Allergies come in many forms. The
most common causes of allergies are particles in the air. Hay fever is the
most common allergic disease. Allergy symptoms include itchy, watery eyes;
sneezing; runny, stuffy, or itchy nose; and fatigue. The symptoms are a lot
like cold symptoms,
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Chest,
Respiratory, Nose, and Throat Problems
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Symptoms
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Possible
Causes
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Chest
and Respiratory
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Wheezing or difficult (rapid,
shallow, labored) breathing
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Allergies, See
Allergies; Asthma, See Asthma;
Bronchitis, See Bronchitis.
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Cough, fever, yellow-green
or rusty sputum, and difficulty breathing (possibly with chest-wall
pain)
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Bronchitis, See
Bronchitis; Pneumonia, See
Pneumonia.
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Chest pain with sweating
or rapid pulse
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Chest Pain, See
Chest Pain.
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Burning, pain, or discomfort
behind or below the breastbone
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Heartburn, See
Heartburn; Chest Pain, See
Chest Pain.
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Coughing
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Coughs, See
Coughs.
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Pounding or racing heartbeat;
heart skipping or missing a beat
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Heart Palpitations, See
Heart Palpitations.
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Nose
and Throat
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Stuffy or runny nose with
watery eyes, sneezing
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Allergies, See
Allergies; Colds, See Colds.
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Cold symptoms with fever,
headache, severe body aches, fatigue
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Influenza, See
Influenza (Flu).
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Thick green, yellow, or gray
nasal discharge with fever and facial pain
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Sinusitis,
See Sinusitis.
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Foul odour from nose; swollen,
inflamed nasal tissue
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Objects in the Nose, See
Objects in the Nose; Sinusitis, See
Sinusitis.
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Sore throat
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Sore Throat, See
Sore Throat and Strep Throat; Tonsillitis, See
Tonsillitis.
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Sore
throat with white spots on tonsils, swollen glands, fever of
38.3°C (101°F) or higher
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Strep Throat, See
Sore Throat and Strep Throat
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Swollen tonsils, sore throat,
fever
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Tonsillitis, See
Tonsillitis.
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Swollen lymph nodes in the
neck
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Swollen Lymph Nodes, See
Swollen Lymph Nodes; Tonsillitis, See
Tonsillitis.
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Hoarseness, loss of voice
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Laryngitis, See
Laryngitis.
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but they usually last longer. Dark
circles under the eyes (allergic shiners) or postnasal drip may also accompany
hay fever.
You can often discover the cause
of an allergy by noting when symptoms occur. Symptoms that occur at the same
time each year (especially during spring, early summer, or early fall) are
often caused by tree, grass, or weed pollen. Allergies that persist all year
long may be due to dust, mites in household dust, cockroaches, mold spores,
or animal dander. An animal allergy is often easy to detect: symptoms clear
up when you stay away from the animal or its bedding.
Allergies seem to run in families.
Parents with hay fever often have children with allergies. Hay fever may develop
in children but is more common in teens and adults.
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What About Allergy Shots?
Allergy shots (immunotherapy)
are a series of shots given to desensitize your body to substances that
trigger allergic reactions (allergens). You may need to receive shots
for 3 to 5 years before you stop having allergic reactions.
Immunotherapy is effective
only if skin sensitivity testing has identified the specific allergy
trigger. It is very effective against allergies to bee stings and other
insect venom. For most people, immunotherapy is effective against grass,
tree, and weed pollens, as well as house dust and house dust mites.
Because of the time and expense involved, you need a realistic
idea of the benefits before you agree to the treatment. Discuss these
with your doctor. Immunotherapy may be worthwhile for you if:
You cannot avoid allergy triggers, or avoiding them
has not helped.Your symptoms have bothered you a lot for at least
2 years.
You have tried Home Treatment without success.
Neither prescription nor nonprescription medications
bring you relief.
Immunotherapy has been shown to be effective for
the allergens identified by your skin tests.
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A few people have severe allergies
to insect stings or to certain foods or drugs, especially antibiotics such
as penicillin. For these people, the allergic reaction is sudden and severe
and may cause breathing difficulty and a drop in blood pressure (anaphylactic
shock).
An anaphylactic reaction is a
medical emergency, and prompt care is needed. If you have ever had a severe
allergic reaction, your doctor may suggest that you carry an epinephrine
syringe (such as EpiPen or Ana-Kit) designed for giving yourself a shot
that will decrease the severity of the reaction. If you have had an allergic
reaction to a drug, wear a medical identification bracelet that will tell
health professionals about your allergy in case you cannot.
If you can discover the source
of your allergies, avoiding that substance may be the best treatment. Keep
a record of your symptoms and the plants, animals, foods, or chemicals that
seem to trigger them.
General
information about avoiding irritants:
Avoid yardwork (raking, mowing), which stirs up both
pollen and mold. If you must do yard work, wear a mask and take an antihistamine
beforehand.
Avoid smoking and inhaling other people's smoke.
Eliminate aerosol sprays, perfumes, room deodorizers,
cleaning products, and other substances that may trigger allergy symptoms.
If your symptoms are seasonal
and seem to be related to pollen:
Keep your house and car windows closed. Keep bedroom
windows closed at night.
Limit the time you spend outside when pollen counts are
high. Dogs and other pets may bring large amounts of pollen into your
house.
If your symptoms are year-round
and seem to be related to dust:
Keep your bedroom and other places where you spend a
lot of time as dust-free as possible.
Avoid carpeting, upholstered furniture, and heavy draperies
that collect dust. Vacuuming doesn't pick up house dust mites.
Cover your mattress and box spring with dust-proof cases
and wipe them clean weekly. Avoid wool or down blankets and feather
pillows. Wash all bedding in hot water once a week.
Consider using an air conditioner or air purifier with
a special HEPA filter. Rent one before buying to see if it helps.
If your symptoms are year-round
and are worse during damp weather, they may be related to mold or mildew:
Keep your home well ventilated and dry. Keep the humidity
below 50 percent. Use a dehumidifier during humid weather.
Use an air conditioner, which removes mold spores from
the air. Change or clean heating and cooling system filters regularly.
Clean bathroom and kitchen surfaces
often with bleach to reduce mold growth.
If you are allergic to a pet:
Keep the animal outside, or at least out of your bedroom.
If your symptoms are severe, the best solution may be
to find a new home for the pet.
Antihistamines and decongestants
may relieve some allergy symptoms. Use caution when taking these drugs. See
Decongestants See
Antihistamines.
For more
information about allergies, including immunotherapy, contact your local
health unit or public health office, or your provincial Lung Association
or Allergy/Asthma Association.
Call 911 or seek emergency services
immediately if you develop signs of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
The following severe symptoms may occur soon after you take a drug, eat
a certain food, or are stung by an insect:
Lightheadedness (feeling like you might pass out).
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Food Allergies
Less than 1 percent
of adults have true food allergies. Most adverse reactions to
foods are due to food intolerances, reactions to food additives,
or food poisoning. Most true food allergies are to legumes, nuts,
shellfish, eggs, wheat, and milk. An allergic reaction to a food
can result in anaphylactic shock.
By gradually introducing
simple solid foods into your child's diet, you will be able to
identify possible food allergies. Children often outgrow food
allergies by age 6. If your child was allergic to a food when
younger, try reintroducing it as he or she gets older (unless
the reaction was severe).
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Swelling around the lips, tongue, or face that is interfering
with breathing or is getting worse.
Wheezing or difficulty breathing.
Call a health professional:
If your lips, tongue, or face are swollen, even if you
are not having difficulty breathing and the swelling is not getting
worse.
If there is significant swelling around the site of an
insect sting (e.g., the entire arm or leg is swollen).
If you develop a skin rash, itching, feeling of warmth,
or hives.
Call your doctor if allergy symptoms
worsen over time and Home Treatment doesn't help. Your doctor may recommend
stronger medication or allergy shots (immunotherapy).