Are you reacting to your favorite perfume or deodorant? You may have an allergy to your fragrance and not realize it. A perfume and deodorant allergy is often misunderstood and reactions to fragrances are incorrectly labeled as an allergy. However, there is a difference between irritation caused by fragrances and an actual allergy. It is important to identify whether you have a perfume or deodorant allergy although the symptoms may seem similar to irritation to a fragrance. An allergy is often a more serious reaction and you should take the necessary measures to avoid the trigger fragrance altogether.

continue reading 6 Signs of Perfume and Deodorant Allergy

Definition

A latex allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction to natural rubber latex found in a variety of household, work-related and medical items. Latex is a commonly occurring substance in modern life and particularly in the health care industry. Exposure to latex is therefore often unavoidable. While it does not cause any irritation nor pose a threat to most people, some individuals have varying degrees of hypersensitivity to latex. It can lead to minor symptoms like itching of the skin or can even progress to widespread and severe systemic manifestations which may be life threatening.

continue reading Latex Allergy

Pneumonitis is the term for inflammation of the lungs, involving the respiratory and often the terminal bronchioles as well. This may arise as a result of trauma (chemical/physical), allergic reactions, airborne particles and drugs. It is often confused with pneumonia – pneumonitis is a broad term that includes lung inflammation from any cause while pneumonia is often reserved for lung inflammation due to an infection. However, the term pneumonia is more popular and to some extent has replaced the word pneumonitis to describe lung inflammation arising from infectious and non-infectious causes. Pneumoconiosis is lung disease caused by the inhalation of mineral (inorganic) dusts and may be seen as a type of pneumonitis.

continue reading Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis – Lung Allergy to Inhaled Dust

There are various allergy medications used to reduce the immunological response seen in allergies. The most common and well known of these allergy medicines are antihistamines, with corticosteroids being used with increasing frequency to prevent exacerbations in common allergic diseases.

However, antihistamines and corticosteroids are not the only types of medications to treat allergic reactions. Other allergy medicines include mast cell stabilizers, leukotriene pathway inhibitors and anti-IgE antibodies. Adrenaline is used in severe allergic reactions and anaphylaxis.

The actions, uses, side effects and contraindications of antihistamines and corticosteroids are discussed under the following articles :

1. Antihistamine for Allergies
2. Steroids for Allergies

continue reading Allergy Medicines – Types of Medications for Treating Allergies

Corticosteroids have a significant role in the management of allergies due to its broad anti-inflammatory action, which reduces the immunological response in allergic diseases. This is invaluable in the long term management of allergic diseases. Corticosteroids reduce the duration and severity of acute exacerbations in chronic allergic diseases like allergic rhinitis.

Anti-allergic Actions of Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids considerably reduce the manifestations of inflammation associated with an allergy. This is primarily due to its intense effects on the inflammatory cells and suppressive effects on the mediators of allergic response.

continue reading Steroids (Corticosteroids) for Allergies(Asthma,Rhinitis,Eczema)