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Allergies are oftentimes acute reactions to repeated exposure to allergens and they do not often pose very serious damages to the human body. However, there is one type of rare allergy that can be life-threatening, especially if not addressed immediately and appropriately.

Like all other types of allergies, anaphylaxis begins with an exposure to an allergen. Once the body distinguishes an allergen as potentially harmful, it releases an antibody called immunoglobulin E. The initial exposure is called sensitization and is asymptomatic, however, as the exposure progresses, the body tends to develop serious immune responses that can affect the entire body. In a way, the entire body becomes allergic to the allergen.

Incidence
Due to the lack of concrete definition of the syndrome, the exact number of incidence in America cannot be fully ascertained. Experts estimate though that anaphylaxis counts for at least 1% of the entire population. This means that the syndrome is very rare.

Anaphylaxis can affect all age groups. Female adults are more likely to develop anaphylaxis than male adults. However, among children, males are more susceptible than their female counterparts.

Symptoms
The symptoms of anaphylaxis vary from one case to another. However, onset normally begins with skin rash, a runny nose, or a general feeling of sickness. Due to the rapid development of the allergy, these symptoms can quickly become aggravated, leading to a host of complex symptoms. These more serious symptoms are inclusive of difficulty of breathing, abdominal pain, tightness of the chest and the throat, coughing, nasal congestion, slurred speech, wheezing, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, low blood pressure, diarrhea as well as rapid heart palpitations. The patient could also end up having cardiac arrest.

The full blown anaphylaxis often consists of urticaria or hives, angioedema (a condition characterized by swelling of the dermis), bronchospasm and hypotension. All these symptoms can ultimately lead to unconsciousness and then death.

Causes
The exact cause of anaphylaxis is not yet known but it is believed that there is a host of substances that are attributed as triggers. However, it is commonly associated with various components and events that trigger the allergic reaction. These include foods, medicines, latex, insect stings as well as exercise and x-ray dyes. Nonetheless, common allergens can also cause anaphylaxis.

Diagnosis
Diagnosis of anaphylaxis is only feasible if the symptoms are present. However, since symptoms of anaphylaxis are commonly associated with other comorbid diseases and syndromes, it is often difficult to distinguish whether a person will develop anaphylaxis or not. Patients of other allergies are more susceptible to the development of this allergy than those who do histories of allergy.

Treatment
Injection of epinephrine could best counter the anaphylactic symptoms. This is a type of an adrenaline which effectively reverses the symptoms and stabilizes the body. Once the symptoms are stabilized, the person will be administrated with intravenous medicines and fluids that will augment the current weakness of the circulatory system, especially the lungs. After which, histamines and steroids will be delivered to the bloodstream to further normalize the body.

Preparation
Persons who have allergies are advised to see doctors for preparation options. Usually, doctors prescribe a handy epinephrine injection kit which can be brought with you at all times.

It is also good to carry with you an identification card that states your allergies so that treatment can be facilitated immediately in case of an emergency.

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There are many types of allergic reactions coming from various types of food, but not all are aware that wheat allergy also exists. From the word itself, wheat allergy is the adverse conditions which involve the immune system reacting to protein elements naturally found in wheat. Surely, you are already familiar with wheat because it is that what your mother uses to give the bread products reasons to become the bread you are eating.

It is responsible for making the bread elastic, sticky; the cake spongy; and the French bread having crispy crusts. The wheat is the substance that gives the consistency that these goodies need.

Obviously, there are many food goodies that contain wheat. And that makes it scarier, because almost all people live by eating them. And that is sad too, because if you have allergy from wheat, it means you can’t eat those goodies too. But allergy reactions from wheat do not only develop from eating foods that contain wheat. People who are working or are constantly in contact with wheat flour can also become sufferers. In fact, they have higher risk of symptoms such as occupational asthma, which can be triggered if you inhale the wheat flour.

Statistics have shown that there is lower risk in consuming food products with wheat proteins. These products usually contain albumin and gluten, derivatives of wheat. Most people who develop allergic reactions to wheat have allergies to albumin and globulin, also a derivative of wheat.

If an individual has ingested allergy from wheat, they easily experience vomiting and stomach cramps. Some people develop this experience only after a few minutes, but there are also instances that said symptoms manifest after hours. Eczema and skin rashes are symptoms also likely to occur with this specific allergy.

Wheat Allergy Can Be Life-Threatening Too

It appears that inhalant allergens from wheat are the more serious, and can even be life-threatening, than the ingested allergens. Allergic reactions caused by breathing in wheat flour or any flour that contains wheat derivatives can likely trigger heart complications while they give extreme breathing difficulty to individuals exercising. These can be life-threatening because wheat flour and some grain products with wheat derivatives have been a common staple to people’s diet such that wheat allergies are more difficult to diagnose.

How to Detect If the Person Is a Sufferer

If the individual is eating wheat-based food products occasionally, it can make it a little easier to do the diagnosis. If they become sick or develop the symptoms following such occasion, then the wheat can be a strong indicator. If wheat is a regular staple to anyone’s diet and is also constantly sick after consumption, wheat allergy might look easier to be diagnosed.

However, it is tougher to identify the cause. At this point, the best way to do it is to do elimination-challenge test, the more reliable allergy diagnosis method.

If the allergy is caused by eating wheat-based food goodies, it is best to remove it from the diet. It can be particularly difficult a regimen to do, specifically to children who do not know how to understand content labels of the food they eat, but there are other alternatives you can give them such as snack foods that are soy based.

If allergies are coming from dust of wheat flour, it is best to keep that person from that environment where there is wheat flour.

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Allergies developed by adults can be particularly hard to diagnose, but even more complex to children as some common symptoms may be also similar indications of other ailments. What makes it even harder is that children are often less capable of describing the symptoms, which leave the parents guessing. When such cases occur, it is always wise to immediately seek help of a trusted physician as they are the right authority to treat and provide medications. But to make it easier for you to see if your child is suffering from a certain allergy, here are five common symptoms related to allergies:

Sinus Infections

When your body overreacts to a certain allergen, it produces more body fluids, which in turn cause the sinus passages to be blocked. There are germs and bacteria that will be able to pass through these passages and as they leave, they also invade the tissues lining your sinus cavity. This causes infection, to which people who have allergies are more susceptible because their body’s immune system weakens from attempting to ward off foreign elements; and thus, causing the body to be less effective in fighting itself from germs. Sinus infections are usually serious conditions as they lead to nasal congestion, headaches, and fever.

Itching Nose

This is one of the most common allergy symptoms in children, and even in adults. The nose easily detects by becoming itchy if there are irritants or allergens in the environment. An itchy, stuffy nose can also clearly define that there are allergens and are more serious when the condition leads to cold. When your child is rubbing their nose which seems to resemble a salute action, this is already an indication of the allergy. In fact, this action has already been nicknamed as the “allergy salute.” Allergic reactions can be prevented by avoiding your child from being in an environment where there are any allergens. But in any case that they get it, the itchy nose can allow you to intervene whatever allergy your child is developing.

Chronic Cough

If the child is dry coughing and it does not seem to go away, this is chronic cough. Sometimes, there is phlegm, in which case can be an indication that there is an increased fluid present in their sinus cavity; thus, is an allergy symptom you should not ignore. Remember that chronic cough is not a condition but rather an allergy symptom; therefore, it is best to eliminate the source of cough for good rather than by just treating it. However, if the cough persists even after eliminating the source, the best course of action is to seek medical help as it can be a symptom of other conditions as well.

Allergic Eczema

If the skin comes in contact with irritants, it develops a skin condition called contact dermatitis. This is less serious. However, if it is persistent and certain physical conditions occur, this can be already associated to allergies. If there are rashes, dryness, redness, and itchiness in the folds of elbows, eyes, knees, and on the face, this is a condition requiring immediate attention, specifically medical treatments.

Dark-Eye Circles

This is usually called, Denni-Morgan lines. These are taken after two physicians’ names who have first established connection between the allergies and the relationship to dark eye circles. And this is also called the allergic shiners, because the discoloration or black, raccoon appearance under the eyes are the results of amplified blood flow occurring in the sinus area and not due to lack of sleep. The circles can also come with extra skin fold.

Tags: allergy control products, allergy induced asthma, allergy skin test, common food allergies, dust mite allergies, dust mite allergy, food allergies symptoms, food allergy rash, food allergy symptoms, food allergy testing, milk allergy symptoms, mold allergy symptoms, natural remedies for allergies, peanut allergy symptoms, seasonal allergy symptoms, symptoms of allergies, what causes allergies