Managing Allergies and Its Complications

Allergy occurs when a person reacts to substances in the environment that are harmless to most people. These substances are known as allergens and are found in dust mites, pets, pollen, insects, ticks, mold, foods and some medications. Allergy symptoms range from mild to life-threatening

An allergic reaction begins when an allergen enters the body, triggering an antibody response

Histamine is said to be released by the immune system in response to substances that it believe to pose a threat, which causes allergy symptoms including sneezing, itching, red eyes, coughing, a runny nose, shortness of breath, or swelling.

Understanding these triggers and seeking medical advice can help manage and improve the quality of life for individuals with allergies.

A steady increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases globally has occurred with about 30-40% of the world population now being affected by one or more allergic conditions.

Australia is known to be the allergy capital in the world, with the UK following as a close second. In Australia, food allergies are seen in 10% of infants, 4-8% of children and around 2% of adults

In Nigeria, according to Accuweather, dust from inside your home and the outdoors can contain pet hair and dander, mold spores, and dust mites, which can all trigger allergy symptoms. As a result, you may suffer from a runny nose, watery eyes, and sneezing.

Symptoms of allergies may include, sneezing, wheezing, sinus pain, runny nose, coughing, nettle rash / hives, swelling, itchy eyes, ears, lips throat and mouth, shortness of breath, sickness, vomiting & diarrhea, increase in nasal and airway secretions

The most common causes of allergies are, pollen from trees and grasses, proteins secreted from house dust mites, pets, such as cats and dogs, and other furry or hairy animals (guinea pigs, horses etc.), insects like bees and wasps, mold. Foods such as peanuts, milk, eggs, tree nut as well as medicines