Allergies

What are allergies?

Allergies develop when your immune system overreacts to foreign substances. The role of your immune system is to protect your body from infection. When you have allergies, your immune system produces antibodies that trigger the release of various chemicals, like histamines. When your body releases histamines, allergy symptoms can develop.

What causes allergies?

You can develop allergies to several things, including:

• Insect stings, like wasps and bees
• Foods, especially peanuts, wheat, milk, and shellfish
• Airborne particles, such as dust mites, animal dander, and pollen
• Medications, like penicillin
• Substances you touch, like latex

The risk of having allergies is higher for children, for people who have a family history of allergies or asthma, or anyone who has asthma.

What are the symptoms of allergies?

Allergies cause numerous symptoms that vary based on your trigger.  

Allergic rhinitis

If you have hay fever, also called allergic rhinitis, you typically experience a runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes or conjunctivitis, or itchy eyes, nose, or mouth.

Food allergies

Allergic reactions to food often lead to hives, tingling in your mouth, or swelling of your tongue, throat, lips, or face. 

Insect stings

These types of allergies often cause swelling at the site, hives or itching all over your body, or a cough, wheezing, or shortness of breath.

Drug allergies

When you’re allergic to certain medications, it’s common to have a rash, hives, itchy skin, facial swelling, or wheezing.

Atopic and contact dermatitis

These types of allergies affect your skin and cause symptoms like red, itchy, peeling, or bumpy skin. In some cases, your skin can crack or ooze fluid.

Extreme allergic reactions can cause anaphylaxis. This allergic response is a life-threatening emergency situation requiring immediate medical attention.

How are allergies diagnosed and treated?

To identify the cause of your allergies, Dr. Patel performs a physical exam, reviews your symptoms, and discusses your medical history. Based on your exam, he may recommend a skin or blood test to identify specific allergic reactions.

Once Dr. Patel identifies your allergic trigger, he works with you to develop a personalized treatment strategy that might include avoiding the allergy trigger, or oral medication, creams, ointments, inhalers, or eye drops to ease your symptoms

Call Premier Healthcare Associates, PC, or schedule an appointment online to learn more today.