Dr. Balajiprasad

Allergies are the result of the immune system’s response to foreign objects such as pet dander, pollen, certain foods, bee venom etc. In response to the allergen, the immune system produces antibodies, anticipating that the allergen is harmful in nature, even though that might not be the case always. The immune system can inflame the digestive system, skin, airways or sinuses when it comes in contact with allergens. The severity of allergies can vary from anaphylaxis to a minor irritation. In most cases, allergies cannot be fully cured. It, however, can be controlled with medication.

What are the symptoms of allergy?

1. Various allergies cause different kinds of symptoms.
2. Hay fever can cause sneezing, fluffy nose, itching of the eyes, nose, and mouth, swollen eyes etc.
3. Food allergy can cause hives, mouth tingling, anaphylaxis, body itching etc.
4. Insect sting produces symptoms such as anaphylaxis, cough, swelling on the source etc.
5. Drug allergy can result in a rash, wheezing, swelling of the face, hives etc.
6. Atopic dermatitis often lead to flake, itching, and reddening of the skin.
7. There are other allergies that are triggered either by food or by insect bite. These can lead to a medical emergency known as the anaphylaxis. Some symptoms include skin rash, loss of consciousness, weak pulse, vomiting and nausea, shortness of breath etc.

What are the possible causes of allergy?

1. Air:  A number of allergies occur from the surrounding air. Examples of such airborne allergies include pollen, animal dander, mould etc.
2. Food items: Certain foods are known to be causing allergy such as tree nuts, eggs, peanuts, soy fish etc.
3. Medication: There are medications such as penicillin-based antibiotics that can lead to allergy.
4. Insect bite: Bite from insects such as wasp or bee can trigger an allergy in adults and kids.

What are the possible complications?
Allergy often leads to complication such as asthma, infection of the lungs, sinusitis, infection of the ear and anaphylaxis. The risk of getting these conditions increase, provided no treatment is done for a long duration.

How is the diagnosis done?
To investigate the type of allergy a person has, the doctor might ask for the exact symptoms that a person is encountering. He may ask questions related to intake of food and the possible triggers. A skin test is often performed, followed by a blood test to confirm the presence of allergy in an individual.

What are the methods of treatment?
Depending on the type of allergy one has, a doctor might prescribe nasal spray, eye drops, and pills to reduce the symptoms. Apart from this, if the allergy is severe in nature, a doctor might suggest going for immunotherapy and emergency epinephrine. Certain lifestyle changes and food habits go a long way in cutting down the symptoms.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Though nosebleeds are usually not a cause for serious concern, it can sometimes be a scary experience and cause a lot of anxiety. The nose is home to a lot of blood vessels and being fragile they bleed easily. Nosebleeds, however, can be a cause of concern if they happen regularly. While a few factors can be taken care of easily, there are a few rare cases that are actually alarming.

1. Injury or blow to the nose: Any injury or sudden blow may cause the nose to bleed. The severity of bleeding depends on the intensity and nature of blow/ injury.
2. Sinusitis: Bleeding is seen in a moderate number of cases of sinusitis. Not every person with sinusitis experiences nose bleeds though.
3. Hypertension/ high blood pressure: People, who have high blood pressure and one or more of other predisposing factors, might experience nosebleed in some cases. High blood pressure basically increases your chances of experiencing nosebleed.
4. Liver infection: This condition can be one of the rare causes of nosebleed.
5. Conditions hampering blood clot formation: There are certain medical conditions in which the blood clot formation does not take place effectively and thus the bleeding incidents can happen with minor causes as well.
6. Blood-thinning medication: People having blood-thinning medicines are more prone to experiencing an episode of nosebleed for obvious reasons.
7. Excessive scratching or sneezing: This might cause the nasal wall to rupture, causing minor bleeding.
8. Excessive alcohol consumption: In people who consume alcohol in an excessive amount, nose bleeding might occur as an after effect.
9. Blood cancer/ leukemia: In some cases of leukemia, the patient might experience nosebleed along with other complications.

While some causes can be self-cured at home, a few others need proper treatment from a medical practitioner. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!