ALLERGIC REACTIONS

An allergy is a condition which is caused by a hypersensitive reaction of the immune system to typically harmless substances in the environment. The conditions include: food allergies, urticaria, drug allergies, allergic asthma and anaphylaxis.

Food allergies:

It is basically an abnormal immune response to certain types of food. Signs and symptoms exhibited range from mild to severe. The signs of food allergy include itchiness, swelling of the tongue, vomiting, diarrhea, hives, trouble breathing (wheezing) or low blood pressure. The symptoms occur within minutes to several hours of exposure. It is vital to note that food poisoning and food intolerance are separated conditions which are not related to food allergies. Types of foods involved include: cow’s milk, peanuts, eggs, fish, soy, wheat, rice and some fruits. Food allergies occur when Immunoglobulin E (IgE), part of the body’s immune system, binds to the food molecules. Majorly proteins contained in the food trigger the release of a chemical referred to as histamine. Medical diagnosis involves: a review of the patients’ medical history, skin prick test, blood test for food specific IgE antibodies or oral food challenge.

Urticaria:

This condition is triggered by many substances or situations and usually starts as an itchy patch of skin that turns into swollen red welts. The itching may be mild to severe. Scratching, alcoholic beverages, physical exercises and emotional stress may worsen the situation. The condition can be furtherly triggered by exposure to a hot or cold weather. This makes my mind recall when I joined Nyeri Baptist High School, a prestigious school located in Nyeri, Kenya. I was greatly affected by the freezing cold weather that was brought about by the deep – green vegetation on the slopes of Mount Kenya. I used to feel a hot itchy burning sensation all over my body whenever the cold weather could strike. However, I used to visit a Dermatology clinic, when affected, and the Skin / Allergy Specialist could prescribe me some expensive antihistamine drugs that would help me to soldier on with my studies without distractions. During end-term I would carry a scientific research about allergic reactions to know why I was affected; this made me to fall in love with science and from then I made a decision that I would become a medical scientist.

Drug allergies:

The human body’s immune system can react to various types of medication. Medications especially those that are provided over the counter and those that are herbal, are likely to lead to allergic reactions. The signs and symptoms associated with this condition include; hives, rashes or fever. It is important to note that a drug allergy is not the same as a drug’s side effect. This condition may become very lethal where it may trigger other conditions which include: serum sickness, drug – induced anemia, kidney inflammation and drug rash with eosinophilia. Mainly the condition occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly identifies the drug as a harmful substance (like a bacterium, fungi or virus). Drugs commonly linked to allergies include: Antibiotics (e.g. penicillin), pain relievers (e.g. aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium), oncological chemotherapy drugs and medications for autoimmune diseases. Always inform health care workers prior to any form of medication. In addition, tartrazine; commonly used as a color additive in foods and soft drinks, is found coated in some drugs e.g. capsules and may trigger an allergic reaction. Allergic reactions resulting from tartrazine have been reported in children in the past few years and immunologists in world Health Organization (WHO) are working tirelessly to come up with a profound research on “Tartrazine as an allergen”

Allergic asthma:

This type of allergy is characterized by difficulties in breathing that is triggered by swelling of the airways in the respiratory system. Symptoms of Asthma include: wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, rapid breathing and shortness of breath. A skin prick test is conducted where the doctor pokes the patient’s skin with a needle containing a small amount of an allergen. After 20 minutes the doctor checks for red bumps which indicate presence of an allergic reaction. Treatment is done by prescription of inhaled anti-inflammatory medication or rather oral medication that help block the allergic response. In case of a very severe asthma, oral medications such as singulair or accolate is often taken in addition to the inhalers.

Anaphylaxis:

The field of Dermatology considers this type of allergy to have a high affinity towards death. Anaphylaxis is characterized by an itchy rash, throat (tongue) swelling, shortness of breath, vomiting, lightheadedness and low blood pressure. The common causes of this fatal condition include: insect bites, stings, foods and medications. Other causes include: exposure to latex and exercises. The primary treatment of anaphylaxis is epinephrine injection into a muscle. Complementary medications include: antihistamines and steroids. In case of anaphylaxis, one should seek medical attention with immediate effect or else the impact of the reaction will send the affected to the world of the dead (the sweet serene world with no hustles of life).

My esteemed audience I have reached at the climax of my well researched article, that focuses mainly on Allergic reactions which stems from Immunology. Thanks for reading, see you next time.