Everything you need to know about allergies
Allergies are a type of immune response of a body to substances (called allergens). These allergens could be in the form of a particular food, pollen, dirt, etc. causing allergic reactions like coughing, stuffy nose, watery eyes, and other symptoms. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI), around eight percent of the adults across the country suffer from some type of allergy. The following article provides information about some of the most common queries asked about allergies like rhinitis, pollen allergy, and asthma.

What are the symptoms of allergic rhinitis?

• Otherwise known as hay fever, allergic rhinitis is an allergic response to specific allergens like pollens, dust mites, mold, and even cat saliva.
• The symptoms usually occur due to change in the seasons. Some of the allergy symptoms include the runny and stuffy nose, an itchy nose, itchy eyes, sore or scratchy throat, frequent headaches, hives, and excessive fatigue in some cases. Some people might also develop an allergy cough symptom that might last for more than a month.
• Some people might also experience eczema type symptoms like an itchy skin causing blisters.
• A person suffering from allergic rhinitis might experience these symptoms only rarely or when exposed to allergens in large quantities.

How is allergic rhinitis diagnosed?

• People suffering from mild symptoms of allergic rhinitis might probably only need a physical examination.
• One of the most common tests includes a skin prick test in which the doctors place some substances on the patient’s skin to see how their body reacts to the same. The person might develop small red bumps if they are allergic to a particular substance.
• Apart from this, the radioallergosorbent (RAST) test might be conducted to find the amount of immunoglobulin E antibodies present in the blood fighting the allergen.

What are the different types of pollen allergies?

Pollen allergies are a type of seasonal allergies caused by pollen grains from specific plants and trees. The common symptoms of pollen allergy include cough, scratchy throat, and runny nose. Below are some common types of pollen allergies:

• Oak pollen allergy – Allergy caused due to pollen trees are considered to be mildly allergic when compared with pollen shed from other trees. It can cause reactions like watery eyes, runny nose, and allergy cough symptoms.
• Ragweed pollen allergy – Allergies caused by ragweed are most active between fall and spring seasons. However, they start spreading pollens as early as the first week of August to the second week of October. The wind-driven pollen can cause allergic reactions and survive through the mild winter.
• Birch pollen allergy – It is one of the most common airborne allergens causing allergy cough and other symptoms. Five million pollen grains can be produced by a single birch tree, which can travel up to 100 yards from the tree.

What are the treatment options for allergic reactions caused because of asthma?

Following options can be used to treat allergic reactions caused by asthma:

• Short-acting bronchodilators – These are some of the fast-acting treatments that might be prescribed by the doctors. Often called as rescue inhalers, their effect lasts for 4-6 hours by opening and dilating the airways in the lungs.
• Inhaled corticosteroids – A rescue inhaler being used too often might be a sign that the patient’s asthma is not under control. In such cases, the doctor might prescribe medications in the form of corticosteroids. These corticosteroids can be inhaled using a portable device as they curb inflammation in the lungs’ airways of the patient.
• Antibody treatment : This treatment is usually for people with severe asthma. Given in the form of injection, it prevents the cells in the body from starting the inflammation process, making the patient less sensitive to allergens. This can prevent an allergy cough and other symptoms that might be caused by asthma.

It is very important to consult a doctor if a person is experiencing symptoms of asthma before choosing treatment options mentioned above.