An allergy is a reaction of the immune system to particles called allergens. The immune system is the body’s defence system. Thus, any reactions to foreign particles like pollen, pet fur, or dust can be called allergies. A common response to an allergen is through inflammation in the body. Allergies can be mild or severe and they require special treatment.

Treatment of allergies

There are many ways to treat allergies. These usually depend on the nature of the allergy and what causes it. Your doctor will diagnose your allergies through a series of tests. This will include skin tests, blood tests, and a complete medical record assessment.

Medication

This is the first line of defence against an allergy. Medicines help prevent the immune system from overreacting to allergens. Medicines can be in the form of tablets, sprays, pills, or drops. Some of the most common examples of medication are antihistamines for nose and eyes, nasal decongestants, Leukotriene modifiers, and corticosteroids for inflammation.

These medicines, however, are known to cause possible side-effects. For example, steroids can lead to high blood pressure. So, only take these medicines under a prescription of a doctor. Of course, the doctor will specify which medication is needed after a check-up.

Avoiding the triggers

While undergoing treatment for allergies, you must ensure that you avoid the triggers for these allergies. For example, if you are allergic to pollen, your doctor may advise you to not keep any plants in your house. For this, it is also important to identify the allergies to successfully avoid them.

Allergen immunotherapy

Allergen immunotherapy is used for treating allergies that are severe. In this form of treatment, doctors will inject extractions from the allergen into the patient to alter the immune system’s response. This is performed over a period of time. In some cases, allergen immunotherapy is given orally instead of via injections.

Home remedies for allergies

Some of the common allergens are pet fur, flower pollen, dust mites, mould, medicines like penicillin, bee stings, nuts, wheat and wheat products, soy and soy products, milk and milk products, and latex.

The first step to avoid an allergic reaction is to stay away from the allergen. There are also certain people who are at a higher risk of developing allergies. These include children, people with a genetic predisposition of allergies, and asthmatic patients. However, along with avoidance, there are also other steps that you can take. These include:

• Change your clothes every time you enter the house to prevent carrying any allergens indoors
• Bathe before going to bed so that you are free from allergens
• Use hot water to wash bed linen such as sheets, pillow covers, and blankets
• Use saline nasal irrigation to treat nasal allergic reactions
• Prevent any kind of leakage in the house to avoid the formation of moisture
• Install dehumidifiers to reduce humidity
• Regularly clean any carpets and rugs in the house