Allergies; Diagnosis.The most common allergic responses are breathing problems like congestion The condition of a network when there is not enough bandwidth to support the current traffic load. congestion - When the offered load of a data communication path exceeds the capacity. , sneezing and wheezing, along with itchy eyes and skin irritation, redness, hives or itch. If you suffer from allergies, you may have only one of these symptoms or several. The symptoms of allergies to airborne substances include: sneezing runny or clogged nose and post-nasal drip coughing itching eyes, nose and throat dark circles under the eyes caused by increased blood flow near the sinuses children often get a crease mark on their noses from rubbing it in an upward direction watering eyes conjunctivitis conjunctivitis (kənjəngtəvī`təs), inflammation or infection of the mucosal membrane that covers the eyeball and lines the eyelid, usually acute, caused by a virus or, less often, by a bacillus, an allergic reaction, or an , or an inflammation of the membrane that lines the eyelids, causing red-rimmed, swollen eyes and crusting of the eyelids wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness from allergic asthma The symptoms of allergies to food or ingested products may include the respiratory problems above and: itching in the mouth trouble breathing or swallowing a drop in blood pressure abdominal pain diarrhea or vomiting hives, skin itching or eczema The main symptom of a contact allergy is an itchy rash, a type of contact dermatitis. Some women develop allergic-type reactions in response to environmental agents, such as cigarette smoke, paint fumes, plastics and perfumes; temperature and humidity changes; and strong smells. These are not true allergic reactions involving antibodies and the release of histamine or other chemicals. Similarly, food intolerances, such as an inability to digest milk products or gluten, or sensitivity to monosodium glutamate (MSG MSG: see glutamic acid. ), are not true food allergies. Also, there are several diseases that share symptoms with food allergies, including ulcers and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. It's not uncommon for women with allergies to develop asthma. The symptoms of asthma include coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath due to a narrowing of the bronchial passages or airways in the lungs and to excess mucus production and inflammation. Similarly, extended bouts of rhinitis Rhinitis Definition Rhinitis is inflammation of the mucous lining of the nose. Description Rhinitis is a nonspecific term that covers infections, allergies, and other disorders whose common feature is the location of their symptoms. can lead to the more painful and dangerous sinusitis sinusitis Inflammation of the sinuses. Acute sinusitis, usually due to infections such as the common cold, causes localized pain and tenderness, nasal obstruction and discharge, and malaise. . If you suspect you have an allergy and it bothers you to the point you'd like to seek treatment, you can see a general practitioner or an allergist al·ler·gist n. A physician specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies. allergist Immunology A physician, who is often trained in both internal medicine and clinical immunology and who manages Pts with . If you have cold-like symptoms that last for more than two weeks, you should seek treatment. These symptoms can lead to sinusitis, which may require more aggressive treatment. Your health care professional will discuss with you your medical history, your symptoms, and when they occur. You should be prepared to answer questions such as: Do allergies run in your family? If so, which relatives have them, and what are they allergic to? Do you develop recurring symptoms at certain times of the year? Does being around pets or eating certain types of foods cause symptoms to flare? How long do your symptoms last? What seems to make symptoms worse? What makes them better? Have you tried any medications to alleviate your symptoms? Which, if any, medications have helped? Are you currently taking any medications? If so, which ones specifically? (It's often helpful to bring any medications you're taking to the appointment with you.) Are you allergic to any medications? Your health care professional will examine your nasal mucous membranes, which often appear swollen and pale or bluish blu·ish also blue·ish adj. Somewhat blue. blu  ish·ness n. in women with
allergies. If you have a suspected food allergy, he or she may ask you
to keep a food/diet diary.
Health care professionals often use skin tests to determine the exact nature of the allergy. He or she will inject diluted extracts from allergens--particular foods, pollens, dust mites, etc.--under your skin or to a tiny scratch or puncture on your arm or back. With a positive reaction, a small, raised, reddened area with a surrounding flush will appear at the test site, indicating antibodies to that specific allergen allergen /al·ler·gen/ (al´er-jen) an antigenic substance capable of producing immediate hypersensitivity (allergy).allergen´ic pollen allergen are present in the skin. Your health care professional might also do a blood test, which is not as sensitive as a skin test. Using a sample of your blood, the test looks for levels of antibodies to particular allergens. If your health care professional suspects a food allergy, he or she may try an elimination diet, but only if your reactions are not severe. This technique involves not eating any of the suspected trigger foods for a week or two to see if your symptoms go away. Then, you eat the food to see if the symptoms come back. The final method used to objectively diagnose food allergy is the double-blind food challenge. You ingest a dried (or otherwise modified) form of suspect food--usually in a capsule form--under clinical supervision to see if a reaction occurs. Neither you nor the health care professional knows which capsule contains the allergen. This test can't be used if your reactions are severe. It's rarely performed because of its high cost and is used more often to rule out a food allergy in cases in which your health care professional suspects the reactions are due to something else. References "Food allergies." Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for and controlling asthma, food allergies, nasal allergies and other allergic diseases. AAFA's mission is also to educate the public about these diseases. . http://www.aafa.org. Accessed May 2008. "Allergy statistics." The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org. 2008. Accessed May 2008. "Food Allergy." The Mayo Clinic. February 2007. http://www.mayoclinic.com. Accessed May 2008. "When pregnancy is complicated by allergies and asthma." The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.acaai.org. Accessed May 2008. "About food allergies." The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 2008. http://www.acaai.org. Accessed May 2008. "Pollen and mold counts." The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. http://www.aafa.org. Accessed May 2008. "Diagnostic tools for food allergy." Uptodate.com. January 2008. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed May 2008. "Tips to remember: Allergy and asthma medications." The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 2008. http://www.aaaai.org. Accessed May 2008. "Advice from your allergist: rhinitis." The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.acaai.org. Accessed May 2008. "Tips to remember: outdoor allergens." The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 2008. http://www.aaaai.org. Accessed May 2008. National Women's Health Report. "Indoor Allergens & Women's Health." Reprinted May 2006. National Women's Health Resource Center. http://www.healthywomen.org. Accessed May 21, 2008. "Allergy shots: Hope for long-term allergy relief." MayoClinic.com. Last updated January 2008. http://www.mayoclinic.com. Accessed May 2008. "EczemaNet." Information from the American Academy of Dermatology.http://www.skincarephysicians.com. Accessed May 2008. "Omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid." The National Institutes of Health. March 2008. http://www.nlm.nih.gov. Accessed May 2008. "Eczema." The University of Maryland University of Maryland can refer to:
"Sublingual Immunotherapy." The University of Texas Health Center at Tyler The University of Texas Health Center at Tyler (UTHCT) is a health institution located in Tyler, Texas. Originally named "East Texas Tuberculosis Sanitarium", it was established in 1947 as a tuberculosis treatment facility at the located of Camp Fannin. . 2008. http://www.uthct.edu. Accessed May 2008. "Executive Summary of the NAEEP Expert Panel Report: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma - Update on Selected Topics 2002." National Asthma Education Program, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov. Accessed June 2002. "Allergy Facts." Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Copyright 2000-2003. http://www.aafa.org, Accessed Nov. 2003. "Allergy Research." The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID NIAID National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. )http://www.niaid.nih.gov. Accessed Aug. 2001. "Answers to Frequently Asked Questions." Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis anaphylaxis (ăn'əfəlăk`sĭs), hypersensitive state that may develop after introduction of a foreign protein or other antigen into the body tissues. Network. Updated Oct. 2003. http://www.foodallergy.org. Accessed Nov. 2003. "Fact Sheet: Allergy and Asthma Statistics." National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health. Updated June 2003. http://www.niaid.nih.gov. Accessed Nov. 2003. MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program. Revised Nov. 2003. http://www.fda.gov. Accessed Nov. 2003. The Allergy Report. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, http://www.theallergyreport.org. Accessed Nov. 2003 Allergic rhinitis in www.bestdoctors.com. Updated Nov. 2000. http://www.bestdoctors.com. Accessed Nov. 2003. "FDA Approves OTC OTC See: Over-the-counter. OTC See over-the-counter market (OTC). Claritin" FDA News, U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Nov. 27, 2002. http://www.fda.gov. Accessed Nov. 2003. "Xolair" Genentech Corp. Full prescribing information. http://www.gene.com. Accessed Nov. 2003. Keywords: allergies, allergy, itching, food allergy, symptoms of allergies, women with allergies, asthma, hives |
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