How Do You Know If What You Have Is Allergies?

It seems the topic of allergies sneaks into most any topic now a day. Everyone seems to have them or a family member suffering from allergies. What exactly are allergies and how do you know if you have them? When someone has allergies, they have an abnormal reaction within their immune system to one or more substances that are normally considered to be harmless substances. Someone who is not allergic to that particular substance would show no reaction at all to it. The person who is allergic to a particular substance will show an allergic reaction by the body releasing chemicals in response to the substance that will cause the allergic symptoms. When determining if a person is allergic to something one has to be careful that the reaction that is happening is not just a side effect to a medication that is causing the reaction.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction include:

Young children allergic to food (food allergies) will develop atopic dermatitis (eczema). These children can then be at an increased risk for allergic rhinitis (runny nose) and asthma. School aged kids are more likely to develop allergic rhinitis and asthma than younger kids. Usually atopic dermatitis fades by the time the child is an adult, as well as the food allergies.

Typically the onset of allergic rhinitis and asthma starts sometime during school age, teen years or as a young adult. Both allergic rhinitis and asthma usually lasts throughout the rest of the person's lifetime. During the lifetime though the symptoms can fade and even disappear, only to reappear again.

Food Allergies:

Usually with food allergies there is a skin reaction to the substance that was ingested. Skin reactions can be hives, swelling, itching or redness of the skin. These skin reactions usually occur within minutes of eating the food (they can however be delayed for up to several hours). Other symptoms besides skin reactions are: breathing difficulties, diarrhea, nausea, stomachaches, vomiting, runny nose, sneezing, and also lightheadedness.

Nasal Allergies:

Sneezing, itchy nose, itchy eyes, runny nose, post-nasal drip, dark circles under the eyes, and also nasal congestion are all symptoms of nasal allergies. Some individuals when they rub the palm of their hand on the nose cause a line to appear across the nasal bridge of the nose, called the "allergic salute".

Summary:

Allergies are important to diagnose because not treating the symptoms can lead to being susceptible to viruses, sinus infections, ear infections and worsening of asthma if the person also has asthma.

Kids and adults of all ages can develop allergies to food, or environmental elements including fragrances and clothing materials.

Allergic reactions are not the same as intolerances to things such as milk intolerance. Side effects to certain medications are not allergies.

Kids can have food allergies and have them fade or disappear over time but allergic rhinitis and other allergic reactions once developed will last a lifetime but can fade and then reappear over time.

Allergic symptoms can be treated to bring some relief to the person suffering from allergies.