What are Allergies?
All across the globe, a large percentage of people have allergies.
Allergies are caused when a person's immune system is sensitive to a particular environment, a source of food, an animal or an insect. Your immune system is what keeps you healthy by fighting off dangerous bugs that get inside your body. Allergies are caused when your immune system sees something harmless but thinks it could hurt you so it tries to attack it.
When something can cause an allergic reaction, it's called an allergen. Allergens come in many shapes and forms but the most common allergens are things like food, dust, pets, pollen and latex. There are many different types of allergies that can cause different allergic reactions. Some allergies can make your nose and eyes itchy while other allergies can be more serious and may be very dangerous.
When you have an allergy it is important for friends, parents and teachers to know so that they can help, understand and know what to do if you have a serious reaction.
It is also important to know how to handle your own allergies so you know what to do and how to keep yourself safe.
Allergies are very common and can affect anyone at any time. It is estimated that 1 in every 13 children has to live with a food allergy. Allergies can strike at any time, affecting those who didn’t think they had an allergy or didn't have a reaction to something before, so it's important for everyone to be well educated about them.
Allergies are caused when a person's immune system is sensitive to a particular environment, a source of food, an animal or an insect. Your immune system is what keeps you healthy by fighting off dangerous bugs that get inside your body. Allergies are caused when your immune system sees something harmless but thinks it could hurt you so it tries to attack it.
When something can cause an allergic reaction, it's called an allergen. Allergens come in many shapes and forms but the most common allergens are things like food, dust, pets, pollen and latex. There are many different types of allergies that can cause different allergic reactions. Some allergies can make your nose and eyes itchy while other allergies can be more serious and may be very dangerous.
When you have an allergy it is important for friends, parents and teachers to know so that they can help, understand and know what to do if you have a serious reaction.
It is also important to know how to handle your own allergies so you know what to do and how to keep yourself safe.
Allergies are very common and can affect anyone at any time. It is estimated that 1 in every 13 children has to live with a food allergy. Allergies can strike at any time, affecting those who didn’t think they had an allergy or didn't have a reaction to something before, so it's important for everyone to be well educated about them.
How Severe are They?
Allergies can vary in many different ways and cause many different types of reactions.
Allergies generally are either classified as mild, moderate or severe, which tells how bad the allergic reaction can be.
Reactions vary depending on the allergy but most mild or moderate allergies show symptoms such as:
Anaphylaxis AKA anaphylactic shock (severe reactions) can be serious and life-threatening.
Anaphylactic allergies can take place minutes after being exposed to the allergen you are allergic to.
When someone goes into anaphylactic shock, they must receive immediate medical attention.
More can be found here and here about preparing for and dealing with anaphylaxis.
Some signs of an anaphylactic reaction can include the above as well as:
Another condition that most people mistake for allergies is food intolerance. Food intolerance is when your body struggles to digest the food and can hurt your intestine if it doesn’t know what to do with the food. Food intolerance only affects your stomach unlike allergies which affect your immune system which runs throughout your entire body.
More about food intolerance can be found here and here.
Some symptoms of having a food intolerance can include:
Another condition that is mistaken for allergies is asthma. More about asthma can be found here.
Allergies generally are either classified as mild, moderate or severe, which tells how bad the allergic reaction can be.
Reactions vary depending on the allergy but most mild or moderate allergies show symptoms such as:
- Sneezing and getting a runny, blocked or itchy nose (this is known as allergic rhinitis)
- Sore, red, itchy and/or watering eyes (called conjunctivitis)
- Coughing, finding it hard to breathe, wheezing, tightness in the chest
- Hives (a bumpy, itchy red rash)
- Swelling in the lips, tongue, eyes and/or face
- Stomach pain, nausea, throwing up or diarrhea
- Red, dry, cracked skin
Anaphylaxis AKA anaphylactic shock (severe reactions) can be serious and life-threatening.
Anaphylactic allergies can take place minutes after being exposed to the allergen you are allergic to.
When someone goes into anaphylactic shock, they must receive immediate medical attention.
More can be found here and here about preparing for and dealing with anaphylaxis.
Some signs of an anaphylactic reaction can include the above as well as:
- Throat and mouth swelling
- Having trouble breathing
- Confusion and dizziness
- Collapsing and fainting
- Blue skin or lips
- Clicking in the throat
- Feeling faint and lightheaded
Another condition that most people mistake for allergies is food intolerance. Food intolerance is when your body struggles to digest the food and can hurt your intestine if it doesn’t know what to do with the food. Food intolerance only affects your stomach unlike allergies which affect your immune system which runs throughout your entire body.
More about food intolerance can be found here and here.
Some symptoms of having a food intolerance can include:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and sickness
- Cramps and stomach pain
- Painful gas
- Bloating
Another condition that is mistaken for allergies is asthma. More about asthma can be found here.
Coping with Allergies
When you have allergies it's important to know how to handle them.
Each allergy can be managed in different ways, these different methods can be found on each of the allergy pages.
With all allergies, it's important to let friends and teachers know so that they can be aware.
It's also important to know what foods and activities to avoid, such as playing games on the lawn if you have a grass/pollen allergy and avoiding different foods like Thai cooking if you have a nut allergy, as they quite commonly cook with nuts and nut oils.
You should definitely learn how to read packaging and know what to look out for if you have a food allergy, as some foods can have hidden nasties that can make you unexpectedly sick.
You should also know how to stay safe when others offer you foods, and remember to make sure you know what you're eating and say 'no thanks' if you can't be sure it's safe.
You should also learn about the different types of medication and how to use them. Antihistamines are important for most allergies and can help relieve symptoms so it's important to have them for when you need then and know how to use them.
It's also important to know about the special types of medication for anaphylaxis if you have an anaphylactic allergy. You should also make sure that the people around you know how to handle your allergy if there was ever an emergency.
Overall, stay aware and know about your allergies, if you know how to handle them and accept them then they won't be able to hold you back in life!
Each allergy can be managed in different ways, these different methods can be found on each of the allergy pages.
With all allergies, it's important to let friends and teachers know so that they can be aware.
It's also important to know what foods and activities to avoid, such as playing games on the lawn if you have a grass/pollen allergy and avoiding different foods like Thai cooking if you have a nut allergy, as they quite commonly cook with nuts and nut oils.
You should definitely learn how to read packaging and know what to look out for if you have a food allergy, as some foods can have hidden nasties that can make you unexpectedly sick.
You should also know how to stay safe when others offer you foods, and remember to make sure you know what you're eating and say 'no thanks' if you can't be sure it's safe.
You should also learn about the different types of medication and how to use them. Antihistamines are important for most allergies and can help relieve symptoms so it's important to have them for when you need then and know how to use them.
It's also important to know about the special types of medication for anaphylaxis if you have an anaphylactic allergy. You should also make sure that the people around you know how to handle your allergy if there was ever an emergency.
Overall, stay aware and know about your allergies, if you know how to handle them and accept them then they won't be able to hold you back in life!