Allergy Symptoms and Treatments

Allergies are caused because the immune system reacts in a hypersensitive way to substances that are normally harmless in nature. These substances are called allergens and may be swallowed, inhaled or they can come in contact with one's skin. Allergic reactions are predictable, acquired and rapid. Some common allergies include allergies caused by food, hives, asthma, hay fever, eczema and reactions caused by the sting of insects such as wasps and bees. If allergy treatments are not administered, these reactions may develop to such an extent that they may even cause death.

Allergy symptoms are categorized as mild, moderate, or severe reactions. Mild symptoms include rashes, itchiness, watery eyes and congestion. These reactions do not usually spread. Moderate symptoms include itchiness and difficulty in breathing. Severe symptoms are called Anaphylaxis. These are rare and life-threatening emergencies. The body responds to the allergens very suddenly and these allergens do affect the entire body. Symptoms usually begin with itchiness of the eyes or face and later spread to the other parts of the body. Within a few minutes, mild or moderate symptoms could progress to a more serious condition with symptoms including swellings that make breathing as well as swallowing difficult; and they can even cause abdominal pain, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea and dizziness or mental confusion.

There are three general allergy treatments. One is to avoid the allergen, second is to take medication in order to relieve symptoms and the third of the allergy treatments is to take allergy shots.

Avoidance includes wearing pollen masks, staying indoors when pollen grains, which are the most common allergens, are abundant in the air, reading food labels carefully, avoiding dander-producing animals into the house, using cotton pillow and bedding and washing them regularly and removing carpets and other upholstery covered furniture. You should use air filters, dehumidifiers and cleaning agents containing acaricide or a tannic acid.

When complete avoidance is not possible, medication is required in the form of allergy treatments. Common medications are decongestants, which clear nasal passages, antihistamines, which stop the action of histamines and cromoglycate, usually contained in eye drops or nasal sprays.

Immunotherapy is also another form of allergy treatments which is taken when even medication cannot control allergic reactions. Immunotherapy desensitizes people with the help of injections that contain allergen extracts. This procedure takes months to show results and it will take three to four years before a patient can be free of symptoms.

Allergy symptoms are plenty and need to be observed carefully as most of them are often passed off as something of less importance. It is important for one to get allergy treatments soon, as symptoms begin to show from mild to severe levels due to negligence. Once this happens, treatment is difficult; and it will take longer to show effects and could take even longer for symptoms to stop.