Allergy

Allergy - common symptoms and treatment

Allergy is one of our most common public diseases and it is estimated that between one in three and one in five Swedes suffer from some form of allergy or hypersensitivity. An allergy occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly identifies a harmless substance as harmful and reacts to it, causing symptoms such as sneezing, itching and difficulty breathing. To alleviate the symptoms, you should avoid what causes the allergy, but there are also treatments and medicines that can help.

What is allergy?

Allergy is an overreaction of the body's immune system against substances that are normally harmless, so-called allergens. Allergens can be, for example, pollen, animal hair, dust, certain foods or chemicals. When a person with an allergy is exposed to an allergen, the immune system reacts by releasing a number of different substances, including histamine. It leads to symptoms such as sneezing, itching, skin rash or swelling. Allergies vary in severity and in some cases can cause serious reactions such as anaphylactic shock.

Causes of allergy

It is not fully understood why some people develop allergies and others do not. Heredity plays a significant role – the risk of a child developing allergies is greater if one or both of the child's parents have allergies. Allergies can also be caused by environmental factors, such as air pollution and exposure to various allergens.

Common types of allergens

You can basically become allergic to almost anything. However, there are some allergens that are significantly more common than others:

• Pollen from plants such as grass, trees and weeds.
• Skin deposits, hair, saliva and urine from fur animals.
• Foods such as nuts, milk, eggs, and shellfish.
• Insect bites or stings, especially from bees and wasps.
• Medicines, including certain types of antibiotics.
• Contact allergens such as nickel, latex and certain chemicals.

Symptoms of allergy

Allergies can cause a range of different symptoms that vary depending on what is causing the problem. Common symptoms are sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy eyes, throat or skin, rash or hives, cough and difficulty breathing. In the case of food allergies, symptoms may include nausea, stomach pain, vomiting or diarrhoea. In young children, food allergy can also lead to loss of appetite and weight loss. The severity and duration of symptoms can vary from mild and short-lived to severe and persistent.

Anaphylactic shock

Anaphylactic shock is a serious and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. The symptoms come quickly after exposure to the allergen and manifest as severe hives, swelling of the face and throat, which can lead to breathing difficulties, a drop in blood pressure, dizziness and unconsciousness. Anaphylactic shock requires emergency care.

Allergy investigation and diagnosis

If you do not know what is causing your allergic symptoms, you can do an allergy test. An allergy investigation begins with a doctor collecting information about your symptoms, when they appear, what you suspect is the cause and whether there are known allergies in your close family. After that, you can do a so-called prick test, where small amounts of different allergens are applied to the skin to see if any reaction occurs. You can also take a blood test to see if you have antibodies against a substance. Sometimes additional tests, such as breath tests or provocation tests, may be needed to confirm the diagnosis. The investigation is individualized and guided by your symptoms and needs.

Treatment and management of allergies

Treatment of allergies focuses primarily on reducing or eliminating exposure to the allergen, as well as relieving symptoms. To avoid allergens, you may need to make certain lifestyle changes or adapt your environment, for example by being extra careful to keep the home clean of dust or to avoid certain foods.

Pollen can be all the more difficult to avoid. To manage common symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and itching, over-the-counter antihistamine tablets are often used. There are also nasal sprays and eye drops that can relieve discomfort from the nose and eyes. If you have severe problems, we at Recetas Medicas can prescribe other medicines for you. Complete our health form to receive a medical assessment within 15 minutes.

Preventive measures in case of allergy

To reduce the discomfort of an allergy, you can take several measures:

• Avoid the allergens you are sensitive to
• Clean the home often to reduce the amount of dust and mites
• Use air purifiers to reduce allergens in the home
• Keep track of pollen reports, for example via pollenkoll.se
• Keep windows closed during pollen season
• Choose hypoallergenic products
• Change bedding often

Get help with your allergy problems

Allergies can be a big stress in everyday life, especially if you are allergic to something that is difficult to avoid, but with the right knowledge and treatment, your problems can become easier to manage. The understanding of allergies has increased and today there are several effective treatments and medicines that can help you relieve your symptoms. Seek care if you experience major discomfort or if you suspect you have an allergy but do not know what causes it. Always contact healthcare immediately by calling 112 if you or someone close to you shows signs of anaphylactic shock.