Allergies refer to a hypersensitive reaction to a certain substance. You may be allergic to foods, certain metals, pollen or even certain medications. Your body reacts to these substances as if they are something foreign and starts to develop a severe immune response. Some general allergy symptoms include red rashes, itching and watery eyes. Contact dermatitis, a food allergy and allergic rhintis are all types of allergy diseases.
Contact Dermatitis
MedlinePlus says that contact dermatitis refers to an inflammation that occurs when your skin encounters a certain allergen. For example, you may be allergic to certain soaps, detergents or metals. Poison ivy, poison oak, latex, rubber and certain adhesives or perfumes are other common substances to which you can be allergic.
MedlinePlus says that contact dermatitis symptoms include itching, skin redness, skin warmth or swelling and oozing or draining at the contact site. Treatment involves washing the affected area thoroughly with unscented soap. Simply avoiding the allergen can relieve contact dermatitis. Sometimes your doctor may suggest you use corticosteroid ointments or creams and anti-itching creams to soothe your symptoms.
Food Allergy
The Mayo Clinic says that a food allergy affects six to eight percent of children less than three years old and four percent of adults. The Mayo Clinic says that allergy symptoms include tingling of your mouth, hives, lip or throat swelling and trouble breathing. Food allergies also cause dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting. Severe food allergies lead to a potentially life-threatening emergency called an anaphylactic reaction. Here you will develop sudden constriction of your airways, rapid pulse, dizziness and extremely low blood pressure (hypotension).
A wide variety of foods can be allergens. They include, but are not limited to, apples, bananas, tomatoes, peanuts and pears. Over-the-counter antihistamines are available when you have a minor food allergy. An anapylactic response may call for an epinephrine injection, which should be carried with you at all times. Epinephrine will dilate your blood vessels and allow you to breath.
Allergic Rhinitis
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAI) says that allergic rhinitis is a condition in which your body adversely reacts to environmental allergens such as grass, trees or weed pollen. You may also be allergic to cockroach droppings or dust mites.
The AAAI says that manifestations of allergic rhinitis include sneezing, a runny nose, tearing of your eyes and sinus or ear problems. Treatment involves taking antihistamines in pill or nasal spray form. These antihistamines block the histamine in your body that causes your allergic symptoms. Decongestant medications and allergy shots are other available treatment options available to treat allergic rhinitis.
