What are the most common allergies and their symptoms, and how are they tested? From hay fever to pets
Having an allergy is very common, and they are believed to affect more than one in four people in the UK
AN ALLERGIC reaction is a way of your body responding to an "invader" and there is more to allergies than just hayfever.
Around one in four people in the UK are estimated to have some form of allergy - but what are the most common.
What are the most common allergies?
Things which cause allergic reactions are called allergens.
The most common allergens are:
- Grass and tree pollen (This is known as hayfever)
- Dust mites
- Animal hair or tiny flakes of animal skin
- Food (nuts fruit, shellfish, cow's milk etc)
- Insect bites and stings
- Medication
- Mould
- Household chemicals
- Latex
Most of these allergens are generally harmless to those who are not allergic to them.
What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction?
A reaction can usually happen within minutes of someone being exposed to an allergen.
Symptoms include:
- Sneezing
- A runny or blocked nose
- Red, itchy or watery eyes
- Wheezing and coughing
- A red, itchy rash
- Worsening of asthma or eczema symptoms
Most reactions are mild but sometimes a severe reaction called anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock can occur.
This is a medical emergency and needs urgent treatment.
How do you treat an allergy?
The most effective way of managing an allergy is to avoid the allergen itself.
You can take antihistamines or lotions and creams to help control the symptoms.
How can you be tested for an allergy?
If your allergy is more severe or it is not obvious what you are allergic to you may be referred for allergy testing at a specialist allergy clinic.
At the clinic, a number of tests may be carried out.
This could include:
Skin prick testing - This involves putting a drop of liquid onto your forearm that contains a substance you may be allergic to. The skin under the drop is then gently pricked with a needle. If you are allergic to the substance, an itchy, red bump will appear within 15 minutes.
Blood tests - A sample is removed and analysed for specific antibodies produced by your immune system in response to an allergen.
Patch tests - A small amount of the suspected allergen is added to special metal discs, which are then taped to your skin for 48 hours and monitored for a reaction.
Elimination diet - if you have a suspected food allergy you are asked to avoid a particular food to see if your symptoms improve.
After a few weeks, you may then be asked to eat the food again to check if you have another reaction.
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What celebrities suffer from allergies?
Emma Chambers suffered from a chronic animal allergy, which was so severe she couldn't even touch animals.
Other celebrities with allergies include:
- Scarlett Johanssen - pollen
- Tiger Woods - pollen
- Serena Williams - peanuts
- Drew Barrymore - garlic
- Britney Spears - bee stings
- Lionel Ritchie - dairy
- Vanessa Hudgens - chlorine