Allergy management and treatment
Advice from Dr Emma Chapman, Okehampton Medical Centre
An allergy is a reaction the body has to a particular food or substance and they are very common, affecting more than one in four people in the UK at some point in their lives. Having an allergy can be a nuisance and affect your everyday activities, but most allergic reactions are mild and can be largely kept under control.
Common allergies
• Grass and tree pollen
• Dust mites
• Animal dander (tiny flakes of skin or hair)
• Food - particularly nuts, fruit, shellfish, eggs and cow’s milk
• Insect bites and stings
• Latex - used to make some gloves and condoms
• Mould - these can release small particles into the air that you can breathe in
• Household chemicals, including those in detergents and hair dyes
Most of these allergens are generally harmless to people who aren’t allergic to them.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction
Allergic reactions usually happen quickly within a few minutes of exposure to an allergen. They can cause sneezing, a runny nose, red, itchy watery eyes, wheezing and coughing, a red itchy rash, worsening of asthma or eczema symptoms. If this occurs take an antihistamine. if it does not improve or is severe contact your GP. Try to identify what triggered the reaction and work to avoid it in the future or take pre-emptive antihistamines.
Prevention
The best way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid the substance that you’re allergic to, although this isn’t always easy or practical. Below is some practical advice to help manage your allergy.
Pets
It’s not the pet fur that causes an allergic reaction. Instead, it’s flakes of their dead skin, saliva and dried urine. If you can’t permanently remove a pet from the house, you could try:
• Keep pets outside as much as possible, or limit them to certain areas in the house and do not let them in the bedroom.
• Wash pets and their bedding/soft furnishings they lay on at least once a week.
• Regularly groom pets outside.
• If you don’t own a pet, taking antihistamine tablets an hour before entering a pet-inhabited house.
Hay fever
To help keep your hay fever under control you could:
• Check weather reports for pollen count and stay indoors when high if possible.
• Avoid drying clothes and bedding outside when pollen count is high.
• Wear wraparound sunglasses to protect eyes
• Shower and change clothes after being outside
• Avoid grassy areas such as parks and fields especially in the early morning, evening or night when pollen count is highest.
Insect bites and stings
When outdoors, particularly in the summer, you could cover exposed skin, wear shoes, apply insect repellant and avoid wearing strong perfume or fragrances, as these can attract insects.
Allergy medications
Medications for mild allergies are available from pharmacies without prescription, but always ask your pharmacist or GP for advice before starting any new medication.
Antihistamines – The main medicines for allergies. They can be used when you notice symptoms of an allergic reaction or to prevent an allergic reaction, for example taking in the morning if you know the pollen count will be high that day.
Decongestants – Can be used as a short-term treatment for a blocked nose caused by an allergic reaction.
Lotions and creams – Red itchy skin caused by an allergic reaction can be treated with over-the-counter cream and lotions such as emollients (moisturising creams) to keep skin soft and protect from allergens, calamine lotion to reduce itchiness or steroids to reduce inflammation.
Dr Emma Chapman