Allergies With Possible Respiratory Symptoms I
Food allergies, drug allergies, or typical household allergies can lead to respiratory symptoms. Food allergies When our immune system produces a response
Food allergies, drug allergies, or typical household allergies can lead to respiratory symptoms.
Food allergies
When our immune system produces an altered response to the ingestion, contact or inhalation of a food, component/ingredient or trace of a food, we will be facing a case of food allergy.
The allergens in this case are some of the proteins that make up these foods, not the food itself.
When a food that causes an allergic reaction is ingested, symptoms will appear between 30 and 60 minutes after ingestion.
The severity of the symptoms will depend on factors such as:
• The amount ingested.
• The sensitivity of the allergic person.
• The reactivity of the affected organ.
The symptoms that may appear are:
• Cutaneous: Dermatitis, hives, itching, redness, inflammation of the lips, mouth, tongue, face and/or throat. They are the most frequent.
• Digestive: Nausea, vomiting, colic...
• Respiratory: Allergic rhinitis, respiratory distress, wheezing.
• Anaphylaxis: This is the most serious consequence, but fortunately the least frequent, and which we will deal with more fully at another time.
Some advice to follow in the case of this type of allergies are the following:
• Do not buy those products that are in doubt as to whether or not they contain the food or ingredient that causes the allergy. Likewise if it says that it may contain traces of it.
• In the kitchen hygiene and care is paramount. It is recommended that the allergy sufferer's food be stored hermetically and separately from that of the rest of the family, that the utensils used for cooking are exclusively for him and that the allergy sufferer's food be prepared first.
• Whether we eat at home or outside, we must avoid contact with the food or ingredient to which we are allergic, completely eliminating it from the diet. If it is not known with certainty whether a food contains the allergen, it should not be consumed and it is advisable to always inform of foods that should not be eaten in canteens, hospitals, etc.
Finally, know that food intolerance is not the same as allergy. We have intolerance when our body finds it difficult to digest, assimilate or take advantage of the substances of a food due to digestive or metabolic alterations. But at no time does that immune response typical of allergy occur.
Allergies to medications
This type of allergy affects approximately 5% of the population and is produced by ingesting the drug or by having contact with it, in the case of an ointment or cream. Any person who has an allergy to a medication must always report it and must avoid taking or applying it.
The most common reaction to this allergy is hives, although this is not always the case. Digestive, respiratory effects or even anaphylactic reaction can occur in the most serious cases.
Typical household allergies
dust allergy
Dust allergies are caused by the mites found in it. Mites are insects that live around us and are found in household dust. They feed mainly on the skin flakes of the people they live with and usually develop in conditions of temperatures between 25 and 30o C and high humidity. We can find them in mattresses, cushions and sofas.
The symptoms that this allergy usually produces are rhinitis and asthma.
To combat mites we have to:
• Clean with a vacuum cleaner with an anti-mite filter instead of sweeping.
• Protect our mouth and nose with a mask or handkerchief while we clean so as not to breathe in the dust that is raised. The cloth that we use is advisable to be damp.
• Change or wash the air conditioning filters about four times a year.
• Do not have objects that can trap dust at home, mainly in the bedroom (rugs, rugs, upholstery, books...)
• The mattress and pillow cover must be anti-mite.
• At least once a week, sheets and blankets must be washed with water at more than 50oC.
• Avoid humidity in the house.
Allergy to humidity
Talking about allergies to moisture means talking about allergies to mold.
Mold appears in conditions of high humidity. At home they can appear in:
• The plants:
o You have to watch the state of the leaves and the soil.
o Check that there is no putrefaction or fungus formation.
• In the bathroom:
o Once we have finished showering or bathing, we must dry the walls and the screen and/or curtains well to avoid the appearance of fungi.
o Special care must also be taken with the toilet and sink, since they can appear anywhere with humidity.
o Make a frequent change of bathrobes and towels avoiding that they stay wet for a long time after use.
• Air conditioning: the filters must be changed or washed by letting them air dry frequently.
• Kitchen:
o Frequently clean the refrigerator and monitor the washer and dishwasher rubbers, since many fungi usually appear on them.
o The cloths and cloths that we usually use to clean should be washed frequently, avoiding leaving them wet.
o In addition, the garbage must be taken out every day.
o Do not leave fresh food out of the fridge for a long time.
The symptoms produced by this allergy are rhinoconjunctivitis, that is, itchy eyes and nose, congestion and runny nose, eye redness and tearing.
Latex allergy
Latex is a material widely used for the manufacture of many products.
The symptoms caused by your allergy usually manifest as dermatitis. They can also cause rhinoconjunctivitis, angioedema, asthma, and even anaphylactic shock.
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