Allergies Symptoms

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• QWhat is the difference between allergy symptoms and allergies?

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  A Sky Ridge Medical Center answered

  Allergy symptoms are not the same as allergies. When someone says they have allergies they often mean they have allergy symptoms: itchy, sneezy, runny or stuffy nose; itchy red or watery eyes or any combination of these. Only 25 percent of people who have allergy symptoms actually have allergies (and just one-third of those people who actually say they have allergies have them).

  There are three main causes of allergy symptoms: allergic rhinitis, irritant rhinitis or a combination of both (called mixed rhinitis). Allergic rhinitis is caused by a component of your immune system called the immunoglobin E (IgE) antibody. If you have allergic rhinitis, triggers like seasonal pollen, pets, dust mites, or even cockroaches cause the IgE immune system to react just like your immune system would react against a virus or bacteria.

  Irritant rhinitis, or nonallergic rhinitis, is a direct irritation of your nose. In this case, something bothers the inside surface of the nose and causes allergy symptoms. Sometimes there is a local “dumb” or innate immune response as the cause of allergy symptoms. And sometimes it is a nerve response that causes the irritant allergy symptoms. But in each case, the cause of nonallergic rhinitis is not the full immune response seen as the cause of allergic rhinitis, but a more local response.

• QWhat are the symptoms of an allergic reaction?

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  A Discovery Health answered

  The body's first line of defense against potentially dangerous invaders includes the mouth, eyes, lungs, stomach and nose. When your immune system reacts to an allergen, these body parts can potentially become battlegrounds.

  Signs of the raging battle can include one or more of these conditions: sneezing; watery, swollen or red eyes; nasal congestion; sinus inflammation and pressure; runny nose; hives; rashes; itchy eyes; itchy nose; shortness of breath; a tight feeling in the chest; difficulty breathing; wheezing; coughing; nausea; headache; fatigue; diarrhea; and, of course, a general feeling of misery.

  It's ironic that your immune system, which is designed to defend you from illnesses, produces symptoms that make you feel sick when it overreacts to such mundane substances as dust and pollen. It's a perfect example of the old saying, "Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease."

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• QWhat are the symptoms of allergies?

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  A Intermountain Healthcare answered

  Your allergy symptoms depend on whether you have breathed, touched or swallowed something you're allergic to. They also depend on how much of the substance you have been in contact with.

  Here are a few ways your body may react:

  • Itchy, watery eyes
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Sneezing
  • Coughing, a whistling sound (wheezing) when you breathe out or trouble breathing
  • Skin rash or hives
  • Upset stomach or cramps
  • Diarrhea

  Symptoms can be mild or serious.

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• QShould I talk to my doctor about my allergy symptoms?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  If you have a diagnosis determining what your allergy is, and you can easily control your symptoms with medication or by avoiding the allergen, you may not need to talk to your physician further. However, in some cases, it might not be so easy to pinpoint what is the source of your skin allergies. If your symptoms increase or are not being fully treated by your medication, talk to your doctor about your options. In addition, if your condition changes, you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, for example, speak to your physician as certain allergy medications should be avoided during pregnancy.

  If you are unsure about anything, always talk to your doctor.

• QHow can I help prevent allergy symptoms that affect my eyes and eyelids?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  If possible, avoid exposure to whatever is causing your eye allergy. If that's not an option, though, your doctor may recommend medicated anti-allergy eye drops. For mild cases, non-prescription eye drops can often be used. For tougher cases, prescription eye drops may be needed. To reduce inflammation, some doctors will recommend anti-inflammatory eye drops.

• QHow do I know if there’s an allergic reaction to an insect bite?

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  A Dr. Manuel B. Torres, MD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Baptist Health South Florida

  Summer is definitely the season for mosquitoes. You need to know when you have an insect bite, what is a normal bite and what is not. A red dot that stings, itches, and goes away in 24 to 48 hours is a normal and typical reaction. An atypical reaction is when perhaps the bite stays red for longer than normal, emits fluid, or when there’s a rash (urticaria), or when there is swelling, or when there is perhaps a systemic reaction.
  When there is truly an allergic reaction, a patient may have a systemic effect, such as difficulty breathing, or hives outside the area of ​​the bite. Those are signs and symptoms of a reaction that’s out of the ordinary and more aggressive. And it would require emergency treatment.
   
• QWhat are some workplace allergy symptoms?

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  A Discovery Health answered

  Workplace allergy symptoms will, as you may have guessed, depend on what you have been exposed to, how much of it you have encountered, how often exposure occurs, and how long you've been exposed. The symptoms can include itching and burning eyes, sore throat, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and rashes.
  
  Factors that contribute to susceptibility include age, allergy history, general health, and overall stress level.
  
  Environmental allergies are difficult to pinpoint and harder to avoid. After all, you can't just stop going to work, no matter how much you want to.

• QWhat are the symptoms of skin allergies?

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  A Parkland Medical Center answered

  Symptoms of skin allergies usually include some kind of visible irritation on the skin, as well as itchiness, swelling, and pain. Symptoms usually develop anywhere from a few hours to a few days after exposure to an allergen. One common symptom is hives, which involves red bumps or patches anywhere on the body that can cause itchiness, burning, or stinging. A rash, which can also occur anywhere on the skin, is another common symptom that involves red streaks or patches that may include blisters and is very itchy. Depending on how severe the reaction is, skin allergies may also cause swelling and pain in the affected areas.

• QHow are skin allergies different from other allergic reactions?

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  A Parkland Medical Center answered

  Skin allergies are similar to any other allergies in that they are caused by an overreaction of the immune system. Skin allergies are more localized than other kinds of allergies, though, because they usually only affect small areas of the skin and don't spread throughout the body. Obviously, the symptoms of skin allergies don't include the runny nose and itchy eyes that are typical of other kinds of allergies. Most of the time, skin allergies can't be life-threatening like some other allergies can be. Another difference is related to treatment: Unlike other types of allergies, skin allergies can't be effectively treated with immunotherapy, or "allergy shots," which involving injecting small amounts of the allergen into the person to build up immunity to the substance.

• QWhat are the symptoms of environmental allergies?

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  A Parkland Medical Center answered

  The symptoms of environmental allergies vary. Some common symptoms are a runny nose, watery eyes, itchy skin, congestion, and rashes. These symptoms can be experienced as mild or severe. Some allergies cause anaphylaxis, which includes constricted airway and swollen throat lining. These types of symptoms cause trouble breathing and need emergency treatment.