Allergies
Overview
An allergy is where your body reacts to something that's normally harmless like pollen, dust or animal fur. The symptoms can be mild, but for some people they can be very serious.
Symptoms
Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include: a runny nose or sneezingpain or tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or foreheadcoughing, wheezing or breathlessnessitchy skin or a raised rash (hives)diarrhoeafeeling or being sickswollen eyes, lips, mouth or throat
Causes
Things that cause allergic reactions are called allergens. Common allergens include: tree and grass pollen (hay fever)house dust mitesfoods, such as peanuts, milk and eggs (food allergy)animals, particularly pets like cats and dogsinsect stings, such as bee and wasp stingscertain medicines
Treatment
Treatments for allergies include: trying to avoid the thing you're allergic to whenever possiblemedicines for mild allergic reactions likeantihistamines,steroid tablets and steroid creamsemergency medicines called adrenaline auto-injectors, such as an EpiPen, for severe allergic reactionsdesensitisation (immunotherapy) for severe allergic reactions – this involves carefully exposing you to the thing you're allergic to over time, so your body gradually gets used to it and does not react so badly (this should only be done by a medical professional) Your specialist will give you an allergy management plan that will explain how to manage your allergy.
Prevention
Identify and avoid triggers; stay indoors on high pollen days; keep windows closed; clean regularly; use allergy-proof bedding; shower after outdoor activities; check food labels; wash hands frequently.
When to see a doctor
See GP if: OTC medications don't help; symptoms last weeks and affect daily life; frequent infections; you have asthma that's worsening. Call 999 for anaphylaxis symptoms.