Allergies, also known as allergic diseases, are a number of conditions caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system to something in the environment that usually causes little problem in most people.
Allergens
- Common allergens include pollen and food. Metals and other substances may also cause problems.
- Food, insect stings and medications are common causes of severe reactions. Their development is due to both genetic and environmental factors.
- The underlying mechanism involves immunoglobulin E antibodies (IgE), part of the body’s immune system, binding to an allergen and then to a receptor on mast cells or basophils, where it triggers the release of inflammatory chemicals such as histamine.
About Allergies
- Allergies are common.
- In the developed world, about 20% of people are affected by allergic rhinitis, about 6% of people have at least one food allergy and about 20% have atopic dermatitis at some point in time.
- Depending on the country about 1 and 18% of people have asthma. Anaphylaxis occurs in between 0.05–2% of people.
- Rates of many allergic diseases appear to be increasing.
- The word “allergy” was first used by Clemens von Pirquet in 1906.
Diagnosis
- Diagnosis is typically based on a person’s medical history.
- Further testing of the skin or blood may be useful in certain cases.
- Positive tests, however, may not mean there is a significant allergy to the substance in question.
- Early exposure to potential allergens may be protective.
- Treatments for allergies include avoiding known allergens and the use of medications such as steroids and antihistamines.
Signs and symptoms
- Many allergens such as dust or pollen are airborne particles. In these cases, symptoms arise in areas in contact with air such as eyes, nose and lungs.
- Inhaled allergens can also lead to increased production of mucus in the lungs, shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing.
- Allergic reactions can result from foods, insect stings and reactions to medications like aspirin and antibiotics such as penicillin. Symptoms of food allergy include abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, diarrhoea, itchy skin and swelling of the skin during hives.
- Insect stings, antibiotics and certain medicines produce a systemic allergic response that is also called anaphylaxis; multiple organ systems can be affected including the digestive system, the respiratory system and the circulatory system.
- Depending on the rate of severity, it can cause cutaneous reactions, bronchoconstriction, edema, hypotension, coma and even death.
- This type of reaction can be triggered suddenly or the onset can be delayed
- Substances that come into contact with the skin such as latex are also common causes of allergic reactions and known as contact dermatitis or eczema.
- Skin allergies frequently cause rashes or swelling and inflammation within the skin, in what is known as a “wheal and flare” reaction characteristic of hives and angioedema.
Cause
- Risk factors for allergy can be placed in two general categories, namely host and environmental factors.
- Host factors include heredity, sex, race and age with heredity being by far the most significant.
- However, there have been recent increases in the incidence of allergic disorders that cannot be explained by genetic factors alone.
- Four major environmental candidates are alterations in exposure to infectious diseases during early childhood, environmental pollution, allergen levels and dietary changes.
Homeopathy in Allergies
- Homeopathy is highly effective in the treatment of allergies and fully capable of stimulating the organism to heal to the point of complete relief from all allergy…
- There are a number of ways in which homeopathy can be used to help allergy sufferers.
- There are many homeopathic remedies available for treatment of allergies that can be selected on the basis of cause.
A detailed history followed by constitutional treatment by a good and qualified homeopathic doctor is necessary to treat the complaints that appear. It is not advisable to resort to self-medication for any disease. The remedies mentioned in this presentation are mentioned solely to create awareness homeopathic medicines in dealing with disease conditions.
