Allergies Symptoms

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• QHow do I know if I have allergies or a cold?

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  A Dr. Daniel R. Spogen, MD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine

  The following points will help you tell if you have a cold or seasonal allergies:

  • In general, a cold will last 7 to 10 days, while allergies may last for months, depending on the season.
  • You may have a fever with a cold, which you would not have with allergies.

  If you are concerned about a cold or seasonal allergies, talk with your primary care doctor.

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• 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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• 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 the symptoms of allergies?

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  

  Allergy symptoms can vary depending on the type of allergic reaction occurring. In general, allergy symptoms include watery or itchy eyes, a runny nose, itchy skin, and sneezing. Rashes, hives, and swelling may also be common. In anaphylactic reactions, more serious symptoms occur and can be deadly. These include airway constriction and a swollen lining in the throat and airways, both of which can affect breathing. In other cases, blood vessels may expand, which can cause blood pressure to fall to an unsafe level. These reactions may occur within minutes of exposure to the allergen.

  

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• QCan allergies cause an itchy throat?

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  A Dr. Patrick N. Brown, MD , Ear, Nose & Throat (Otolaryngology), answered on behalf of Methodist Ambulatory Surgery Hospital

  

  An itchy throat may be a sign of an allergy. In this video, Patrick Brown, MD, from Methodist Ambulatory Surgery Hospital explains how environmental allergens may irritate your throat. 
• QWhat is the difference between allergy symptoms and allergies?

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  A Dr. Christopher M. Webber, MD , Allergy & Immunology, answered on behalf of Sky Ridge Medical Center

  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 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.

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

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  A Reston Hospital Center 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, 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.

• QWhat are the symptoms of skin allergies?

  1 Answer

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  A Reston Hospital 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.

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

  1 Answer

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  A Reston Hospital Center answered

  If you can easily identify what's triggering your skin allergies, you might not need to see a doctor-avoiding that particular allergen might be enough to avoid future allergic reactions. However, in some cases, it might not be so easy to pinpoint what is the source of your skin allergies. If that's the case, it might be best to see a doctor to determine what allergens cause a reaction for you. Also, if your skin allergy symptoms are accompanied by other symptoms such as severe swelling, difficulty breathing, or vomiting, it's important to see a doctor.