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Allergies can be
misleading, in so far as they are not as harmless as they may seem to be, and
most often appropriate treatment is required.
Spring is coming spring is coming Birdies built their nests...
As the days slowly set in for the new season, I would stand on the fourth floor
of my university every day watching the surroundings gradually turn green. Often
reminded of the above mentioned poem, I would wear a big smile on my face,
thanking my stars that, “they have not shown up yet.” Climbing up to the same
place every day had become part of my routine to assess how much the season had
set in. On the seventh or eighth day of this drill I realized that it had all
started to change. “Oh God what am I going to do now,” I used to say to myself
in astonishment. I saw the trees turning green.
Can you guess my fear?
For many people it was just spring but for people like me who have allergy
rhinitis, it was an alarm call. Living in Islamabad for the last three years has
been a terrible experience for me and now another spring is upon us.
Every year thousands of people become allergic to different substances. An
allergy is a physiological reaction caused when the immune system recognizes and
responds to a normally harmless substance, such as pollen. When a person becomes
allergic to a substance the immune system starts behaving differently. It treats
the allergen as if it were a virus or bacteria and starts generating large
amounts of antibodies called immunoglobin E (IgE), a complex chemical weapon, to
attack and destroy the supposed allergen. Each antibody targets a specific
allergen; as a result many unpleasant symptoms appear.
The symptoms vary depending upon the diseases which the allergy is triggering.
Some common examples are:
Asthma: airway problems such as shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing.
Allergy rhinitis: nasal congestion, sneezing, nasal itching and runny nose.
Allergic conjunctivitis: red, itchy and watery eyes.
Dermatitis: red, itchy and dry skin.
If you suffer from any of the above symptoms, you should visit an allergy
specialist. While there may be other reasons behind the aforementioned symptoms,
it’s always better to be on the safe side and consult a doctor.
Among some misconceptions associated with allergies is that children and young
people cannot have an allergy. This is false. Allergic diseases can affect
anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or socio-economic status. There is a
tendency for allergies and allergic diseases to occur in families, although the
exact genetic factors that cause it are not yet understood.
Often, the disease symptoms develop gradually over a period of time. Around two
years ago I went to the market to buy myself a pair of sandals and as I entered
the shop, I noticed an odd air freshener which had been sprayed everywhere. This
instantly gave me an itchy throat and later, a runny nose, constant sneezing and
a fever. My mother, considering it to be a minor affliction, took me to the
homeopathic doctor who lived in the next street. When she heard that I was
allergic to perfumes and dust, she immediately dismissed it, stating that young
people cannot get allergic to perfumes and that I must have caught a viral
infection. To prove her point further, she sprayed a perfume in the room, which
worsened my condition. Unmoved, she continued to hold on to her belief but I
realized it was time to consult an allergy specialist who would understand my
problem.
Those who suffer from allergies may become accustomed to chronic symptoms such
as sneezing, nasal congestion, or wheezing, so they do not consider their
symptoms to be unusual. A friend had the same allergy symptoms as mine and would
suffer all year round. Her mother, a doctor, used to give her an anti-allergy
tablet to help ease the symptoms but it wouldn’t work. I used to wonder why
despite her taking an anti-allergy tablet every day she was unable to get any
relief. I learnt that it was a misconception on her mother’s part to believe
that simply taking an anti-allergy was the solution.
The common allergens are as follows:
Pollens are small particles shed from the male species of certain plants, which
travel to the female species to produce seeds. Some pollen grains, which can be
seen in the centre of a beautiful flower, are yellow and sticky and carried by
the bodies of the insects; others are very light, and carried by the wind. Such
small pollen grains, while flying in air, may enter the breathing passages (nose
and throat) of a person, and cause an allergic reaction.
Fungi, which is commonly known as mold, finds its way into the corners of the
room or under the carpets. Sometimes fungus in common grass may also trigger
allergies.
Certain animal proteins also cause allergic symptoms. For example some people
are allergic to egg proteins. However, not everyone with other kinds of
allergies is necessarily allergic to egg proteins.
Dust mites and cockroaches are a leading cause of allergies all over the world.
The remains of dead cockroaches are converted into powder which is almost
invisible to the naked eye and when inhaled, it triggers allergy symptoms.
The best way to prevent allergies is to avoid the substance that causes them.
This avoidance depends upon the type of allergy you have.
If you suffer from a pollen allergy:
*When possible, use air conditioning instead of opening the windows.
* Wear facemasks when you go out. Women can cover their face with their
dupattas.
* Try not to go out in the early hours — from the time of sunrise to 10:00 a.m.
and in the evening as well. It is difficult to follow this rule but only
sufferers would know how much it helps.
* Take your inhalers and anti-allergy medicines regularly as prescribed by the
doctor.
If you suffer from dust mite allergy:
* Dustproof the house, particularly the bedroom.
* Eliminate, if possible, wall-to-wall carpets, venetian blinds, down-filled
blankets or pillows and closets filled with clothes.
*Wash bedding, curtains, and clothing often and in hot water to eliminate dust
mites.
If you suffer from mold allergy, consider getting a heavy-duty dehumidifier or
air-purifier for damp areas of the house.
Many people who find it difficult to follow the above mentioned advice can
benefit from Immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy (allergy caccines) is an internationally recognized effective form
of treatment for respiratory and certain other types of allergies. Immunotherapy
encourages the body’s immunity system to build a protective antibody called IgG
and causes other immunologic changes that should reduce the symptoms of allergy
and lessen the need for medications.
Immunotherapy is used when the avoidance of the allergen is not possible or the
allergy may be life threatening. Sometimes this type of treatment is also given
when a patient is not responding to other medicines.
Immunotherapy is only effective when it is done properly by a qualified and
experienced specialist, and confers long-term protection from the particular
allergy causing substance.
The exact cause of allergy needs to be determined and treatment should be done
accordingly. The tests are run through a series of skin and blood tests. Skin
testing involves extracts from specific allergens. For each test, the skin on
your back or forearm will be pricked with a small pin and observed for a few
minutes. The solution used for this purpose is very concentrated so it can make
the patient’s condition even worse. According to the World Health Organization,
allergy testing should never be done when the patient is suffering.
After thorough testing, if required, allergy vaccines may be tried for the
treatment of the allergies. These have to be prepared specifically for each
patient depending upon the type of allergy. It is only then that the vaccines
are effective and safe.
Vaccines are beneficial only after two or three courses, and the season is often
over by then. Patients should avoid taking any new allergy vaccines for any
pollen. Remember that allergy vaccines should never be administered as the first
line of treatment. They will not benefit the patient at all during an attack, in
fact they may even make it worse.
According to international statistics:
*Asthma causes nearly three million lost workdays each year for people over age
18.
* Asthma accounts for 10 million absences from school each year.
*Chronic sinusitis, most often caused by allergies, affects nearly 35 million
people in the US.
According to available national statistics: the majority of adult patients
suffering from seasonal asthma and nasal symptoms make up 60 per cent who are
between 21 to 40 years; 10 per cent are between 13 to 20 years, 21 per cent are
between 41 to 50 years and the remaining are more than 51 years old. All the
symptoms are more common in females than in males. Of the asthma patients, 65
per cent are females, 35 per cent are males. In nasal allergy patients, 58 per
cent are females and 42 per cent are males. Eye allergies affect 61 per cent
females and 39 per cent males while seasonal skin allergies are 60 per cent in
females and 40 per cent in males.
Don’t get worried by merely looking at the statistics. Be optimistic. There are
so many people around you who have the same or similar symptoms as you have.
Take time out to go to a known and experienced allergy specialist for advice.
