Allergies are usually hereditary, which means the genes can be passed down from parents to offspring. However, even if both parents have an allergy does not guarantee that their offspring will too. Nevertheless, it is likely for offspring to inherit the allergy if parents have the gene. Allergies are considered to be the immune system response to a substance. The substances can include food, medicines, clothing, and more. According to KidsHealth, about 50 million children in the US have an allergy. Furthermore, around 2 million school days are missed due to allergies. Symptoms of allergies can vary, it can be life-threatening or can be cured by medicine.
How do allergies happen?
An allergic reaction will happen when the immune system reacts to an allergen. Just like if you got a virus or bacteria in your body, the immune system will try to fight off the allergen. The first step to fighting off the allergen, the immune system will produce antibodies called immunoglobulin E. The immunoglobulin E role is to release chemicals from specific cells into the bloodstream. An allergic reaction is the result of the release of these chemicals into the bloodstream. The result can be shown on the skin, eyes, nose, and whole body. There are different types of allergies, some are seasonal, and some can happen anytime.
What are some examples that can cause an allergic reaction?
The majority of allergies are airborne: dust mites, pollen, molds, pets, and cockroaches. Dust mites are tiny insects that eat the dead skin cells on our bodies, they are present all year and are the main component of house mites. A pollen allergy is often referred to as hay fever or rose fever. Plants, trees, and grasses release pollen into the atmosphere, they are seasonal. Molds are fungi that can be found anywhere in a warm and moist environment. Tiny flakes and salvia cause a pet allergy, it can stick to clothing and furniture. According to KidsHealth, 8% of children living in the US experienced a food allergy. Most are allergic to the protein in cow’s milk, and milk allergies do go away as you get older. Milk allergies are not the same as lactose intolerance, as lactose intolerance cannot digest the sugar found in milk. Egg allergies are also outgrown once you get older because they contain secret ingredients. Nut allergies are the most common and most fatal of all. There are various nuts that someone can be allergic to, and most do not outgrow the allergy. Redness and itching can be signs of being allergic to an insect, with insect venom allergy can lead to death. Cross-reactions are normal; it means that you can have an allergic reaction to eating something that has a similar component to something you are allergic to.
What are the symptoms?
Mild symptoms can include but are not limited to pink eyes, itchiness, stuffy nose, sore throat, and vomiting. More severe symptoms can include death and anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can happen anytime after being exposed to the allergy and is a life-threatening allergic reaction. Allergic rhinitis is fully developed by age 10, reaches its peaks in the twenties, and disappears as you get older. The symptoms of allergic rhinitis are similar to a cold, sneezing, an itchy nose, stuffy nose, and coughing. Allergic conjunctivitis is diagnosed when you have dark circles around your eyes; these symptoms can include red, itchy, and watery eyes. If you have food, medicines, or insect allergy, your symptoms can include hives, diarrhea, breathing issues, stomachache, and a sudden drop in blood pressure.
How to help with allergies?
Unfortunately, allergies can not be cured, but the symptoms you experienced can be controlled and reduced. An epinephrine auto-injector is issued to patients with anaphylaxis in case of an emergency. It can reduce swelling and lower blood pressure. Prescribed and over-the-counter medication can treat allergy symptoms. Asthma medications are used to treat breathing symptoms, including inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled steroids. The best-case scenario is avoiding the allergy and trying to protect yourself. It can include getting allergy shots, but the shots are only affected for airborne allergies.
Written by: Amber Truong
Sources
Allergies: Types, Symptoms, Causes & Treatments. (2020, November 30). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8610-allergy-overview
Smallwood, J. (2016, October). All About Allergies (for Parents) - Nemours Kidshealth. KidsHealth. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/allergy.html#:%7E:text=Who%20Gets%20Allergies%3F,kids%20will%20definitely%20get%20them.
Comments