The prevalence of allergies is increasing. According to the Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC), in 2012 approximately 25% of the Spanish adult population was allergic. But each year this percentage increases by 2%. It is estimated that in 2050 half of Spaniards will suffer from an allergy.

 

What is allergy?

 

Allergy is an exaggerated response of the immune system against substances that it recognizes as harmful and are called allergens. Its most common respiratory manifestation is allergic rhinitis, and in the most severe cases, asthma.

 

How is it diagnosed?

 

The diagnosis of an allergy has to be made by an allergist. The most used tests are:
-Laboratory tests: It is analytical that serves to confirm the diagnosis and quantifies the degree of sensitization. With it, the presence of antibodies is detected.
-Prick Test or skin test: It is used to determine which allergens can cause an allergic reaction. To do it, the allergist injects a little synthesized allergen into the skin of the forearm and after about 15 minutes the reaction produced is analyzed. If an allergic skin reaction occurs then the result is positive.
-Patch test or patch test: It is used to investigate certain allergic skin diseases.
-Provocation tests: It consists of administering a food or medicine under medical supervision.

 

Major allergies with 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: It is the most serious consequence, but fortunately the least frequent, and that 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 before which you doubt whether or not they contain the food or ingredient that causes the allergy. Also 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 inside or outside the house, we must avoid contact with the food or ingredient to which we are allergic, eliminating it completely 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 e foods that should not be eaten in canteens, hospitals...

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 in 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 occurs when ingesting the drug or having contact with it, in the case of an ointment or cream. Anyone who has an allergy to a medicine must always report it and should avoid taking or applying it. The most common reaction of this allergy is hives, although this is not always the case. Digestive, respiratory effects or even anaphylactic reaction may occur in the most severe 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 a handkerchief while we clean so as not to breathe the dust that rises. The cloth that we use is advisable to be damp.
-Change or wash the filters of the air conditioners about four times a year.
-Do not have objects that can trap dust at home, mainly in the bedroom (carpets, rugs, upholstery, books...)
-The mattress and pillow cover must be anti-mite.
-At least once a week you have to wash the sheets and blankets with water at more than 50º
-Avoid humidity at home.

 

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:
-You have to watch the state of the leaves and the soil.
-Check that there is no putrefaction or fungus formation.
In the bathroom:
-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.
-You also have to take special care with the toilet and sink, since they can appear anywhere with humidity.
-Make a frequent change of bathrobes and towels, preventing them from getting wet for a long time after use.
Air conditioning: Filters must be changed or washed, letting them air dry frequently
Kitchen:
-Frequently clean the refrigerator and monitor the washer and dishwasher rubbers, since many fungi usually appear on them.
-The cloths and cloths that we usually use to clean should be washed frequently, avoiding leaving them wet.
-In addition, you have to take out the garbage every day.
-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.

 

Pollen allergy

 

Pollens are microscopic grains found on plant flowers. When the air blows, in certain plants called anemophilous, this pollen is shed and is transported by the air to carry out pollination. This pollen can be inhaled by people, being the culprit of this type of respiratory allergy.

 

The typical symptoms of this type of allergy are itchy eyes, allergic rhinitis (stuffy, runny nose and sneezing) and asthma in the most severe cases.

 

Although the amount of pollen that exists in the environment depends on the climatic conditions that occur, the times of maximum pollination in Spain are the following:

According to the Spanish Aerobiology Network, the distribution of pollens in Spain is as follows:

 

To reduce allergy symptoms in times of maximum pollination, it is recommended that you follow the following tips: -Use humidifiers and air conditioning devices with anti-pollen filters. -In the hours with the highest concentration of pollen (between 10 and 7 in the morning and 10 and XNUMX in the afternoon) and on days with a lot of wind, avoid doing outdoor activities, do not open the windows of the house and try to stay indoors. -When traveling by car, close the windows. -In the street, wear sunglasses to avoid contact of pollen with the eyes. -Pollen usually accumulates on clothes and hair, so it is recommended that you shower and change your clothes when you get home. When you wash these clothes, do not store them on the street since pollen can adhere to them. -Avoid carrying out activities such as mowing the lawn, sweeping the terrace... because pollen can be removed. -Do not sleep near trees or plants.

 

animal allergies

 

The main cause of the allergy is the dander that animals give off, in addition to the flakes of their skin when it is renewed.

 

The animals that most frequently produce allergies are cats, dogs and horses, although any animal with fur or feathers can cause it.

 

When the allergic person breathes the particles of dander and skin, the typical symptoms appear:
-Itchy nose and eyes.
-Nasal congestion.
-Tearing
-Feeling of suffocation.
-Respiratory noises.

 

If, on the contrary, there is contact with the dander, hair, saliva, urine and/or feces of the animal, it can cause itching, hives or swelling in the contact area or eyelids.

 

If a rodent bite occurs, when the allergen passes into the blood, anaphylactic shock can occur.

 

In the case of domestic animals, in which there is continuous contact with the animal, the bronchi become progressively inflamed, giving rise to episodes of asthma.

 

The best thing to avoid this type of allergy is not to have close to the kind of animals that cause the allergic reaction. If this is not possible it is advisable:
- Always wash your hands after touching the animal.
-Keep him from entering the bedroom
-Frequently wash the animal and its toys.
-Ventilate and clean with vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters the house frequently.

How to live with allergies?

 

allergy at work

 

There are more than 300 substances that can cause allergies in the workplace, giving rise to occupational allergies.

 

Its manifestations are respiratory and cutaneous. The most frequent are:
-Occupational asthma
-Rhinitis
-Contact dermatitis

 

In the face of this type of allergy, it is essential to prevent it by taking the necessary measures to reduce exposure to allergens. In the presence of symptoms, it is essential that a specialist make the diagnosis to apply the precise treatment. Sometimes it may be convenient to change jobs to avoid exposure to the allergen.

 

allergies at school

 

In Europe a quarter of children have allergies.

 

The school must have all the information regarding diagnosis, treatment and what to do in an emergency. This must be managed by the parents.

 

If the child suffers from asthma, the following must be taken into account:

 

The first symptoms of a crisis are:

Cough

Whistling when breathing.

Difficulty breathing.

The lips and nails turn bluish.

If he suffers an asthmatic crisis, the child must be reassured and given the prescribed rescue medication.

An asthmatic child always has to carry his rescue medication with him.

In the case of allergy to pollen, the biggest problem is that an asthmatic crisis occurs in which it will be necessary to act as explained in the previous point.

If an insect bite causes difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, stomach problems... it is a good idea to call 012 or take them to the center's medical service. If there is a diagnosis of this type of allergy and an adrenaline regimen will be administered.

Food allergies are the first cause of anaphylaxis in children between 0 and 14 years of age. Symptoms can be skin, respiratory and/or digestive. Symptoms usually appear within 30-60 minutes of ingestion. In cases of severe reaction, the indications prescribed by the doctor should be followed.

travel with allergy

It is essential that all allergic people who travel carry the medication prescribed by their doctor.

In the case of suffering from pollen allergy, it is advisable to assess the area to which you are going to travel and know the existing pollen levels.

A patient with a respiratory allergy must always carry an updated medical report of the pathologies they suffer from and the treatment regimen, mask, sunglasses and prescribed medication.