44% of British adults now suffer with one or more allergy. Allergies are caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system to something in the environment that to most people would not be a problem. Most allergy symptoms are mild and can be easily managed, however there are situations where a severe allergic reaction can result in serious illness and even death. It is therefore vitally important to understand the differences and know what you are allergic to as early as possible.

Common allergies are caused by airborne particles such as pollen and dust. For example, hayfever causes irritation of the nose, sneezing, itching and redness of the eyes. When allergens are inhaled they can also lead to increased production of mucus, shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing.

Foods, insect stings and medications

Other common allergens result from foods, insect stings and medications. These reactions can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, diarrhoea and hives. Insect stings, food, antibiotics and certain medicines may produce a systemic allergic response that is also called anaphylaxis, during which the digestive system, circulatory system and the respiratory system can all be affected. Depending on the rate of severity, anaphylaxis can include skin reactions, bronchoconstriction, swelling, low blood pressure, coma and death. This type of reaction can be triggered suddenly, or the onset can be delayed.

Most allergies are managed through avoiding the triggers

That all sounds pretty scary, but the truth is most allergies are managed through avoiding the triggers where possible – e.g. nuts – and through medications such as antihistamines, which come in tablet and liquid forms, and in the rare case of anaphylaxis then an epine-phrine injection (often referred to as an epi-pen) may be required. Immunotherapy is sometimes used, particularly in cases of environmental allergies, and is the method of increasing the exposure to the allergen, in order to change the immune system’s response.

Diagnosis is often made through skin prick tests or blood tests, which look for the presence of allergen specific IgE antibodies. The skin prick test usually shows an allergic response within 30 minutes of exposure and blood test results within a few days. One of the main benefits of a blood test is that unlike skin-prick testing, it can be performed irrespective of age, skin condition, medication, symptom, disease activity, and pregnancy.

Remove the allergen from the diet for a set time

Elimination testing is often used for suspected food and medication allergies and involves removing the specific allergen from the diet completely for a set time. If significant improvement is shown, the patient is challenged to reintroduce the allergen gradually to see if symptoms reappear.

If you suspect you or your child may have an allergy, explain your symptom(s) to your GP and they will be able to request the correct allergy testing.