All about allergy

Author: Rick Kulkarni, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, David Geffen UCLA School of Medicine; Director of Informatics, Department of Emergency Medicine, UCLA/Olive View-UCLA Medical Center
Coauthor(s): Kathryn L Hale, MS, PA-C, Medical Writer, eMedicine.com, Inc
Editors: Richard F Lockey, MD, Joy McCann Culverhouse Chair of Allergy and Immunology, Director, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Professor of […]

In almost everyone who has an allergic reaction to house dust, symptoms will improve with treatment.
If the allergy is to animal dander, removal of the animal will result in gradual disappearance of symptoms.
You may notice significant improvement in 2-3 weeks, but it may take 6 months or longer for your symptoms to resolve.
The vast majority […]

The single best thing you can do to stop the reaction is to reduce your exposure to the allergens.
If it is animal dander causing your allergic reaction, you do have options.
Keeping the animal outdoors all the time is a partial solution, but your home will still have greater amounts of dander than if the animal […]

If your symptoms are severe enough or last long enough to require treatment by a medical professional, follow his or her treatment recommendations. Take all prescribed medications as directed.
 
Allergy journal

Allergy shots: These are given to some people who have persistent and disruptive allergy symptoms.
The shots do not treat symptoms, but by altering the immune response, they prevent future allergic reactions. (This is referred to as allergen immunotherapy.)
Treatment involves a series of shots, each containing a slightly greater amount of the allergen(s) that cause the […]

Antihistamines include older antihistamines, also called first-generation antihistamines, and newer second-generation antihistamines.
First-generation antihistamines: Most of these antihistamines are available without a prescription, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), clemastine (Tavist), and chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton Allergy). These older antihistamines are more likely to cause drowsiness. Depending on the product, the duration of action is often shorter than newer antihistamines […]

If symptoms do not improve, your physician may prescribe one or more medications. The medications do not cure the allergy, but relieve symptoms.
 
Allergy journal

Nonprescription antihistamine medication such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) by mouth reduces the itch and watery eyes. Caution - these medications may make you too drowsy to drive or operate machinery safely. They can interfere with concentration or with children’s learning at school. They are to be used for a few days only.
 
Allergy journal

The single best thing you can do is remove the allergen from your environment (see Prevention). A variety of medications can be used to treat hay fever, eye symptoms, and asthma.
 
Allergy journal

Generally, your physician will be able to identify the problem by examining you and asking questions. Treatment can begin without further evaluation or testing.
Tests and x-ray films are not required except under unusual circumstances.
If you don’t respond well to treatment or if there is any doubt about what is causing the reaction, an allergy specialist […]

If the symptoms of the allergic reaction worsen or do not improve with removal of the allergen, call a physician. If you are having persistent nasal, eye, or chest symptoms, see your doctor. If your respiratory problems are severe (e.g., shortness of breath, difficulty breathing), go to the emergency department or seek care from your […]

The usual symptoms of indoor allergic reactions are those of many other allergic reactions:
Itchy, stuffy nose
Clear nasal discharge
Itchy, watery, swollen, bloodshot eyes
Sneezing
Scratchy, swollen throat
Cough
Wheezing
Tightness in the chest
Reactions to animal allergens may be very mild or quite severe. Symptoms may occur immediately after exposure to the allergen, or they may build gradually for 8-12 hours after […]

An allergic sensitivity is a reaction of the immune system to a foreign “invader,” a substance that is not native to your body. Exposure to this invader, an allergen, triggers the reaction.
When the allergen particles come to rest in the linings of the eyes, nose, or airway of a susceptible person, an allergic reaction can […]

Most people with asthma or hay fever or other outdoor allergies think of their home as a haven where they can escape their allergies. Unfortunately, houses and apartment buildings harbor their own allergens (agents that cause allergy symptoms). The inside of your home actually traps allergens, making them impossible to avoid.
Although many allergens in your […]