies (eczema, contact dermatitis and urticaria) are: red, itchy skin, inflamed skin, welts (hives).
WARNING: If a person is experiencing more severe symptoms (loss of consciousness, shortness of breath, swelling, convulsion, chest pain and tightness), they may be in anaphylactic shock. Anaphylactic shock is a life-threatening type of allergic reaction that affecting the whole body. Call 911.
Treatment of Allergies
There are three general approaches to the treatment of allergic diseases such as:
avoidance of the allergen, medication to relieve symptoms and allergy shots.
- Avoidance: Recognized the causes of allergies and avoid them.
- Frequent cleaning and wear mask when dusting.
- Close windows during heavy pollination seasons.
- Check food labels for allergic component.
- Use air filters, dehumidifier.
- Medication:
- Decongestants: administered via spray or orally (pills) to unclog nasal passages.
- Spray: Afrin (oxymetazoline) and Vicks Sinex (phenylephrine)
- Oral: Sudafed (pseudoephedrine)
- Steroid nasal sprays: administered via spray to reduce inflammatory response.
- Flonase (fluticonase), Nasonex (mometasone), Nasocort (triamcinolone), Beconase or Vancenase (beclomethasone)
- Antihistamines: drugs that block the action of histamine, which is responsible for allergic symptoms.
- Over-the-counter (OTC): Short-acting, often relieves mild to moderate symptoms, but can cause drowsiness and may affect learning in children.
- Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Chlor-Trimeton or Coricidin (chlorpheniramine maleate), Tavist (clemastine).
- Claritin (loratadine): does NOT tend to cause drowsiness or affect learning in children.
- Prescription: Allegra (fexofenadine), and Zyrtec (cetirizine). Nasal spray called Astelin (azelastine).
- Over-the-counter (OTC): Short-acting, often relieves mild to moderate symptoms, but can cause drowsiness and may affect learning in children.
- Nalcrom (Cromoglycate): administered mostly as eyedrops or nasal sprays to help prevent attacks.
- Allergy shots:
When avoidance, environmental control and medications fail to control allergy symptoms, allergy immunotherapy ("allergy shots") may be used. It involves multiple injections of allergen extracts solution, given one to five times a week, with the strength gradually increasing. When the maximum dose is reached, maintenance injections are given at increasing intervals until the patient receives injections only once a month. It may take up to six months or so to show results and about three to four years to be free of symptoms.
*Treatment of skin allergies.