Understanding the Common Allergy Symptoms Articles | Allergies

Allergy is something which all of us have experienced at some point of time or the other, especially those seasonal allergic reactions like runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, which occur with common allergens in the air like pollen or ragweed. While these symptoms are irritating, they can be brought under control easily and do not cause any serious harm to your health.

The serious forms of allergic reactions, especially those caused by certain foods, can cause chest congestion and severe difficulty in breathing. In rare situations, these reactions can block the air passage and can even cause death. Because of the seriousness of the problems, it is wise to know more about allergies so that you could treat them at the right time and prevent them from affecting your health.

Essentially, allergic reactions can fall under three categories: mild, moderate and severe.

Mild allergic reactions remain limited to the areas affected and do not spread to various parts of the body. These include:

• Rash.

• Itchy or watery eyes.

• Congestion.

Air borne allergens like pollen, pet dander or dust mites may be responsible for causing such mild reactions. These can be treated easily by over the counter medications or prescription drugs.

Moderate allergic reactions may rapidly spread to various parts of the body and include symptoms like:

• Itchiness.

• Difficulty in breathing.

These are treated with prescription drugs. Sudden allergic reactions can be brought under manageable control with common antimissiles which provide relief till such times that the patient can be reached to a doctor for emergency help.

The most severe form of allergic reaction, also called anaphylaxis, can be serious and even be fatal. These allergic reactions are brought about by allergens quite suddenly and without any prior intimation. It may begin with a sudden itching of the eyes or face and before minutes, can spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms include:

• Swelling of the wind pipe or breathing tubes which make both breathing and swallowing difficult.

• Abdominal pain.

• Cramps.

• Vomiting.

• Diarrhea.

• Mental confusion or dizziness.

In case you know some one who usually experiences these types of symptoms, the first thing you ought to do is to seek medical help. If you allow the patient to continue to have breathing difficulty with a congested air way, the patient is likely to collapse and die. Even after you have administered Epi-pen (the usual remedy for allergic patients is a dose of one shot of epinephrine to ease breathing), remember to take the patient to a doctor to ensure that the allergic reactions are indeed under control. Some common food allergens like a variety of nuts, seeds, eggs and some dairy products are considered to bring about such drastic reactions to allergy patients. Those who are prone to have food allergies should always remember to stay away from these particular foods to prevent any such life-threatening attacks from recurring.