Eczema and Urticaria are two different manifestations of a skin allergy, but the main symptom is pruritus (itching). In eczema, there is generally a so-called contact form, caused directly by an allergenic external substance (treated in the chapter on contact allergies) and a more complex form, called eczema or atopic…
MEDICINAL TREATMENTS: WHAT ARE THEY? Fortunately, effective and safe medicines exist for the treatment of allergies, which affect almost 30% of the population. The main drugs used are antihistamines, medicines to control allergic inflammation (cortisone derivatives for topical use, cromones and antileukotrienes) and bronchodilators to prevent bronchial contraction in asthmatics.…
If you are lactose intolerant, you cannot break down lactose sufficiently. The consequences can be unpleasant. With a few tips, however, you can adjust the amount of lactose to your individual needs. But first, it is important to find out what is causing the symptoms. Abdominal pain and flatulence after…
Acute allergies are characterised by the sudden onset of symptoms, i.e. they occur within seconds to minutes. In angioedema, the allergic reaction is limited to the deep layers of the skin and the underlying tissue. If acute allergic symptoms occur in organ systems that were not in direct contact with…
DESENSITISATION: WHAT IS IT? Classical immunotherapy or desensitisation consists of the subcutaneous administration of increasing doses of an allergen, allowing progressive natural exposure to that allergen without triggering an anaphylactic reaction. Although little is known about these mechanisms, specific desensitisation has been shown to be particularly effective in treating allergies…
Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disease that can be genetic. It’s triggered by consuming a product that contains a protein called gluten, which can predominantly be located in wheat, rye, and barley.
ALLERGIES TO HOUSE DUST AND PETS? WHAT ARE THEY? In addition to pollen, dust mite proteins, like proteins from feathered and furry animals (e.g. cats, dogs and horses), are the main cause of allergic reactions and diseases such as asthma, rhinitis (i.e. sneezing attacks, blocked nose, etc.) and conjunctivitis (inflammation…
DRUG ALLERGIES: WHAT ARE THEY? Allergic reactions to medications are common and have a significant impact on an individual’s health. It is difficult to determine how many people have it in their lifetime, but it is estimated that about 10 out of 100 hospitalised people have a reaction to a…
Food allergy symptoms can include itchiness, swelling of the tongue, vomiting, diarrhea, trouble breathing, hives, or low blood pressure. In the developed world, 6 to 8 percent of people have some sort of food allergy. managing your food allergy mainly includes avoiding the food that you are allergic to. Would…
CONTACT ALLERGIES TO FRAGRANCES AND COSMETICS: WHAT IS IT? Contact eczema, along with respiratory and food allergies, is also a very common condition triggered by allergic reactions. Such eczema is triggered by direct contact with substances on the skin; up to 7% of the population is affected. The symptoms can…