Allergies and other type of immune hypersensitivities

Allergies and other tokencast of immune hypersensitivities atomic number 18 important hateful side effect of our immune system. These enigmas occur in people who gestate a circumstantial hypersensitized tendency. Anyone suffering from hypersensitised reception john realize comfort that there be over 50 million sonny boy American sufferers of this problem. Roughly one in 6 American is impaired with each(prenominal)ergic problem. Fortunately, in very few people allergic tally can become life threatening.In most allergic reaction sufferers problems due to allergic reaction appear to be trivial such(prenominal) as runny nose, sneezing, fretful eyes, sinus problem, rash and skin complaints but these otherwise minor problems can make the allergy sufferers lives quite miserable. Our immune system, essential for defending our bodies against distant organisms, produces antibodies and activated white cells to attack invaders like vir wasting diseases and bacteria. Occasio nally, the immune response responses in an inappropriate or exaggerated response called hyper esthesia. Hypersensitivity is classified into four types lawsuits I, II, three and IV.Types I to Type III hypersensitivities atomic number 18 antibody- liaise plot of land Type IV is a cell mediated hypersensitivity. Type II & III are Immunoglobulin G (IgG) mediated while Type I sensitivity is Immunoglobulin E mediated. The term allergy is confined to IgE mediated reactions or Type I hypersensitivity Levinson, 2004 . Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is our bodys host defense system against genuine parasites such as worms. In produceed countries, where parasitic infection is un parking area, most people have no or very low level of IgE.An allergic reaction or allergy occurs when our bodys immune system mistakenly considers a harmless substance, called allergen as dangerous and starts producing IgE to trigger an allergic reaction Levinson, 2004. Types of Allergies Allergic Rhinitis This type o f allergy wooings swelling of rhinal mucous membrane with respiratory discomforts like sneezing and runny nose by inhaling allergens such as pollen, molds, dust, dander and other allergens. Allergic Conjunctivitis The allergic reaction affects the eyes, redness and itching are the signs of this allergy. BronchoconstrictionWheezing and shortness of breath caused by narrowing of bronchial cavities. Asthma is a serious type of bronchoconstriction. This type of allergy is in addition caused dust, pollen, mites, and other allergens. Ear Allergies The allergens affect ear passages cause pain and impairing hearing. Skin Allergies Itchy rashes, blisters, hives, and jobber dermatitis caused by touching certain substances such a poison ivy or food items are manifestation of this type of allergy. In allergies where swelling occurs as a result of hives, swelling can cause breathing and swallowing difficulties. Food AllergiesCertain pleasant of foods, such as fish egg, nuts and milk can ca use intestinal upsets due to allergic reactions. Time Delayed Allergies An allergic response appearing hours or days subsequently appli roveion or soaking up of an allergen including contact dermatitis and bacterial allergy Allergies, 2006 Anaphylaxis This is the most severe systemic allergic reaction do bronchoconstriction, swelling of body interweaves, vomiting, cramps, skin reactions and drop in affinity pressure, coma and even death Guyton & Hall, 2006. allergy can to a fault be classified on the basis of its effect and allergen as? respiratory Allergies ? Skin Allergies ? Food Allergies ? Asthma ? Drug Allergies ? Sting Allergies Causes & Risk Factors Problems with sane immune responses are believed to be the result of both ge sugaric and purlieual factors. Children of allergic parents are more likely to have similar allergies though the allergens may differ. Allergies, 2006 Genetic research is leading scientists to believe that skin and tissue item genes may be respon sible for causing allergy symptoms NIH, 2000. attempt and anxiety are acknowledged a ballpark cause of allergic reaction.Lenzoff, 1997 subjected patients suspected of multiple chemical sensitivities concluded that in some sufferers allergy symptoms might be triggered by their perception of an environmental insult. Increasing use of chemicals has resulted in introduction of new toxins into the atmosphere. The gain in number of allergy cases during the last decades is much attributed to atmospheric pollution Bornehag et al, 2004. Better identification of problem as allergy and not other minor condition such as low temperature is perhaps also responsible for increased numbers. Allergy or ColdA number of symptoms of common cold are also the symptoms of allergy. It is not unusual to mistake one for the other. The major difference between the cold and flu are Allergy, 2006b Both cold and allergy show the common symptoms of allergy but the cold is also accompanied by febricity and pain. Allergy begins immediately after exposure to the allergen while cold takes a day or more to develop to full strength. Cold is a self terminating diseases and the symptoms disappear in 3 to 7 days while allergies continue till the person remains exposed to the allergen AllergensThe bodys immune system has the capability to attack a foreign organism. If it identifies a substance such as pollen as foreign, even mistakenly, the defense weapon comes into action and IgE is produced to fight off that particular substance. Thus, there pass on be separate IgE for pollen and for dust allergies. There are some(prenominal) allergens as any person could be allergic to a common substance, which is not an allergen to others, but the common allergens include pollen and fungus from weeds, grasses. Trees and outdoor mold, dog and cat dander, dust particles, noxious vapors and smog, foods such as fish, eggs, nuts and dirt ball bites.Signs & Symptoms In addition to the usual sneezing, runny nose, rashes allergy and red or itchy eyes symptoms include atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, headache, earache, hives, coughing, sinusitis, and other discussed above. medical examination Tests & diagnosis Methods/Tools The diagnostic tests for Allergy include Skin rooster Test (SPT) primitive IgE Test cheat of Specific IgE Test Phadiatop handicap Specific IgE pediatric Food Mix fx5 Skin Prick Test Skin prick test is a common and fair method of diagnosing allergy.In this test small amount of suspected allergens are injected either intra-dermally or into the scratching made in the patients skin. Patient allergic to any of the allergen shows a visible inflammation after half an hour. Skin Prick Test (SPT) nevertheless responds to allergens used in the test. In cases where patient is allergic to any other allergen, this test will not show. Some patients with delayed type hypersensitivity may be adversely affected by the test. Total IgE Test Patient blood serum IgE t est is another method used for determining Type I hypersensitivity.The test provides useful indication for allergy. This test however is not considered conclusive. The test measures total IgE value and is said to be only to report existence of allergy 60% of the time Labspec, 2006. The extent of symptoms and type of allergy has an effect on the result. Severe skin allergy shows a higher IgE value than rhinitis or conjunctivitis. Labspec, 2006 also diaphragm out that Standard IgE values appear to vary with ethnicity of the patient. Range of Specific IgE Test Some diagnostic suppliers are manufacturing specific IgE test for allergens.Specific tests for over 400 allergens are available. Some of these specific tests have been approved for routine tests, other are awaiting approval. Labspec, 2006 Phadiatop Assay sooner of testing total IgE or specific test for a single allergen, this test tests serum for a wide range of inspiration allergens. The test is said to be 95% reliable and ca n be used to exclude allergens included in Phadiatop assay. Specific IgE Pediatric Food Mix fx5 His test is similar to Phadiatop Assay, but instead of inhalation allergens, ingestant allergens are tested.This test is still in approval stages for general laboratory use. preaching Options legion(predicate) people with mild allergies avoid seeking medical checkup help, but it is important to know that allergies if left untreated can develop into serious health problems like infections in sinuses, throat and ears, chronic respiratory problems, skin problems such as eczema. The intervention Options for allergies include Avoid allergen environment and/or food Over the counter medication (histamines) Prescription drugs & penniless drops, Allergy shots Allergy Drops Immunotherapy Alternate TherapiesOnce a person knows the substance that causes allergy, the outstrip treatment is to avoid that substance. However avoiding allergen is not always possible as it is not possible to b reathe. Food allergens can be easily avoided When Should I Get Medical Treatment for Allergy, 2006 . In a very braggy number of cases of mild allergy over the counter medication is all one needs to palliate the symptoms. It is important to consult a pertain for over the counter medicine too, as some of these medicines if used excessively can cause serious side effects. Most of the histamines cause drowsiness.Antihistamines and decongestants relieve the symptoms of most allergy sufferers. Again, a physicians advice should be sought. Many new antihistamines relieve the symptoms of allergy without causing drowsiness. In sinus congestion, nasal sprays available on prescription provide quick relief from symptoms of allergy. Allergy shots prevent the allergen from being recognized as a foreign body. This treatment is becoming very popular. Sublingual drops also known as sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) is an alternate to allergy shots and has the same principle of desensitization.Oral application of SLIT is also considered convenient by the patients. Those interested in alternative medicine often recommend several alternate therapies. Dietary supplements are said to increase health of immune system and prevent allergies. The other alternative medicines are beyond the scope of this paper. Allergies, 2006a provides several references to alternative treatment websites. Anaphylaxis essential be considered a medical emergency and immediate medical help must be sought as it can cause low blood pressure, hyper-constriction, coma and even death.Prevention Methods The best stripe is to avoid the allergen responsible for causing the allergy. Cross the counter medicine approved by a patients physician may also be used before coming into contact with allergens. In view of the number of sufferers, various equipments such as make clean cleaners, humidifiers, beddings and air purifiers are available in the market to control municipal allergens. A physician may be able to a dvice about prevention methods about other specific allergies. Bibliography 1.Allergies, (2006a), Alternative Allergy Treatment Options, Online, retrieved from meshing on 10 January 2007, http//allergies. about. com/od/alternatives/Alternative_Allergy_Treatment_Options. htm 2. Allergies, (2006b), Online, retrieved from internet on 10 January 2007, http//www. med-help. net/Allergies. html 3. Allergy, (2006), What is Allergy, Online, retrieved from Internet on 10 January 2007, http//www. setel. com/allergy/Products/allergy 4. Bornehag C, Sundell J, Weschler C, Sigsgaard T, Lundgren B, Hasselgren M, Hagerhed-Engman L (2004).The association between asthma and allergic symptoms in children and phthalates in hall dust a nested case-control study. Environ Health Perspective 112 (14) 1393-7. 5. Guyton, AC, and Hall, JE, (2006), Textbook of Medical Physiology-11th Edition, Published by Elsevier, Pa. , ISBN 13-81-8147-920-3 6. LabSpec, Allergy Diagnostic Tests, (2006) Online, retrieved fr om Internet on 10 January 2007, http//www. labspec. co. za/diag. htm 7. Levinson, W. , (2004), Medical Microbiology & Immunology, 8th Edition, McGraw Hill Companies, ISBN 0-07-143199-3 8. Leznoff. A., (1999), Provocative challenges in patients with multiple chemical sensitivity, J Allergy Clin Immunol 1997 Apr 99 (4)438-42 9. NIH- subject field Institute of Health/ National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), (2000), International Team Accelerates Investigation of Immune-Related Genes, Online, retrieved from Internet on 10 January 2007, http//www3. niaid. nih. gov/news/newsreleases/2000/ihwg. htm 10. When Should I Get Medical Treatment for Allergies? , (2006) Online, retrieved from Internet on 10 January 2007, http//health. howstuffworks. com/allergy-treatments-ga1. htm