Do you or anyone in your family have allergies? You must have heard some words when talking to a doctor or searching for them on the Internet, right? Allergen, Histamine, Anaphylaxis, corticosteroid ... When you hear words like these, you may feel a little scared and confused. 'What does this mean?' You may be thinking. So, that's why, today we will talk about the simple meaning of some of the words that are often discussed in connection with allergies. Just like explaining it to a friend, very simply.
Let's start from the beginning: What is an allergy?
Simply put, an allergy is when our body's defense system, the immune system , overreacts to something that is actually harmless. Think of our immune system as an army that defends a country. The job of this army is to fight off bad germs and viruses that enter the body and protect us from disease.
But sometimes, this army gets a little agitated. When things that normally don't bother us, like dust, pollen, or certain foods, enter our bodies, we think, 'Here comes a dangerous enemy!' and start a big fight against it. It's as a result of that unnecessary fight that we get allergy symptoms.
Who are the main characters involved in this?
- Allergen: This is the common factor in the story of 'mistaken enemy'. That is, the thing that causes your body to react to an allergen. These can be pollen, dust, animal dander, mold, certain foods, or medications .
- Antibodies: These are special proteins that your immune system makes when it sees an allergen and tries to fight it.
- Mast Cell: This is a special type of cell found in places like our skin, nose, and lungs. When those antibodies come and tell these cells that 'an enemy has arrived,' these cells burst and release a chemical.
- Histamine: This is the main chemical released by mast cells . It is this chemical called histamine that causes many of the symptoms you experience, such as itching, runny nose, red eyes, and red skin.
So, do you understand the scenario? An allergen enters the body -> the immune system becomes agitated -> Histamine is released from mast cells -> you develop allergy symptoms.
What are the main conditions caused by allergies?
Allergies can manifest in many different ways. Some people experience them in the nose, some in the lungs, and some in the skin. Let's take a look at some of the most common conditions.
| Allergic condition | Simply put... |
|---|---|
| Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever) | This is what we also call 'runny nose'. Frequent sneezing, watery discharge from the nose, stuffy nose, itchy eyes, nose, and throat. This is commonly caused by things like tree pollen and dust mites. |
| Asthma | This is when the airways that carry air to the lungs become swollen and narrow. The main symptoms include difficulty breathing, chest tightness, coughing when you are tired, and a 'whooshing' sound when you breathe. |
| Urticaria (Hives) | We call this a 'hive'. Red, swollen, and very itchy bumps appear suddenly on the skin. These can disappear in a matter of minutes or hours, or they can come back. |
| Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) | This is a chronic skin condition. The skin becomes dry, red, cracked, and itchy. Sometimes, blisters develop that ooze a watery liquid. This is common among people with allergies. |
| Anaphylaxis | This is the most dangerous and severe stage of an allergy. This is life-threatening. It becomes difficult to breathe, the throat and tongue swell, blood pressure drops suddenly, and there may be loss of consciousness. This is a condition that requires emergency medical treatment. If such symptoms appear, the patient should be taken to a hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately. |
How does a doctor diagnose an allergy?
If you suspect you have an allergy, a doctor will first ask you about your symptoms in detail. Then, they may do some tests to find out the exact cause of the allergy.
- Skin Prick Test: This involves placing a few drops of a liquid made from the substance you think you are allergic to on your skin and then pricking it with a small prick. If within 15-20 minutes, one of the areas turns red and a welt appears, like a mosquito bite, then you are allergic to that substance.
- Blood Tests (RAST/ELISA): Sometimes a blood sample is taken to check if your body has developed antibodies against a particular allergen.
- Elimination Diet : This is done to find food allergies. You completely eliminate certain foods that you suspect you are allergic to for a few days or weeks to see if your symptoms improve. Then, you reintroduce them one by one to see if your symptoms return. This should only be done under the guidance of a doctor.
What are the treatments for allergies?
When treating an allergy, the best thing to do is to stay as far away from the allergen as possible. But that's not always possible. That's when medication is needed.
Most commonly used drugs
- Antihistamine: These are the most common types of medication. They work by blocking the action of the histamine we talked about earlier. This helps control symptoms like itching and runny nose.
- Decongestant: When the nose is congested, it causes the swollen blood vessels in the nose to shrink, reducing congestion.
- Corticosteroids: These are very powerful anti-inflammatory drugs. That is, they control swelling. They are available as nasal sprays, inhalers, topical creams, and pills.
- Bronchodilators: A type of inhaler given to people with asthma. This works by widening the narrowed airways, making it easier to breathe.
- Epinephrine: This is given for the most dangerous case we talked about, Anaphylaxis . This is an emergency treatment. For some people with severe allergies, a doctor may prescribe an auto-injector to use in an emergency.
- Immunotherapy: This is a long-term treatment. It is also called 'allergy shots'. This involves injecting very small amounts of the substance you are allergic to into your body over time. Over time, your immune system becomes accustomed to it and stops overreacting. This can help to control your allergies almost completely.
Lifestyle changes and prevention
- HEPA Filter: This stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filter. An air purifier with this filter removes very fine particles like dust and pollen from the air in your home, purifying the air.
- Hypoallergenic: If you have skin allergies, choose products that have this word. This means that the products are formulated to minimize the risk of causing allergies.
- Nasal Wash: Washing the inside of the nose with saline water (salt water) can remove allergens trapped in the nose and reduce nasal congestion.
Take-Home Message
- An allergy is not a disease, but an unwanted reaction of our body's immune system.
- The best thing to do is to know exactly what allergens you are allergic to and stay away from them as much as possible.
- There are very effective medications to control symptoms. However, never take any medication you feel like without consulting a doctor.
- If you experience severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat/tongue, or hives, it could be anaphylaxis . It is an emergency, so go to a hospital's ETU immediately.
- Don't be afraid when you see these words. Understanding them will help you talk to your doctor about your condition and make the right decisions.
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