Types of Allergy & Their Treatments

Allergy is defined as a disorder of the immune system often also referred to as atopy. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen.

Symptoms of Allergy : Allergy symptoms can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe.

Mild allergy symptoms include :

• Rash
• Itchy, watery eyes

Moderate allergic symptoms include :

• Itchiness
• Difficulty breathing

Severe Allergy Symptoms include :

• Varying degrees of swellings that can make breathing and swallowing difficult
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting

Different types of allergies & their treatment :

a) Food Allergy : A food allergy is an abnormal response to a food triggered by the body's immune system. vThese allergic reactions can cause serious illness and, in some cases, death.

Food allergy affects up to 6 to 8 percent of children under the age of three, and 2 percent of adults. Approximately 30,000 people require emergency room treatment and 150 Americans die each year because of allergic reactions to food.

To protect yourself from food allergy :

• Beware of foods that trigger your food allergy symptoms.
• Learn to read food labels carefully.
• If you experience symptoms of a food allergy, avoid any further contact with that food item, rinse your mouth, and see a doctor.

b) Smoke Allergy : Smoke allergy is caused by the numerous toxic chemicals and irritants found in cigarette smoke. Smoking does not just harm smokers but also those around them.

Common smoke allergy symptoms may include: burning or watery eyes, nasal congestion, or coughing.

To protect yourself from smoke allergy :

• Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke
• Bronchodilators for asthma symptoms

c) Cockroach allergy : Certain proteins found in cockroach saliva and feces contain the allergens that cause cockroach allergy. The proteins found in cockroach saliva are allergenic, but the bodies and droppings of cockroaches also contain allergenic proteins.

To protect yourself from Cockroach allergy :

• Keep food and garbage in closed, tight-lidded containers. Never leave food out in the kitchen.
• Do not leave out pet food or dirty food bowls.
• Eliminate water sources that attract these pests, such as leaky faucets and drain pipes.
• Mop the kitchen floor and wash countertops at least once a week.

d) Dust Allergy : Dust may contain molds, fibers, and dander from dogs, cats, and other animals, as well as tiny dust mites. Dust mites are relatives of the spider and live on mattresses, bedding, upholstered furniture, carpets, and curtains.

To protect yourself from dust allergy :

• Wash all bedding and blankets once a week in hot water.
• Replace wool or feathered bedding with synthetic materials and traditional stuffed animals with washable ones.
• If possible, replace wall-to-wall carpets in bedrooms with bare floors (linoleum, tile, or wood) and remove fabric curtains and upholstered furniture.

e) Pollen Allergy : Pollen allergy is a type of seasonal allergic rhinitis that typically occurs in the spring, summer, and fall when pollen grains are released from trees, weeds, and grasses.

To protect yourself from pollen allergy :

• Avoiding the things that cause your pollen allergy symptoms
• Using medicines

f) Latex Allergy : The term "latex" refers to natural rubber latex. A latex allergy is caused by natural rubber latex manufactured from a milky fluid derived from the rubber tree. Symptoms of an allergy to this substance may include skin rash, hives, flushing, and itching.

To protect yourself from latex allergy :

• Use nonlatex gloves for activities that are not likely to involve contact with infectious materials.
• When wearing latex gloves, do not use oil-based hand creams or lotions.
• After removing latex gloves, wash hands with a mild soap and dry thoroughly.
• Learn to recognize the symptoms of latex allergy: skin rash, itching,nasal, eye, asthma and (rarely) shock.

g) Mold Allergy : Molds are made of many cells that grow as branching threads called hyphae. Although both can probably cause allergic reactions, only a small number of molds are widely recognized causes mold allergy.

To protect yourself from mold allergy :

• Using a dehumidifier or air conditioner to maintain relative humidity below 50 percent and keep temperatures cool.
• When first turning on home or car air conditioners, leaving the room or driving with the windows open for several minutes to allow mold spores to disperse.
• Removing decaying debris from the yard, roof, and gutters.

Author works for OMICS Publishing Group, which is built upon the principles of open access journals and is determined to provide free and unrestricted access of research articles to scientists around the world for the advancement of science and technology.

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