| An allergy occurs, when a person becomes sensitized | | | | allergy or cure it completely. It involves injecting |
| to a particular substance, that provokes an allergic | | | | progressively increased doses, of the allergen, |
| reaction. These substances are known as allergens, | | | | identified as causing the symptoms. There have been |
| or triggers, because they trigger an overreaction by | | | | encouraging results in dealing with rhinitis and asthma. |
| the body's immune system. There are naturally | | | | Medicinal Drugs |
| occurring allergens, such as pollens, environmental | | | | Various drugs are used to counter the symptoms of |
| substances, such as chemicals, and the foods that | | | | allergy including, antihistamines, cortisone, |
| we eat, usually proteins, amongst many others. | | | | hydrocortisone, theophlene, epinephrine, and |
| There are four distinct ways in which allergens can | | | | dexamethosone. Some preparations are available |
| enter the body: | | | | over the counter, but it is always wise to find out |
| Eating - as with certain foods. | | | | from your doctor, what is suitable for your own |
| Inhalation - as with dust mites and pollen. | | | | allergy. |
| Absorption - through the skin, as with some | | | | Summary |
| chemicals and plants. | | | | It is not known precisely why some people suffer |
| Injection - some people are allergic to drugs, such as | | | | from allergies, whilst others do not. Studies suggest |
| penicillin. | | | | that there is a hereditary factor with some allergies. |
| When an allergic person encounters an allergen, for | | | | What does seem sure is that the incidence of |
| the first time, the symptoms do not occur, but the | | | | allergies is on the increase, and that it seems to have |
| immune system becomes sensitized. Think of it, as | | | | something to do with contemporary living. |
| becoming ready to resist allergens, that it mistakenly | | | | For instance, offices have become air tight, with |
| considers to be invaders, intent on doing harm to the | | | | windows that opened giving way to air conditioning. |
| body. | | | | That being said the quality of the outside air, |
| Having become hypersensitized to a particular | | | | particularly in conurbations, is questionable. On a global |
| substance, the next time the immune system | | | | basis, rain forests are being cut down, whilst motor |
| encounters a similar allergen; it automatically | | | | vehicles are increasing. Add the development of the |
| mass-produces antibodies to deal with the perceived | | | | emerging nations, and you have a recipe for industrial |
| threat. The antibodies bind with the allergens, and as | | | | soup. |
| they circulate throughout the body, they react with | | | | It has been suggested that many Chinese develop |
| other cells. Then substances, including histamine, | | | | hay fever, after moving to the United States, for |
| cause inflammation, which is a common allergy | | | | three or more years. More recently, there has been |
| symptom. Allergies vary from person to person, and | | | | much publicity about industrial pollution in Beijing, and |
| the symptoms range from something as mild as a | | | | other cities. It seems that the time may soon arrive, |
| runny nose, to anaphylaxis, which is sometimes fatal. | | | | when the good citizens of China will have their own, |
| Diagnoses and Testing | | | | home grown variety of rhinitis! Will the sweet smell |
| When it is appropriate, skin testing is preferable to | | | | of success be accompanied by allergic respiratory |
| blood testing, because it is more specific, easier to | | | | disorders - if it does it must prove something! |
| do, and costs less. However, your doctor will know | | | | Important |
| what is best suited to your condition. | | | | The content of this article is for general information |
| Treatment | | | | only, and should not be used as a substitute for the |
| Physicians, who are specialists in dealing with allergic | | | | medical advice of your doctor, or other medically |
| diseases, undergo extensive training. In the United | | | | qualified adviser. Always seek advice from your |
| States a minimum of nine years is required to qualify | | | | doctor, before deciding whether a particular product |
| as an allergist immunologist. It is reassuring to know | | | | or treatment, is suitable for your condition. |
| that very significant improvements in medical | | | | Please be aware that what suits one allergy sufferer |
| treatments have been developed by allergists. They | | | | might be inappropriate for another. You should not |
| include fast acting epinephrine tablets, low allergy | | | | act on any advice you have read, either in this article |
| foods, and advances in dealing with yellow jacket | | | | or anywhere else, without the full approval of your |
| (wasp) stings. | | | | doctor. |
| Immunotherapy | | | | The author cannot accept any liability whatsoever, |
| When immunotherapy is considered an appropriate | | | | for any consequences arising from or thought to be |
| treatment, it may either reduce the severity of an | | | | arising from using this article. |