Allergy is a hypersensitive reaction of our defence system on different substances from environment that we call allergens.
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When allergens come in contact with our body, organism defends itself by producing antibodies immunoglobulin IgE. This substance is the part of the body of everyone, but in small amounts. Persons who suffer from allergy have more IgE in they body. Explicit IgE is individual for every allergen and that makes all allergy very specific.
Allergy usually appears between 25 and 34 years of age. But, men can suffer from allergy before that age, around 15, while women are equally exposed in all ages. Allergy has positive family anamnesis, but not on a specific allergy. If both parents are allergic the probability that the child will become allergic is 75 - 80 percent. The child will be even more sensitive on allergy if its mother is allergic.
There are several types of allergies, some of which are very rare (for example on light). But, the most common is pollen fever or allergic rhinitis. Spring doesn't brings joy to patients that suffer from allergic rhinitis. Pollen from the trees blooms from the end of February to the end of March. Grass starts to bloom form middle of April to middle of June. The worst herbal allergen is Ambrosia artemisiifolia which blooms from August to late September, as the weeds. Maximum concentration of pollen is early in the morning and during the morning while the concentration of pollen in air is reduces after the rain.
So, how to tell the difference between an allergy and cold? Allergy signs and symptoms start whenever you're exposed to allergy substances. Depending on which herbal blooming causes your allergic reaction, you will suffer at different time of year. But, hacking with shrill and chest pressure indicate more serious condition - asthma. Asthma can develop from frequent allergies.
Allergy has cold-like symptoms as sneezing, nose running, cough, swallowed eye lid. During the high concentration of pollen those symptoms appear in all allergic patient. During the very high pollen concentration all patients sensitive to specific pollen will suffer from breathing problems. In cases when allergic reaction is strong a patient can feel sinus pressure, congestion or high fever. Fever can be caused by virus or bacterial infection. Only extremely sensitive patient has an allergic symptoms when a concentration of pollen in air is low. The most dangerous consequence of allergy attack is an anaphylactic shock. It occurs when allergen triggers a quick and strong response of our immune system.
Along with allergic tests and other examination that doctor need, the prevention is very important. "Counting" of pollen seeds is one of the great help for a patient. Don't worry, you will not count seed by seed literally, on the contrary, you will become very careful reader of daily newspaper, TV, or internet sites and you'll be searching for a pollen concentration data for the next day. This data will tell you what can you expect tomorrow. The amount of downfall, wet and other meteorological conditions affect the amount, spreading and force of pollen attack.
Combination of prevention and drugs can make life with allergy easier. In a battle with allergy a cooperation with a doctor and patient's persistence are necessary. The most successful therapy is hypersensibilisation. It involves the series of antialergic injections. The therapy is useful on big number of allergy, and on allergic rhinitis, too. The therapy must start few months before allergic season. Statistic data show that patients on a hypersensibilisation therapy need less drugs in a period of 12 months after the treatment.
Antihistamines are the most useful in healing mild and medium hard shapes of allergic rhinitis. Corticosteroides can be used preventively. They are good in moderately and serious cases. Cromons are suitable for little kids but the results are relatively bad with expressed symptoms.
Collaboration of a patient and a doctor is very important. Although it is impossible that you'll become resistant to drugs, the efficiency of the treatment may be reduced because allergy is more stronger with every further exposure to allergens. At the same time, the drug dose may become insufficient or some new allergy appeared. ■