All about allergy

Author: Parag A Majmudar, MD, Fellowship Co-Director, Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service, Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke’s Medical Center.
Coauthor(s): Lauri Graham, Medical Writer, eMedicine.com, Inc.
Editors: Richard W Allinson, MD, Associate Professor, Division of Ophthalmology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Scott and White Clinic; Mary L Windle, […]

Most people with SAC and PAC have nothing to worry about more than it being an annoying inconvenience. Although your symptoms might make the activities of daily living miserable for you, no long-term vision loss is to be expected.
 
Allergy journal

Unfortunately, other than avoidance of the allergen(s), PAC and SAC cannot be prevented.
 
Allergy journal

Follow-up appointments are scheduled as needed.
For mild cases of PAC and SAC, annual follow-up visits with an ophthalmologist may be appropriate.
For more severe cases or for intermittent exacerbations of normally mild disease, more frequent visits with an ophthalmologist may be required.
 
Allergy journal

Prescription eyedrops are generally very effective, and, because they are applied topically, eyedrops are usually free of many systemic side effects. Most eyedrops are used twice a day, and many can be used to prevent the allergic reaction in the first place. Some common allergy eyedrops include:
Nedocromil (Alocril)
Ketotifen (Zaditor)
Olopatadine (Patanol)
Azelastine (Optivar)
Pemirolast (Alamast)
Epinastine (Elestat)
Your ophthalmologist may […]

Numerous over-the-counter medications, such as allergy eyedrops and oral antihistamines, can be used as directed for mild allergies. In addition, many prescription eyedrops are also available to help reduce allergies.
 
Allergy journal

Self-Care at Home
With allergies, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Avoidance of the allergen(s) is the mainstay in the treatment of allergies. If you can identify and avoid the particular agent that you are allergic to, your symptoms will improve dramatically.
To further help alleviate your symptoms, you may want to try […]

Frequently, your ophthalmologist is able to diagnose ocular allergies from your complaints alone. As part of the eye examination, your eyes are examined to help rule out other problems.
The front of your eyes are examined using a special microscope, called a slit lamp. Using the slit lamp, your ophthalmologist checks your eyes for dilated blood […]

If you suffer from allergies but can identify and avoid whatever you are allergic to, your allergies should improve markedly. If you are unable to identify or avoid the allergens, seeking care for your ocular allergies from an ophthalmologist (a medical doctor who specializes in eye care and surgery) may help to make them more […]

SAC and PAC have identical symptoms, only the timing of the symptoms is different.
With SAC, your symptoms are generally limited to a particular season (ie, spring, summer, fall).
With PAC, your symptoms probably last all year.
Almost always, the symptom of itching indicates an allergic reaction. This is true of allergic conjunctivitis, where the primary symptom is […]

Ocular (eye) allergies often affect the conjunctiva, a clear layer of skin overlying the eyes. This clear layer of skin is the same type of skin that lines the inside surface of the nose. Because these two areas are so similar, the same allergens (substances that induce an allergic reaction) can trigger the same allergic […]

Up to 50 million Americans suffer from the miseries of allergies, with allergic reactions involving the eyes being a common complaint. An allergic reaction that affects the conjunctiva, a clear layer of skin overlying the eyes, is commonly referred to as allergic conjunctivitis.
Allergic conjunctivitis is divided into several major subtypes, but the most common subtypes […]

Author: Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP
Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Previous contributing authors and editors: John A Calomeni, MD, JD, Consulting Staff, Department of Emergency Medicine, Seton Medical Center; Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM, Research Director, Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, […]

With appropriate and timely treatment, you can expect full recovery. With severe anaphylaxis, although rare, people may die from low blood pressure (shock) or respiratory and cardiac arrest.
 
Allergy journal

Strictly avoid contact with the substance (allergen) that was the trigger.
If the trigger is a food, you must learn to read food labels carefully. When ordering foods at restaurants or eating in friends’ homes, ask about ingredients. Be aware of ingredients that may contain triggers. Avoid eating foods if you can’t confirm their ingredients. If […]

You will usually be observed for at least six hours after the beginning of the reaction. Occasionally, a reaction will seem to get better and then recur, and even worsen, in a few hours. Sometimes the severity of the reaction will require admission to the hospital.
Upon leaving the hospital emergency department, you should immediately obtain […]

Epinephrine - Given in severe allergic reactions, epinephrine is extremely effective and fast-acting; it acts by constricting blood vessels, which increases blood pressure, and widening the airway. Epinephrine is given by injection into the muscle, through an IV line, or by injection under the skin.
H1-receptor blockers/antihistamines - Usually diphenhydramine (Benadryl); these drugs do not stop […]

The first priority in the emergency department is to protect the airway (breathing) and maintain adequate blood pressure.
The emergency team will make sure that your airway is open and that you are getting adequate oxygen.
Oxygen may be given through tubes into the nose or by face mask.
In severe respiratory distress, mechanical ventilation may be required. […]

Severe Allergic Reaction Treatment
Self-Care at Home
Do not attempt to treat severe reactions or to “wait it out” at home. Go immediately to the nearest emergency department or call an ambulance.
While waiting for the ambulance, try to stay calm.
If you can identify the cause of the reaction, prevent further exposure.
Take an antihistamine (one to two tablets […]

Anaphylactic reactions are diagnosed solely on the basis of signs and symptoms.
No specific tests are helpful.
Your health care provider may order tests to rule out other conditions.
 
Allergy journal

Act quickly if someone experiences the symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction. True anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment in an emergency department of a hospital, where the person can be watched closely and life-saving treatment can be given.
It is impossible to predict how severe the allergic reaction will be. Any person who […]

The symptoms of anaphylaxis can vary. In some people, the reaction begins very slowly, but in most the symptoms appear rapidly and abruptly.
The most severe and life-threatening symptoms are difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness.
Difficulty breathing is due to swelling and/or spasm in the airways (which can include swelling of the tongue or the airways). […]

An anaphylactic reaction occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to an antigen, which it recognizes as an “invader” or foreign substance.
The body’s white blood cells produce substances called antibodies as a reaction to that antigen. The antibodies circulate in the bloodstream and attach themselves to certain cells in the body.
In an allergic reaction, the […]

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that occurs rapidly and causes a life-threatening response involving the whole body. This reaction can lead to difficulty breathing and shock ultimately leading to death.
For an anaphylactic reaction to occur, you must have been exposed in the past to the substance that causes the reaction, called the antigen. This […]

Author: Daniel Jobe, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Internal Medicine, Cornerstone Health Care.
Coauthor(s): Zoe Diana Draelos, MD, PA, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University; Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine.
Editors: Patrick Taylor, MD, FAAEM, Medical Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, CHRISTUS St Frances Cabrini Hospital; Francisco Talavera, […]

The rash and itching usually get better gradually and go away completely in two to three weeks. Treatment should be continued at least this long because the rash can come back if medicines are stopped too soon. You may have temporary darkening of your skin when the rash disappears.
Surrounding redness, pain, and pus can indicate […]

Avoid these plants. Learn what they look like in your area. Be aware that their appearance can vary with the seasons.
Do not burn the plants. Burning can release the allergens into the air.
Wear proper clothing to protect your skin, such as gloves, long sleeves, and long pants.
Bathe pets that may have the oil on their […]

If you are treated by a medical professional, follow his or her recommendations exactly. Use all medications as directed.
Return to your health care provider if the symptoms do not begin to improve in two weeks.
 
Allergy journal

Topical corticosteroid creams (prescription strength) - These reduce the immune response and relieve inflammatory symptoms.
Oral corticosteroid medication (such as prednisone) - These have effects similar to those of the creams but are needed for a more severe or widespread reaction. A course of steroids can run from three days to as long as four weeks.
Oral […]

Like most allergic reactions, treatment is dictated by the severity of the reaction. Reactions that cover a large proportion of your body, make you uncomfortable enough to disrupt your normal activities, or do not get better within a few days may require treatment with prescription medications.
 
Allergy journal