Common condition: allergies - Allergies are among the most frequent chronic conditions in Germany. At least one in five adults suffers from at least one allergy; among children and adolescents, it's one in four. Allergies can be inherited or develop over the course of life. But what exactly are allergies, and how can I recognize them?
Simply put, allergies are a hypersensitivity or dysfunction of the immune system. The immune system is actually our body’s defense team and fights off bacteria and viruses. In the case of an allergy, however, the immune system mistakenly reacts to harmless stimuli or allergy-triggering substances and tries to fight them using specific antibodies. These allergy triggers are called allergens and can include plant pollen, pets, dust mites, or certain foods. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and typically affect the respiratory tract, mucous membranes, eyes, nose, and skin. Sometimes they appear immediately, and other times only after hours or even days.
Typical symptoms of an allergy include:
Allergy symptoms can resemble other illnesses, such as a cold or simple rhinitis. Therefore, if an allergy is suspected, a proper examination and diagnosis is essential — not only to confirm whether an allergy exists but also to identify the specific allergen.
A common sign of allergies is that the parts of the body that came into direct contact with the allergen show symptoms. For example: sneezing and runny nose after inhaling dust, itching and swelling after petting an animal, skin irritation after using cosmetics, or throat swelling after eating certain foods. Existing neurodermatitis (a chronic, non-contagious skin condition) can increase the likelihood of developing allergies. If you're unsure whether you have an allergy but show typical symptoms, you should get tested by your doctor or visit our practice for an allergy screening. Untreated allergies can lead to more severe symptoms and spread throughout the body. An outbreak may affect the respiratory system or trigger an anaphylactic reaction. An untreated allergy can also develop into chronic asthma.
Common types of allergies include:
Your doctor can run various tests to determine whether and to what you are allergic. Generally, allergy-triggering substances are applied to the skin, and the redness or size of the swelling is measured to determine the allergens and the intensity of the reaction.
September 7, 2022