Allergy Frequently
Asked Questions
Q.
Are
lactose intolerance
or milk allergy contagious?
A.
No.
These disorders are not transmitted from a person to another, nor are they
transmitted through other media such as bacteria, viruses, etc.
While
lactose intolerance
is the inability of the person to produce enough lactase
to breakdown sugar lactose into glucose,
milk
allergy
is caused by the inability of the immune system to learn that milk
proteins are harmless of the body. None of these two deficiencies are caused by
external agent, however, they can be hereditary.
Q.
What are the most common allergens?
A. The most common causes of allergy and asthma
symptoms are allergens derived from pollen, molds, house dust mites, animal
danders and insects. Many people also experience symptoms of allergy due to
altered reactions to foods and medications.
Q.
How are allergies diagnosed?
A. The diagnosis of an allergy disease is
made on the basis of a detailed medical history and physical examination usually
by a certified allergist or specialist. This include a number of allergy skin
tests which are used to detect the real causes of the allergic reactions and
symptoms.
Q.
What are the most common allergic diseases?
A. The most common diseases caused by
allergy mechanisms are those of hay fever (allergic rhinitis), asthma, eczema
(allergic dermatitis), contact dermatitis, food allergy and urticaria or hives.
Q.
What allergies cause fatal reactions?
A. The most common causes or fatal allergic
reactions include severe reactions to foods such as shellfish, peanuts and cold,
or to stinging insects.
Q.
Should I be taking my inhaler medication even when I am free of
asthma symptoms?
A. Even in mild persistent asthma, low grade
inflammation will eventually lead to lung fibrosis and damage. To prevent
failures of the lung functions, anti-inflammatory inhaler medication should be
taken on a regular basis.
Q.
What is Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS)?
A. This refers to certain fresh fruits,
vegetables and spices that may cause an immediate local allergic tissue reaction
on the lips, the mouth and in the throat. This present with a burning sensation,
itching and hoarseness within several minutes of oral food contact.
Q.
What are the common food allergy symptoms?
A. Symptoms range from a tingling
sensation in the mouth, swelling of the tongue and the throat, difficulty
breathing, hives, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, drop in blood pressure,
loss of consciousness, leading to death. Depending on the type of allergen,
symptoms will appear within minutes to two hours after the intake of the food to
which the patient is allergic.
Q.
What is the best treatment for food allergy?
A. Strict avoidance of the allergy-causing food
is the only way to avoid a reaction. Reading ingredient labels for all foods is
the key to maintaining control over the allergy. If a product doesn't have a
label, allergic individuals should not eat that food. If a label contains
unfamiliar terms, shoppers must call the manufacturer and ask for a definition
or avoid eating that food.
Q.
Do children outgrow allergies?
A. Food allergies are the most common
allergies that children can outgrow typically by the age of three. However, it
can be noted that children develop more allergies as they grow up, instead of
outgrowing them, particularly at the age of nineteen. These allergies will
apparently disappear at older age.
Q.
How are allergies treated?
A. Once an allergy is diagnosed, the first
treatment is avoidance of the allergen. If it is impossible, certified
allergists or specialists may prescribe allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots)
that will desensitize your immune system to the allergen.
Q. If
the peanut allergic reaction is mild, does it mean future reactions will be mild
also?
A.
Although it is true in most cases, there are always exceptions. Although this seems to be true for most people, there are exceptions.
Majority of the allergic reactions don't kill but studies based on peanut
allergy victims have shown that this can happen even
to someone who has only had mild reactions before. Therefore it is safer
to regard nut allergy as dangerous even if previous reactions have been mild.
REFERENCES:
www.marar.co.uk/allergyclinic/faq.htm
http://zingsolutions.com/ALLSA/faq.htm
http://www.foodallergy.org/questions.html
http://health.yahoo.com/health/centers/allergy/651.html#seven
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