EYE ALLERGIES TO BE ENDURED NO MORE!
As spring/summer approaches there is a spate of children with itching and redness of the eyes. Most of these children suffer from spring catarrh (Vernal Kerato Conjunctivitis or VKC) or sometimes seasonal allergic conjunctivitis VKC is more common in young boys but affects girls as well. It usually affects children between 3 to 16 years of age, though it may appear earlier than that and continue into adulthood. In the majority of cases, symptoms resolve at puberty. Although the name suggests a seasonal spring time occurrence, frequently the disease persists throughout the year with exacerbations episodically.SYMPTOMS include intense itching, irritation, photophobia (sensitivity to light) and burning. The itching is worse with exposure to wind, dust, and bright light and hot weather. Some patients complain of a sticky, stringy mucous discharge. There may be associated runny nose or sinusitis and some children even have allergic asthma
TREATMENT IS SYMPTOMATIC AND TAILORED TO THE SEVERITY OF THE DISEASE
Apart from medication, eye hygiene and protective eyewear to minimise exposure to the allergen (pollen or dust), as well as cold compresses, help in controlling the symptoms MEDICATION. Artificial tear substitutes provide a barrier function and help to improve the first-line defence at the level of conjunctival mucosa. These agents help to dilute various allergens and inflammatory mediators that may be present on the ocular surface, and they help flush the ocular surface of these agents. Chilled artificial tears can provide symptomatic relief as well. Those with milder symptoms are given topical antihistamines (epinastine and azelastine) which are very effective in controlling the itch.though they sometimes cause dryness. Simultaneously mast cell stabilisers such as sodium cromoglycate or newer agents such as olopatadine & bepostatine are started. The mast cell stabilisers generally do not relieve existing symptoms and thus are not effective alone when symptoms are active They must be used regularly three to four times daily, continued even when there are no symptoms in order to stabilise the mast cells and prevent the release of histamine and recurrence of symptoms. They can limit or stop the use of steroid drops over the course of the disease. They do not have any of the side effects of steroids and can, therefore, be used for a prolonged period. Those presenting with more severe disease are given topical steroid drops (e.g. prednisolone, dexamethasone. To be used 4-6 times a day-sometimes even 2 hourly. The steroid can also be given in an ointment form to be used at bedtime. A mast cell stabiliser should be started simultaneously. Steroids should be used frequently initially and then tapered to a stop once the acute stage of the disease is stabilised (usually a couple of weeks). Their use requires monitoring because of the possible effect on intraocular pressure. Long term unsupervised use can lead to glaucoma and cataract. Those not responding to conventional treatment may be given supratarsal (into the lid) injection of steroids (long-acting steroids such as triamcinolone and shorter-acting steroids dexamethasone). In very young children this may necessitate short general anaesthesia. Topical cyclosporine or tacrolimus(immunomodulators) may be effective in reducing some of the signs and symptoms of VKC without adverse effects of steroid(steroid-sparing regimen) and are used in the treatment of more severe ocular allergies. Oral antihistamines may be useful if the allergy is more widespread, affecting the nose and sinuses as well. Montelukast & cetirizine orally are other agents that have been used for symptomatic relief
REMEMBER!
Seeking help early and adequate treatment (often long term) is the key to controlling the disease and preventing serious side effects (which thankfully are uncommon). Apart from medication the role of hygiene and protective eyewear to minimise exposure to the allergen (pollen or dust) as well as cold compresses cannot be emphasised enough. Poorly controlled disease apart from making the child miserable runs the risk of complications like corneal scarring /weakening with resultant keratoconus-which have serious visual consequences. Unregimented self-medication runs the risk of major side effects like cataract and glaucoma due to unwarranted steroid overuse.
Allergies, or allergic reactions, are common occurrences, which are caused by unnatural reactions between your body's immune system and foreign substances, which have gained access into the body. When these substances, known as allergens, enter your body, your immune system produces antibodies, which are responsible for warding off unwanted substances like harmful viruses or diseases and helping in the body's overall resistance.
However, when antibodies identify a particular allergen as harmful, when it really isn't, a reaction occurs which may lead to inflammation or infection of the skin, sinuses, the digestive tract and the respiratory tract, among others. Allergies usually differ from individual to individual and can vary from mild skin irritations to fatal life-threatening emergencies.
Symptoms
Symptoms of allergies depend upon a wide range of factors, which are subjective and vary from person to person and from allergen to allergen. Depending upon the type of allergen involved and the nature of the allergy, symptoms may include any of the following:
These symptoms are common in mild to moderate allergies, such as atopic dermatitis, hay fever, drug or food allergies. There are certain rare cases (say, scorpion stings), however, in which the allergic reaction turns out to be potentially life-threatening. This type of reaction is known as anaphylaxis. Here are its signs and symptoms:
Causes
The main cause of allergy is the uncontrolled reaction between the immune system's antibodies and harmless allergens. Allergic reactions are triggered when antibodies, like histamine, come into contact with particular types of allergens. These may include:
Allergies, or allergic reactions, are common occurrences which are caused by unnatural reactions between your body's immune system and foreign substances which have gained access into the body. When these substances, known as allergens, enter your body, your immune system produces antibodies which are responsible for warding off unwanted substances like harmful viruses or diseases and helping in the body's overall resistance.
However, when your antibodies identify a particular allergen as harmful, when it really isn't, a reaction occurs which may lead to inflammation or infection of the skin, sinuses, the digestive tract and the respiratory tract, among others.
Allergies usually differ from individual to individual and can vary from mild skin irritations to fatal life-threatening emergencies.
Symptoms
Symptoms of allergies depend upon a wide range of factors which are subjective and vary from person to person and from allergen to allergen.
Depending upon the type of allergen involved and the nature of the allergy, symptoms may include any of the following:
1. Sneezing
2. Running nose
3. Severe itching
4. Swollen or red and watery eyes
5. Hives
6. Rashes
7. Facial swelling
8. Wheezing
9. Flaky skin which can peel off
These symptoms are common in mild to moderate allergies such as atopic dermatitis, hay fever, drug or food allergies. There are certain rare cases (say, scorpion stings), however, in which the allergic reaction turns out to be potentially life-threatening. This type of reaction is known as anaphylaxis. Here are its signs and symptoms:
1. Intense shortness of breath
2. Lightheadedness
3. Nausea and vomiting
4. Loss of consciousness
5. Skin rashes
6. Weak pulse
7. A significant drop in blood pressure
Causes
The main cause of allergies is the uncontrolled reaction between the immune system's antibodies and harmless allergens. Allergic reactions are triggered when antibodies, like histamine, come into contact with particular types of allergens. These may include:
1. Airborne allergens - pollen, mold, or dust mites
2. Insect stings - bee stings or scorpion stings
3. Certain eatables - peanuts or sea food
4. Medications - penicillin or penicillin-based antibiotics
5. Latex or other substances which are responsible for causing allergic skin reactions
Allergies, or allergic reactions, are common occurrences, which are caused by unnatural reactions between your body's immune system and foreign substances, which have gained access into the body. When these substances, known as allergens, enter your body, your immune system produces antibodies, which are responsible for warding off unwanted substances like harmful viruses or diseases and helping in the body's overall resistance.
However, when antibodies identify a particular allergen as harmful, when it really isn't, a reaction occurs which may lead to inflammation or infection of the skin, sinuses, the digestive tract and the respiratory tract, among others. Allergies usually differ from individual to individual and can vary from mild skin irritations to fatal life-threatening emergencies.
Symptoms
Symptoms of allergies depend upon a wide range of factors, which are subjective and vary from person to person and from allergen to allergen. Depending upon the type of allergen involved and the nature of the allergy, symptoms may include any of the following:
These symptoms are common in mild to moderate allergies, such as atopic dermatitis, hay fever, drug or food allergies. There are certain rare cases (say, scorpion stings), however, in which the allergic reaction turns out to be potentially life-threatening. This type of reaction is known as anaphylaxis. Here are its signs and symptoms:
Causes
The main cause of allergy is the uncontrolled reaction between the immune system's antibodies and harmless allergens. Allergic reactions are triggered when antibodies, like histamine, come into contact with particular types of allergens. These may include:
Allergic Rhinitis or Hay Fever is an allergic reaction that affects the upper respiratory passage. As of 2016, about 20-30% of the Indian population has been affected by allergic rhinitis, with the count going up to about 62% in Asia. Like other allergies, rhinitis occurs in response to certain triggers called allergens when they are breathed in. This article shall concisely tell you everything you need to know about this very common condition.
Types:
Allergic Rhinitis may be of two types- the seasonal allergy in which allergic reactions occur at a particular time of the year, in response to the triggering factors that increase in abundance at that time, and the perennial allergy whose trigger factors are present around the year.
Symptoms:
The symptoms of allergic rhinitis appear suddenly and violently. These include:
One or more of these symptoms may occur simultaneously during rhinitis. In seasonal allergy, symptoms may appear at certain times of the year, while they may appear at any time in the case of perennial allergy. Fever does not occur usually.
Causes:
Rhinitis symptoms occur when an allergic reaction is triggered by histamine secreted by the body in response to one or more of the following allergens:
Seasonal allergies are mostly caused due to pollens from trees in spring and from grasses through summer and fall.
Diagnosis:
Allergic Rhinitis is usually diagnosed by its symptoms. Sometimes a skin prick test is performed to determine the exact substance causing the reaction. A Radioallergosorbent test or RAST is performed to measure the extent of reaction to an allergen.
Risk Factors:
Allergic rhinitis occurs due to an abnormality in the immune response of the body and can affect anybody. However, certain risk factors greatly increase your chances of having an allergy. These include:
Treatment:
Allergic rhinitis has no permanent cure. Only the symptoms can be effectively managed by one or more of the following:
In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!
Have you been sneezing frequently? Have you been feeling congestion in the chest or have a stuffy, itchy or a runny nose? If yes, it is possible that you may be suffering from nasal allergy. It is an inflammatory reaction caused due to dust mites, animal hair, pollens, and pollutants. Individuals who suffer from nasal allergies experience symptoms like nasal congestion and sneezing which tend to last for the whole day. To get a relief from the symptoms of nasal allergy, you must observe the signs of allergy and consult with an ENT or Ear-Nose-Throat specialist for effective results.
If the nasal allergy symptoms are left untreated in the early stage, then it might gradually worsen over time. So, the best way to prevent other complications is by paying attention or recognizing the allergy signs instead of ignoring them. For your convenience, here you will get to know about some of the basic symptoms which might assist you in this regard.
Three primary symptoms which you must not ignore:
Foods that might help prevent nasal allergy:
Warm fluids like hot tea or warm chicken soup or any other fluids assist in treating congestion. Studies suggest the fact that fish containing healthy omega- 3 fatty acids might prove beneficial in decreasing the risk of allergies. So, sufferers of nasal allergy might intake fish like salmon, mackerel, and tuna. According to some research, healthy bacteria termed probiotics which are present in yogurt may help slightly lower the symptoms of pollen allergy in kids.
So, the best way to deal with nasal allergies is by identifying the common symptoms and visiting an ENT specialist as soon as possible. The specialist may prescribe you the best treatment depensing on your condition.
In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!
Is Acupuncture any good against allergies?
An allergy is the result of hypersensitivity of the antibodies in your body to otherwise harmless foreign substances. Conventional practices rely on suppressing the function of antibodies to cure allergies but fail to address the root problem of hypersensitivity. It may also present a series of undesirable side effects that hamper your productivity.
If you are tired of the regular use of medication that accompanies your chronic allergies, you might consider the Chinese practice of acupuncture to cure you instead. A session with a licensed acupuncturist not only cures rashes and redness, stuffed nose, breathlessness, nausea etc. that present themselves with allergies but also act on the real problem of hypersensitivity. Acupuncture cleanses your body from within and is being increasingly accepted as an alternate practice to cure a range of ailments.
Causes of Allergies -
The diverse causes of allergies can be grouped under the following -
• Dust mites and pollen- Dust and pollen constitute a group of potential allergens that affect the respiratory tract
• Food - The chemicals in some foods can be potential allergens
• Drugs - Unnatural physical response to certain medications cause allergies
• Animals and insects - The proteins in the organisms’ body may cause allergies
• Mold - Inhalation of mold spores may trigger an allergic reaction in your body
• Contact dermatitis - Contact with certain substance can trigger allergies, causing irritation in the skin
• Seasonal allergies - Certain allergies are triggered by annual seasonal changes
Treating allergies with acupuncture -
Acupuncture is based on the 8000-year-old Chinese practice of channelling energy or qi through the body by inserting needles at specified points in the body, to various depths. Although the premise of acupuncture remains scientifically uncertain, its effectiveness has been demonstrated in practical areas.
• In acupuncture, an allergy is a response to blockage in channels through which energy flows in our body. The logic behind the treatment is releasing this blockage by means of needles to restore balanced energy flow and consequently health.
• Acupuncture initiates the self-healing abilities of the body and most people feel better with very little or no use medicines.
• The success of acupuncture in treating allergies, especially seasonal allergies is rather high. However, equally high are the results that highlight the placebo effect of acupuncture.
Although acupuncture remains to be clinically proven, it has presented impressive results when it comes to treating allergies, especially those of the chronic seasonal variety. It can eliminate the side effects of medication, though the time taken for cure varies from individual to individual and their body’s specific response to acupuncture. If you are looking for alternate practices that relieve you of allergies, acupuncture may just be the thing to try.
Homoeopathy is a natural and sophisticated therapy of medicine that treats each individual based on their healing ability. For example, if two individuals are suffering from the same kind of illness, they may receive different composition depending on how their body would be expected to react. It is recognised as a world's second largest therapeutic system by WHO(World Health Organization). Homoeopathy is suitable for all kind of people and works on the principle "Like Cures Like".
An allergy occurs when your immune system responds to a foreign substance. Various types of allergy occur in our day to day life. Some are seasonal and others are throughout the year. Many of seasonal allergies can be treated with Homeopathic therapy.
The most common allergies are:
Homoeopathic treatment has its own natural system apart from conventional medicine. It uses substances from plants, minerals and animals to heal illness. Homoeopaths observe Person’s emotions and personality and then prescribe the medication to heal and repair the whole system of the body. Doses are given to a patient based on the current condition.
One can undergo homoeopathy treatment to get cured completely and live a happy and long life.
Symptoms:
Home remedies:
Other facts & information:
Allergy:
Allergies are an overreaction of the body's immune system to specific substances that it misidentifies as harmful. This overreaction of the body's immune system is known as an allergic reaction and the substances that cause it are called allergens. Allergic reactions manifest themselves in the form of commonly seen skin and respiratory disorders such as eczema, hives, hay fever, asthma and food allergies. In ayurveda, allergy treatment is done by first diagnosing the individual root-cause of every patient.
Causes:
Internal factors (factors that are based inside the human body itself) causing allergies include heredity, sex, race and age.
External factors (factors that are based in the surrounding or the environment) include alterations in exposure to infectious diseases during early childhood, environmental pollution, allergen levels and dietary changes.
Ayurvedic allergies treatment:
Ayurveda regards allergy as a disorder caused by impaired digestion, which is why preliminary symptoms may include indigestion, constipation or diarrhea. This dysfunction in the digestive process is the cause of the hypersensitivity to certain substances, such as dust and pollen that triggers the allergic attacks. Deposits of ama (toxins in the form of mucus) in the lungs and respiratory tract create obstruction in breathing and cause wheezing, coughing or sneezing.
Each time a person comes in contact with an allergen, the doshas are imbalanced, and toxins are released according to the imbalanced doshas, leading to specific symptoms. For example, if pitta dosha is imbalanced, it releases specific heating toxins that accumulate in deep tissues like rasa (nutrient plasma), rakta, (blood), mamsa (muscles) and lasika (lymphatic). These toxins cause contamination of deeper tissues leading to a host of symptoms of various skin allergies. If kapha is imbalanced, it gets accumulated in the respiratory channels, causing blockage and respiratory allergies.
Ayurvedic allergy treatment focuses on pacifying the imbalanced dosha, restoring digestion with herbal preparations, and advising supporting diet and lifestyle changes. Ayurvedic tonics are also administered to build up the strength of the lungs.
Diet & lifestyle advice:
Allergies, or allergic reactions, are common occurrences which are caused by unnatural reactions between your body's immune system and foreign substances which have gained access into the body. When these substances, known as allergens, enter your body, your immune system produces antibodies which are responsible for warding off unwanted substances like harmful viruses or diseases and helping in the body's overall resistance.
However, when your antibodies identify a particular allergen as harmful, when it really isn't, a reaction occurs which may lead to inflammation or infection of the skin, sinuses, the digestive tract and the respiratory tract, among others.
Allergies usually differ from individual to individual and can vary from mild skin irritations to fatal life-threatening emergencies.
Symptoms
Symptoms of allergies depend upon a wide range of factors which are subjective and vary from person to person and from allergen to allergen.
Depending upon the type of allergen involved and the nature of the allergy, symptoms may include any of the following:
1.Sneezing
2.Running nose
3.Severe itching
4.Swollen or red and watery eyes
5.Hives
6.Rashes
7.Facial swelling
8.Wheezing
9.Flaky skin which can peel off
These symptoms are common in mild to moderate allergies such as atopic dermatitis, hay fever, drug or food allergies. There are certain rare cases (say, scorpion stings), however, in which the allergic reaction turns out to be potentially life-threatening. This type of reaction is known as anaphylaxis. Here are its
Signs and symptoms:
1.Intense shortness of breath
2.Lightheadedness
3.Nausea and vomiting
4.Loss of consciousness
5.Skin rashes
6.Weak pulse
7.A significant drop in blood pressure
Causes
The main cause of allergies is the uncontrolled reaction between the immune system's antibodies and harmless allergens. Allergic reactions are triggered when antibodies, like histamine, come into contact with particular types of allergens. These may include:
1.Airborne allergens - pollen, mold, or dust mites
2.Insect stings - bee stings or scorpion stings
3.Certain eatables - peanuts or sea food
4.Medications - penicillin or penicillin-based antibiotics
5.Latex or other substances which are responsible for causing allergic skin reactions
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