Pollen
While most people celebrate the start of warmer weather, those susceptible to seasonal allergic rhinitis (hayfever) will be bracing themselves for flare-ups, as rising temperatures trigger grasses, trees and weeds to release pollen for fertilization.
If you have an over-alert immune system, it will mistake these for foreign invaders and release antibodies. When these attack the allergens, histamine is released into your blood, causing the mucous membrane lining your nasal passages to swell, your nose to run and eyes to water – leaving you sneezing, wheezing, coughing, tired and irritable.
Pollen is only one of many allergens causing such reactions – and allergies are on the rise globally, with 40% of sufferers children, notes the Allergy Foundation South Africa (AFSA). While there is no cure, you can learn to manage them.
Take steps to manage a pollen allergy
Check pollen counts, says Cape Town allergologist and paediatrician Dr Candice Royal; try to keep indoors from 05h00 to 10h00 and in the evenings, when pollen counts are higher, and on hot, dry windy days. Wearing your Covid-19 mask should help alleviate symptoms.
Dust mites and moulds
Mites are minute creatures that breed in warm, humid places and feed off the flakes of dead skin we shed and are found even in clean homes and often trigger allergies. Moulds are fungi that flourish where it’s damp, and produce reproductive spores which can cause allergies.
What to do for a dust mite or mould allergy
Get rid of curtains, blinds, carpets, down-filled pillows and upholstered furniture, and embrace a simple, clean, streamlined aesthetic. Regularly wipe down hard surfaces with a damp cloth and get zippered dust-proof, hypoallergenic covers for your mattress and pillows. If you can, invest in a dehumidifier, and a vacuum cleaner or air conditioner with a high-efficiency particulate air filter. To prevent mould, have leaks fixed immediately, empty fridge drip pans often, keep gutters cleaned and see that all drainage runs away from your foundations.
Do you have a pet allergy?
Allergies to cats and dogs are triggered by proteins in pet dander (the dead skin cells they shed on clothing, furniture and carpets), and in their saliva and urine.
What can you do if you have a pet allergy?
"Sadly, if you have a confirmed pet allergy, it’s best you don’t keep pets", says Royal. And if visiting homes with pets, warn their owners, to minimize contact and prevent hard feelings. Speak to your doctor about antihistamines that you can carry for relief after unexpected encounters.
A medication allergy
Drug allergies can cause particularly severe reactions, including anaphylaxis, where you may have difficulty breathing, a drop in blood pressure, chest pain and loss of consciousness. The most common culprits are antibiotics such as penicillin; non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, including aspirin and ibuprofen; and anticonvulsants.
What to do if you are allergic to medication
It’s important that you see a healthcare professional to confirm a suspected drug allergy, as these can be dangerous, says Royal. Always tell your health professional and pharmacist about your allergies, and take only what they recommend.
A food allergy
Any food can be a trigger. If you have an allergic reaction, see your health care provider or an allergy specialist, so they can take a family history and personal history and run tests. Avoiding foods on an unsubstantiated suspicion can unnecessarily deprive you of important nutrients. The AFSA reports that food allergy occurs in about 2.5% of children aged 1-3 and is often outgrown.
The most common food allergies
Milk and dairy products
Some 2-3% of children are allergic, but studies suggest 80% will outgrow it by age 16.
Eggs
In a study by Royal’s colleague, Cape Town paediatric allergologist Professor Claudia Gray, 72% of egg-allergic children were found to have outgrown their allergy after five years.
Peanuts
Peanut allergies are among the most common food allergies linked to anaphylaxis. The same Gray study found 16% of peanut-allergic children outgrow their allergies after five years.
Fish and shellfish
These allergies tend to begin in adolescence or adulthood rather than childhood, and crustaceans are the most common problem. The good news is an allergy to shellfish doesn’t necessarily mean you need to avoid fish.
Also read: Is it an allergy or a virus?
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