Allergy, allergies – these are words we’ve all heard and used. Many, many people have allergies. But just what are they? What causes them? What are the different types of allergy? Let’s look at the important terms used.

The basics

Immune system. The immune system includes lymph nodes (glands), infection-fighting white blood cells, and antibodies. The immune system’s job is to defend the body against infections and other harmful substances.

Allergy. An allergy is an inappropriate, or excessive immune response that produces symptoms and conditions such as hayfever, eczema and asthma.

Allergen. Allergens are allergy-triggering substances like pollen, animal dander, medications, etc. When exposed to these allergens, an allergic person develops symptoms of her allergy or allergies.

The allergic conditions

  • Hayfever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is a nasal allergy characterised by itching, sneezing and runny nose. It may be seasonal (often peaks in spring-time) or may occur all year (also known as perennial rhinitis).
  • Eczema is a skin allergy characterised by an itchy, red rash.
  • Asthma is a lung condition, which is usually allergic in nature, and is characterised by cough, wheeze and shortness of breath. It may be mild or very severe and it can be fatal.
  • Allergic conjunctivitis is the term used to describe eye allergy. It results in red, itchy, watery eyes.

There are other allergic conditions, but these are by-far the most commonly seen.

The treatments

  • Allergen avoidance is self-explanatory – avoid the trigger and you don’t get the allergy.
  • Allergy testing is done with either skin or blood tests, and aims to identify the offending allergens, with a view to attempting desensitisation.
  • Desensitisation refers to the process of injecting an allergy sufferer with tiny amounts of the offending allergen, over a period of weeks and months; in an effort to ‘re-set’ the immune system and either cure or lessen the allergic condition(s).
  • Antihistamines are drugs that block or reduce the release of allergy-causing histamine from certain white blood cells (histamine is one of many allergy-causing substances). They are usually used as tablets or syrups.
  • Corticosteroids (steroids, cortisone) are powerful substances that suppress the immune response and reduce inflammation (swelling). They are not without side effects but they are very effective – corticosteroids may be life saving. They may be used as injections, tablets, syrups, creams, nasal sprays and inhalers.

While allergen avoidance and desensitisation can potentially cure are at least alleviate the conditions permanently, the other treatments can only prevent or lessen symptoms and so they often need to be used long-term and even life-long in many cases.

Hopefully this simple article helps to demystify this important area of health & wellness.

Written by Dr Colin Burns