Monthly Archives: March 2015

Hives – The Red Itchy Bumps On Skin

Medically hives are known as Urticaria. Hives are raised rashes on the skin. They are red in color and appear suddenly. These rashes are formed when blood vessels beneath the skin release small amount of fluid. Hives or Urticaria can be further divided in two categories, Acute and Chronic. Both are described below:

Acute Urticaria: If hives lasts for less than six weeks, it is called acute urticaria. When a person comes in contact with an allergen, acute urticaria can develop within minutes. This type of hives can suddenly appear and then disappear in less than 24 hours.

Chronic Urticaria: Hives that last for more than six weeks are called chronic urticaria. It is a rare kind of hives and skin allergy. Chronic urticaria is a severe form of allergy and can last for months and even years.

Diagnosis and Causes of hives

Skin allergy clinics diagnose urticaria by conducting blood and skin test. Hives are caused due to variety of reason like:

Drugs: Any medication can cause hives, there are no exceptions. For example, antibiotic like penicillin, anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, iodide and anesthetics can induce allergic reactions. These allergic reactions will then result is hives.

Sunlight: When skin is exposed to sunlight, it might cause hives. However, in most cases this kind of hive disappears as soon as exposure to sun ends.

Water: It occurs when skin comes in contact with water. Chemicals and other substances present in the water can cause such reactions.

Food: Some common food items that can cause these reactions are egg, nuts, fish, milk, chocolate tomato and nuts etc.

Viral infection: Common cold and hepatitis can also cause hives.

What is the treatment available for Hives?

Avoiding triggers is of paramount importance. Hives are treated by giving antihistamines and steroids. First antihistamines are given. If antihistamines are unable to contain the allergic reactions, than steroids are used. Steroids are given only in severe cases.

As mentioned above hives can be severely painful and disturbs the life of an individual. You should immediately go to your nearest hives and skin allergy clinical center as soon as its symptoms begin to appear. This is especially important for someone suffering from chronic urticaria, as its treatment can take months.

Recognizing and Treating Food Allergies

Adverse reaction by our immune system caused due to consumption of a particular food item can be called food allergy. Sometimes allergy can be hereditary.

Symptoms and diagnosis of food allergy

Like any other allergy, food allergy is also quite subjective. It will vary from person to person and from substance to substance. For people who are allergic to a particular substance, even a small amount could react.

Some common symptoms of food allergies are:

Rashes and hives
Nausea
Short breath
Coughing
Vomiting
Pain in abdominal area
Swelling of face
Itching of skin

In extreme cases food allergy can cause fainting and even death. Anaphylaxis is a severe form of allergy which causes problems in blood circulation and respiratory tract. Some common food items that can cause allergic reactions are egg, milk, seafood, fruits and vegetables etc.

Diagnosing food allergies

The food item that causes adverse reaction every time you eat it is the main culprit. Though age is no bar for 1`getting allergies, children are more susceptible to food allergies. Cross reactivity can also happen, this means a person allergic to a particular food item, for example egg, will also give allergic reactions when he or she consumes any other food made up of egg. Two types of test are conducted by food allergy clinics:

Blood test: Amount of IgE antibody is measure for particular food item. Results are not as accurate as skin test.

Skin test: Food allergen is injected in the skin. If the skin reacts to the allergen than it means the test is positive.

Treatment of food allergy

First thing that one can do is avoid that particular food item. Allergy can also be caused by touching, so avoid coming in contact with that allergen. Symptoms of allergy can be controlled by giving antihistamine. Giving antihistamine is not a cure but it provides relief to the patient by calming down histamine. It can be given in three forms – gels or lotions, sprays and capsules. Steroids can also be given to settle down the agitated immune system. But before you try any of these yourself, do consult allergy clinic to know the administration and the appropriate form. Because these all are chemicals, it is necessary that you only take one which suits you and doesn’t cause any other chain reaction.

Whenever symptoms of food allergy are discovered, immediately go to your nearby food allergy clinical center. They will diagnose the root cause of the problem and start treatment. These clinical centers will also help you in managing the allergy.

Do You Have Drug Allergy? Do You Know What it Is?

In simple terms, any adverse reaction due to medicine can be termed as drug allergy. Body can react to any foreign substance, but in these cases drugs are solely responsible for causing allergic reactions. When immune system reacts to these drugs, symptoms of allergies may appear. Remember, drug allergies are different from drug overdose.

Drug Allergy Symptoms

Symptoms of drug allergy depend on the severity of the problem. In some cases, allergy can affect more than one organ. Some common symptoms are:

Fever
Skin rash and itching
Increase in heartbeat and pulse rate
Breathing becomes difficult
Anxiety
Swelling of lips and tongues
In severe cases some people might suffer from loss of consciousness
Vomiting and pain in abdominal area

Diagnosis and Treatment of Drug Allergies

Diagnosing drug allergy

Some drugs responsible for allergies are penicillin, insulin, other antibiotics, anticonvulsants and iodine etc. Drug allergy is diagnosed by doing skin test or by stopping any particular drug. If by stopping the drug use symptoms also stops than it means that particular drug is responsible for causing allergic reactions.

Treating drug allergies

For treatment, doctor in drug allergy clinic will stop giving you the allergy inducing medicine. Instead they will give you antihistamines for controlling itching and hives. Some allergies can cause Asthma. In case of allergic Asthma, albuterol is given for reducing symptoms like chest tightness, fever and shortness of breath. Some medication is also given through injections.

For anyone suffering from drug allergy, it is very important that before starting any treatment, he or she should inform the doctor about his medical condition. They will give you alternative antibiotics. Desensitization is done by giving small amount of antibiotics in the initial stage of treatment. Gradually the quantity is increased so that immune system can deal with it without having any adverse reaction. Overdose of allergy causing drugs can be lethal.

Allergies can be potentially life threatening. If you have any symptom, go to the nearest drug allergy clinical center immediately. For someone with more than one allergy, he or she should stop exposing themselves to that antibiotic or any other allergy causing substance. Call the doctor or emergency services before things get out of control.

Treating Asthma

The fact is that Asthma cannot really be cured. Asthma treatment means controlling the disease so that one can live normal life. Treatment is given based on things like age and triggers of the patient. Two types of treatments are given, one for giving some quick relief for preventing Asthma attack and second for long term control of the disease.

What Asthma Treatment Medicines Will Do?

Asthma is treated by giving medicines in the form of pills or in the form of inhalers. Thanks to inhalers, medicine can be directly inserted in the patient’s lung. However, based on symptoms different inhalers are given to different patients. Treatments offered at Asthma clinic will do the following things.

More controlled breathing and better sleep

Asthma patients suffer from shortness of breath and excess coughing. Medication will reduce both of them. Quick relief inhalers are used for decreasing swelling in the airways so that air flow can get normal. It will help you in getting healthy sleep.

Long term medication

Long term medicines do not give any short term relief. These medicines reduce inflammation and swelling of the airways. Frequency of these medicines is based upon the severity of Asthma. In some cases side effect like infection in the mouth may occur. Some patients also report weak bones after using these medicines for a very long period. Taking vitamin is an easy solution. Along with pills and inhaler, injections are also used for treating asthma.

Know Your Trigger

Knowing the trigger is extremely important. It is the key for preventing Asthma attack. Asthma patients should avoid things that can trigger Asthma attack at all cost. It is extremely important part of the treatment. You have to work with your doctor for understanding your triggers. Allergy shots are also given in case of specific allergies. Making changes in the way we work and go on with our daily is necessary.

Use devices that can tell you about air flow in and out of your lungs. This is for measuring how well your lungs are functioning. Sometimes medicine needs to be taken based on these readings.

Since Asthma is a disease that can last for years. Go to Asthma clinical center as soon as its symptoms are discovered.

Seasonal Allergies – Things You Need To Know

Seasonal allergies, name says it all. Seasonal allergies occur at a specific time every year normally when change in weather takes place. They are also called “hay fever”. Seasonal allergies are caused when pollen particles are released in the air by trees, weeds and grasses. Mold spores can also cause season allergies.

Allergy is caused when body reacts to a usually harmless substance in an overblown manner. It releases chemicals as a reaction. These chemicals are the main reason behind coughing, sneezing etc.

Seasonal allergy symptoms and Diagnosis

Constant sneezing, coughing, itchy, runny and congested nose, itchy throat are some of the symptoms of seasonal allergies.

Diagnosis

For diagnosing allergy, an allergen is injected in the skin. After few minutes if the skin becomes reddish than the test is positive. However, other symptoms should also be taken into consideration before (allergy treatment) is given.

Taking guard against seasonal allergies

Treatment of seasonal allergies

Antihistamine and decongestants are given for allergy treatment. Oral antihistamine relieves watery eyes, sneezing and itchy nose. Decongestants are for short-term relief. Nasal spray are used if the allergy is just getting started. Children’s are given allergy shots.

Stay indoors

If possible try to stay indoors during windy days. You can get information on pollen counts from TV or internet. High pollen count and windy day is perfect situation for seasonal allergies. For an allergic person, it is important that he or she should start taking medications. Keep doors and windows closed. Stay away from places like lawns and gardens. If you still have to get out, wear a mask for keeping yourself safe.

Take care of your clothes and skin

After getting inside your home change your clothes immediately. Also clean your skin and hairs. Don’t hang clothes outside the house. These precautions are important because pollens can stick to clothes, skin and hairs.

Clean indoors means less seasonal allergies

Use filters and air conditioners for keeping the inside air clean. Dehumidifier should be used for drying the air inside the house. Keep the floors and walls clean.

Take proper precautions against season allergies. Still if allergic reaction is occurring go to allergy to the nearby allergy clinical center immediately.