| Allergies, which are extremely common today, can be | | | | allergens and they can occur in: |
| caused by just about anything. They can be caused | | | | . Food - Some of the most common foods that |
| by something that touches your skin thus giving rise | | | | cause allergies are peanuts, seafood, shellfish, milk, |
| to a rash, anything you swallow or even inhale. It can | | | | eggs, nuts etc. Infants are most likely to suffer from |
| vary in intensity, ranging from mild to severe. A mild | | | | food allergies. These allergies, however, tend to go |
| allergy can be like a runny nose, itchy eyes and | | | | away as the child gets older. Symptoms of food |
| sneezing, whereas a more severe attack would be | | | | allergy can range from an itchy rash, to nausea, to |
| something like asthma, where this is often caused by | | | | diarrhea, to vomiting, to a stuffy nose and stomach |
| the person inhaling something into the lungs or even | | | | cramps. |
| an insect sting, shellfish allergy etc. The severe or life | | | | . Air - The substances found in air are pollen, dust |
| threatening kind of allergies are known as anaphylaxis | | | | mites, mold spores and animal dander. These are |
| and they give multiple symptoms such as breathing | | | | some of the most common allergens and the hardest |
| difficulty, difficulty in swallowing, dizziness or | | | | to avoid. |
| sometimes even loss of consciousness, the lips swell | | | | . Insect bites or stings - Here the venom or poison is |
| along with the tongue and throat. These kinds of | | | | injected directly into the blood stream; therefore, the |
| allergies need immediate emergency treatment as | | | | allergic reaction time is faster. These generally cause |
| they can result in shock and even death. These | | | | swelling accompanied by pain. These reactions can be |
| allergies, fortunately, do not occur very often. | | | | severe in some people. |
| However, they can be treated successfully if treated | | | | . Medicines - One of the most common medicines |
| properly. | | | | that cause allergic reactions are antibiotics, which are |
| Allergies are also known to set off other | | | | normally used in the treatment of infections. Most |
| complications like ear infections and sinus infections. | | | | often, these allergies are of the mild kind but some |
| For example, an allergy that causes an inflamed nasal | | | | medications do cause severe reactions. |
| passage could lead to sinus infection and an allergy | | | | . Plants - a few examples of plants that cause allergic |
| that causes an inflamed ear could lead to an ear | | | | reactions are poison ivy and oak. The oils that are |
| infection. | | | | secreted in these plants are known to cause the |
| Allergies are said to be hereditary. However, it does | | | | allergic reaction. If you come into contact with this oil |
| not mean that just because your mother or father | | | | it can give you an itchy rash very often with blisters. |
| has an allergy that you are most definitely going to | | | | . Cosmetics and detergents - the various chemicals in |
| get that particular allergy, it is just that, the chance | | | | these products sometimes cause people to break |
| of you getting any allergy is much higher. | | | | out into a rash, which is usually itchy. |
| The substances that cause allergies are known as | | | | |