For some people, coming in contact with some specific substances may trigger an allergy. When your immune system becomes overprotective, an allergic reaction occurs. Simple things like pollen, or even food items like nuts or pet hair.

What is an allergy and its causes?
Allergic reactions are caused due to the overreaction by our immune system. Our immune system may mistake a perfectly normal thing like nuts or cat hair and create antibodies against it. So, every time we come in contact with the same thing, our body reacts against it. Allergy reaction could occur to anyone and against any day to day thing.

Some common symptoms that people suffer during an allergic reaction include sneezing, itching, rashes and sometimes even wheezing. Some people may even suffer from respiratory distress due to the allergy reactions. Very severe cases could even cause anaphylaxis which is life-threatening and needs immediate medical attention.

There are different types of allergens. Food allergy is very common and a lot of people suffer from it. You could be allergic to a particular type of food item like groundnuts or you could be allergic to an entire family of food items. Other types of allergens include insect bites, pollens, drugs/ medications, dust and so on. Skin allergies and rhinitis are very common and a lot of people suffer from it. Some people may also be allergic to certain medicines.

Research does not prove whether allergies can be inherited. So, it is not possible to predict whether a child suffering from a particular type of allergy may inherit it from their parents. However, it may be important to note that brothers or sisters of a kid suffering from some allergies are known to develop the same allergy.

Allergy reactions could vary from a person to person. Some people could have a severe allergic reaction while some people may just have a mild reaction to things they are allergic to. In the same vein, the same person could notice different severities of an allergic reaction each time they come in contact with the allergen.

If you notice some difficulty in breathing or skin rashes developing after performing some activity or coming in contact with a potential allergen, you may be experiencing an allergic reaction. It is advisable to get it checked by a registered practitioner. The doctor may advise some blood tests to confirm an allergy. Once confirmed, some drugs may be prescribed to control the allergy. In the case of skin allergies, some topical creams may also be prescribed.

It may also be prudent to note that an adult may suddenly experience an allergy reaction to something which was previously harmless. This is because the immune system has been slowly building up antibodies against that particular allergen. In the past, you may have noticed some discomfort when exposed to that allergen. It takes time for the body to build a full-fledged immune response attack on a particular allergen, so it may appear that you have suddenly become allergic to something.

In the case of food allergies, you may have noticed there’s a slight swelling in the mouth, tongue and face areas. It may be difficult to breathe and in some cases, skin rashes may also be noticed. Allergic rhinitis which is also very common may show symptoms like swollen eyes which are very watery. Constant sneezing may also be noticed. This allergy is also known as hay fever and is quite often seasonal. Food allergies are generally seen even in kids but allergies caused by various environmental allergens may develop slowly and may be largely found in adults.