Allergies are increasingly common. Here’s how to keep symptoms at bay

What does it for you? Is it a certain food? Pets? Nickel? Pollen? Many people will develop an allergy during their lifetime. In fact, statistics show that 25% of Brits will suffer at some stage.

And, every year, this number increases by 5%. We’re also reacting to more substances. The most common food allergens are milk, eggs, wheat, soya, shellfish, peanuts and nuts. However, a growing number of people are becoming allergic to foods such as kiwi fruit and sesame seeds.

No one knows for sure why numbers are rising. Theories include lack of exposure to infections and bacteria, as well as the increase in pollution and hermetically sealed homes, which stop air moving freely. Genes play a part, too. If one parent has an allergy, your risk increases by 50%. If both parents have one, your risk soars to 75%. And if you are prone to one allergy, then you are more likely to develop others.
 
What is an allergy?
An allergic reaction occurs when your body’s immune system overreacts to a normally harmless substance. The immune system identifies the allergen as a danger and produces the antibody (IgE) to fight it. This triggers the release of other chemicals, including histamine, which lead to allergic symptoms including sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes, shortness of breath and rashes.

HAY FEVER
This is an allergy to pollen (tiny, dust-like particles from grasses, weeds, flowers and trees) and spores (given off by fungi and moulds). Most people with hay fever have symptoms in the summer, when pollen and spores are at their height. But some have symptoms all year, and this is called perennial rhinitis. It’s usually caused by house dust mites, pets and chemicals, and is also linked to pollen and spores. Allergens irritate the sensitive linings of the nose, throat and eyes, causing symptoms that may include persistent sneezing; an itchy, blocked or runny nose; red, itchy or watery eyes; an itchy throat, inner ear or mouth; headaches; and generally feeling unwell.
 
Triggers:
Pollen and spores.

Treatment:
Antihistamines, decongestant sprays, and eye and nose drops.

Help yourself:

• Keep doors and windows closed, especially during mid-morning and late afternoon to early evening, when the pollen count is at its highest.
• Vacuum your house regularly and dust all surfaces with a damp cloth.
• Avoid drying clothes outside.
•  Splash eyes regularly with cold water to soothe them as well as to flush out pollen.

When going outside:

• Check pollen forecasts.
• Wear wraparound sunglasses to protect your eyes.
• Smear Vaseline inside your nose to stop pollen and spores from settling on the nose lining.
• Keep car windows closed.

ECZEMA
Also known as dermatitis, this group of skin conditions affects one in 12 adults in the UK. Typically, the skin is hot, dry and itchy, and in severe cases it splits, bleeds, and is raw and sore.

There are many types of eczema but the main classes are atopic and contact dermatitis. Atopic eczema tends to run in families: you’re born with a tendency for skin to become inflamed. Contact dermatitis, which occurs when an outside substance comes into contact with the skin, can be irritant or allergic.

Irritant contact dermatitis is caused by direct contact with a substance that irritates the skin. This is a common problem and usually affects the hands. Irritant substances include detergents, solvents and other chemicals. Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when your immune system reacts against an allergen. People are not born with this type of allergy – you must have previously come into contact with the allergen in order to sensitise your immune system. Once sensitised, your skin reacts and becomes inflamed upon further contact with the allergen.

Sometimes the cause of the allergy is not clear and you may need tests to identify the culprit.

Infantile eczema is particularly common – one in five UK children is affected. In babies, eczema usually appears on the cheeks before spreading to the rest of the face, neck and nappy area. It can also affect arms and legs. In toddlers, it’s more likely to show up in the folds of skin (inside elbows, backs of knees and wrists, and around ankles). Fortunately, seven out of 10 children outgrow eczema by their teens.
 
Triggers:
Chemicals, nickel, preservatives,
house dust mites and certain foods.

Treatment:
Emollients, steroid creams, immunomodulators, antihistamines.

Help yourself:

• Identify and avoid triggers.
• Use non-biological washing powder and avoid fabric softeners.
• Choose cotton clothing and bedding, which allows skin to breathe. Synthetic fibres and wool can irritate skin.
• Keep an even temperature. Being too hot or cold can aggravate symptoms.
• Avoid perfumed toiletries which can dry out the skin.
• Vacuum and dust regularly, and air bedding to reduce house dust mites.

FOOD ALLERGIES
Every year, thousands of us cut certain foods from our diets in the belief that we are allergic to them. A food allergy is actually quite rare, whereas a food intolerance is much more common. So what’s the difference between the two?

An allergy always involves the immune system, whereas a food intolerance doesn’t. An intolerance is a reaction to chemicals or natural toxins in food, or can be due to an enzyme deficiency which makes it difficult to process a certain substance.

A food intolerance can result in symptoms such as headaches, bloating and tummy ache. Food allergy reactions usually occur within minutes of contact and often include symptoms such as sneezing, coughing wheezing or hives. There may be vomiting and diarrhoea, too. A small number of people may suffer a severe allergic reaction, with swelling of the airways and obstruction of breathing, a sudden drop in blood pressure, collapse and unconsciousness.
 
Triggers:
Any food can cause a reaction, but the most common culprits are nuts and dairy products.

Treatment:
Avoidance of the food, and use of adrenalin in the case of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). It can be tricky identifying the cause of food intolerance, as the reaction may happen several hours after the food has been eaten. Care must be taken when cutting something out of your diet, as it may mean your body misses out on important nutrients. Always see your GP for advice.

Help yourself:

• Read the ingredients on food packaging carefully.
• If you’re in any doubt, ask. You may need to write to the manufacturer to check ingredients.
• Be open about an allergy. Tell family and friends and they’ll understand if you’re reluctant to go for, say, a Thai meal because of the nuts and groundnut oil in Oriental cooking.
• If you have an adrenalin kit, take it everywhere you go.

New hope for allergy sufferers
A team of British scientists believe they may have found a cure for potentially fatal peanut allergies. A trial at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge has resulted in a small number of patients now safely eating nuts on a daily basis.

The research involved patients taking daily doses of peanut flour, starting in tiny quantities until their body builds up resistance, then gradually increasing doses to help strengthen resistance. However, despite this initial success, the team is taking a softly-softly approach.

Dr Andy Clark, who led the research, said: ‘We really want it to become a clinical treatment in time, but there are some unanswered questions at the moment that we need to address. For example, how long to carry out the therapy for. Until this question and other safety questions are addressed in detail we wouldn’t want to see it done outside the context of a clinical trial.’

When an allergy turns deadly
A severe allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis and it affects the entire body, often within mere minutes of exposure to the allergen. The most common cause is peanut allergy but other foods, as well as insect bites, latex and drugs, can trigger anaphylaxis.

The sudden swelling of the nose and throat during an attack can cause loss of consciousness and death, so treatment must be sought immediately. Those at risk should carry adrenalin-injection kits for immediate use if they come into contact with their allergen.

It can be difficult to know whether you’re at risk. If you’ve had a reaction to something in the past, however mild, you should get it checked by your GP, because future reactions may be severe.

ASTHMA
One in 12 (5.2 million) people in the UK has asthma, a condition that affects the airways – the small tubes that carry air to and from the lungs. When the airways come into contact with an irritant, they tighten and become inflamed, making it difficult for the sufferer to breathe. Symptoms include breathlessness, coughing, wheezing, a sore tummy, tightness in the chest and tiredness. Asthma can start at any age. Exact causes are unknown, but it can be inherited and can develop after a viral infection.
 
Triggers:
Viral infections (colds or flu), exercise, irritants (cold air, tobacco smoke) and allergens (pollen, house dust mites).

Treatment:
Medicine to relax airway muscles, usually taken via an inhaler. There are two types: relievers are medicines used to help relieve any immediate symptoms, while preventers are medicines taken on a regular basis, whose effects build-up over time, reducing the risk of severe asthma attacks. Preventer and steroid tablets are also available.
 
Help yourself:

• Identify triggers and avoid them. Many people with asthma are sensitive to the droppings of house dust mites – you can lessen contact by using barrier covering on duvets, pillows and mattresses; having hard floors instead of carpets; and dusting and vacuuming regularly.
• Stay away from cigarette smoke – it aggravates asthma symptoms.
• Get the problem diagnosed and a treatment plan worked out just for you – a peak flow meter can measure how well your asthma is controlled.
• Visit your GP at least once every six months to review your treatment.

Dr Chris says...
‘The rise of children’s allergies could be because parents are becoming obsessed with kids’ cleanliness.  Children need to be exposed to dirt and bugs so they  can build up their immune systems.’

For more information:
Allergy UK: 01322 619898, www.allergyuk.org
National Eczema Society: 0870 241 3604, www.eczema.org
Asthma UK: 0845 701 0203, www.asthma.org.uk
Anaphylaxis Campaign: 01252 542029, www.anaphylaxis.org.uk

Photographs: getty images