Allergy is a suffering caused by the body being hypersensitive to something eaten or inhaled or applied over the body. It occurs when the body being exposed to certain substance becomes sensitive to it and antibodies are formed against the offending substance or antigen.  On subsequent exposure, antibodies in the body (protective protein groups) combine with this antigen and produce reaction which cause suffering to the individual.

 Allergy may be manifested in mild forms like sneezing, frequent cold, dry cough, mild itching with few eruptions/ rashes on the skin. Severe attack of asthma or urticaria can be more troublesome.  Anaphylaxis is a fatal form of   allergic state.

Tendency for allergy is usually hereditary. Diseases like bronchial asthma, frequent cold, etc., run in families.  Sometimes it can be due to external causes like worm infestations. 

An individual may have only one manifestation of allergy, like recurrent sneezing. But some   persons may have multiple manifestations. There can be recurrent cold, cough, asthma and or skin rashes. Life becomes miserable for such people. Repeated cold, cough or skin troubles make them susceptible to secondary infections,   thus getting sicker. Recurrent health-related problems affect their work.

Allergic disorders can occur at any age in both genders. Allergy can occur to any substance under the sun including the sun itself.  People do have allergy to sunlight, where they develop blisters or rashes after exposure to sunlight. Common allergy causing substances in the environment   are house dust, pollens and spores, droppings of insects and pests. Many people are allergic to smoke, exhaust fumes from vehicles, pesticides, petroleum products. Some women have allergy to cosmetics. Metal and plastic jewelry is also implicated in allergy. Toilet products, soaps, lotions, room and car fresheners etc.,  also cause allergy in many people. Drugs particularly pain killers and antibiotics can cause allergy in sensitive people.

 Chemicals added as preservatives, flavoring agents’ additives in food substances cause allergies in some persons.   Some individuals develop allergic reactions to naturally occurring   food substances. Protein rich foods like beans, groundnuts, milk and milk products are the common causative substances.

A sickness is diagnosed to be allergic in nature because of its repetitive nature, history of similar or related problems in other family members and demonstration of high eosinophil (white blood cells signifying allergy) counts in the blood or sputum. Skin tests are a battery of tests which can help to identify the substance/substances causing allergy. In this the potential allergy producing substance is injected subcutaneously and the reaction is watched after 24 to 48 hours.  These tests are expensive, cumbersome and also risky.

Even after diagnosis, these conditions are incurable.  Anti allergic medicines provide only symptomatic relief. Corticosteroids are used to suppress allergic reactions but in long term have adverse effects which can make the person sicker. Desensitisation is a process where small amounts of allergy producing substance is given regularly   so that body gets familiar to it and reaction to it is stopped. But again it is expensive, cumbersome as well as risky.

An individual should learn to live with,” allergy”. He can judge   by observation as to what substances are causing allergy. This applies to substances applied on body or eaten. They can be very well avoided to avoid allergic problems.  In situations involving exposure to dust, it is advisable to cover the nose.  

As far as possible, one should use natural substances in place of chemicals as chances of allergy are more with chemicals.

Allergy though troublesome can be managed enough to keep oneself comfortable.

 Dr Rachna Pande is a specialist in internal medicine at Ruhengeri Hospital

rachna212002@yahoo.co.uk