USF-COM
Department
of Family Medicine
Patient Education Information on...
Index of
Patient Education Topics
Epidemiology
Up to 60 million people in this country are affected by allergies.
Half of all cases of sinusitis have concurrent allergies
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Allergy Symptoms
These signs/symptoms may be caused by an allergy, especially if
symptoms occur seasonally or come and go.
Skin
Itching, burning, flushing, warmth, coldness, tingling, sweating behind
neck. Itching of eyes, ears, vagina, rectum, etc. Hives, blisters, blotches,
red spots, pimples, dermatitis or eczema.
Ear, Nose and Throat
Nasal congestion or sudden unblocking of congestion, sneezing,
nasal itching, discharges, dry tickling throat, clearing throat, hacking
cough, fullness in ears, ringing in ears, earache dizziness,
imbalance, recurrent ear infections, fluid in middle ear.
Eye
Blurring of vision, pain in eyes, watery eyes, crossing of eyes, glare
hurts eyes, eyelids twitching, itching, drooping or swollen, redness
of inner angle or lower lid.
Respiratory
Shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, formation of mucus alone or
mucous membranes, tightness in chest, recurrent bronchial infections.
Gastrointestinal
Dryness of mouth, increased salivation, canker sores in mouth, itching
palate, stinging tongue, toothache, burping, re-tasting heartburn, indigestion,
nausea, vomiting, nervous stomach, difficulty in swallowing, rumbling in
abdomen, abdominal pain, cramps, nervous bowel, spastic colon, diarrhea,
mucous colitis, constipation.
Muscular
Fatigue, weakness, muscle and joint pain, stiffness, soreness.
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Allergy Causes
Allergies are caused by a immune sytstem which is over-reponsive to substances
called allergens. Some common allergens are:
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Plant pollen
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Mold and Fungi spores
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House dust
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Animal dander
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Foods
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medications
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Metals
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Chemicals and solvents
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insect bites and stings
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Diagnosis:
You may be diagnosed with allergies based on your symptoms and an examination
or your doctor may test your sensitivity to different allergens.
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Treatment:
Allergies may be treated with a variety of medications including antihistamines,
steroids, and decongestants
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Side
Effects of treatment:
All medications may cause side effects. Over the counter medications
such as antihistamines may cause drowsiness. Other medications may
affect bone density, your stomach or your heart. You should consult
with your doctor about the medications you take.
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Lifestyle modifications: The Bedroom
You can spend well over a third of your life in the bedroom. It follows,
then, that:
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One sensible way to prioritize your efforts is to start with your bedroom.
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Since you spend so much of your life there, it's worth the investment.
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Think of your bedroom as a sanctuary from anything that makes your allergies
worse.
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If you can purify your environment for a third of your life, making it
almost devoid of allergies or irritants, your respiratory system (lungs,
nose, throat, and airways) can get a chance to rest and build up strength
and resistance for the next barrage of pollen, dust, and so on.
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Since dust mites can live in pillows and mattresses, put both in allergen-proof
encasements.
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Wash bedding in hot water weekly. Cold or warm water won't kill the mites.
And never use feather or down pillows or comforters.
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It's best to have no carpeting in this room. If you must have it, choose
low pile over thick pile material.
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Since clothing collects dust too, move it out of the bedroom closet to
another place in the home. Keep the floor of the closet clear so you can
mop and vacuum it.
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Open windows allow more pollen to blow in. So close them. If you need to
cool the bedroom for comfort, use an air conditioner. Not only do air conditioners
cool the air, they filter pollen and mold spores out.
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Lifestyle
modifications: Reducing Dust And Vacuuming
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To reduce dust, reduce the number of things that collect it and are hard
to clean.
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Cut down on knickknacks and clutter.
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Put objects you want to display, like trophies, in a glass case. The case
is easier to clean.
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Use a vacuum cleaner with double bags and a high efficiency particulate
air filter, often called a HEPA filter. After using a vacuum cleaner without
a HEPA filter, the air can have ten times more dust in it.
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You might also wear a mask if you must do the vacuuming yourself. Vacuum
twice each week, more if necessary. If you have a throw rug, wash it weekly.
Again, wood floors are best.
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Replace venetian blinds, which collect dust easily, with lightweight,
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washable curtains or washable shades.
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Lifestyle modifications: Indoor Plants, Outdoor
Chores
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Limit the amount of indoor plants you keep. Wet dirt causes molds to grow.
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Reduce the time you spend mowing lawns, which stirs up both pollen and
molds, and raking leaves, which stirs up mold.
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Dry your sheets and clothing in a dryer, rather than hanging them outdoors
where they can pick up pollen and spores from the air. The dryer filters
the allergens out.
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Lifestyle modifications: Pets And Smoke
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As for dogs and cats, they're a problem too, since they carry two kinds
of allergens -- dander and saliva. Unfortunately, it's best not to have
them in the home at all. At the very minimum, they should be kept out of
the bedroom.
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Is there a difference between short- versus long-haired dogs? It makes
no difference. They're equally bad. In general, cats are significantly
worse than dogs. And the allergens linger a long time.
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Your home should also be declared a no smoking zone. Although not an allergen,
tobacco smoke ranks among the most aggravating and irritating substances
to people who suffer from allergies. Like animal allergens, it also lingers
a very long time.
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Lifestyle modifications: Heating Systems
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Finally, take a look at your heating system. Forced hot air is not the
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best. If you must use it, put filters over the ducts and change or wash
the filter inside your furnace monthly. Also consider the installation
of an electrostatic filter in the furnace.
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Electric and forced hot water systems provide cleaner heat than forced
hot air since they don't use blowers that kick dust and other allergens
up into the air. Instead, heat radiates into the room directly from baseboards
without the aid of a fan.
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Lifestyle modification: Travelling And Vacationing
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During the toughest times of the year think about taking a vacation to
a place more pollen-free than your home, such as the beach or the ocean.
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When driving, keep your windows closed, and use air conditioning. There's
no need to blast more allergens through your car. If you have the choice,
always select recirculated air.
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When humidity is high, but it's not raining, or when it's windy, your symptoms
will probably feel the worst. When they do, consider seeking out air conditioned
environments where you can do things you want to do.
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Home Sweet Home Checklist
There are certain fundamental preventive measures you can take to minimize
your exposure to allergens and irritants. Print this page, then check off
each of the following measures as you complete them.
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Pets should not be kept indoors.
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Get rid of all house plants.
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The allergic patient should not be present during cleaning.
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Masks should be used during allergy exposure.
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Overstuffed furniture should be avoided.
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Eliminate dust catchers in or on:
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Closets
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Clutter
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Shelves
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Pictures
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Ornaments
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Remove carpets.
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No old drapes.
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Service furnaces regularly.
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Beware of household products with strong odors.
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Keep humidifiers and air conditioners clean.
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Buy Consumer Reports to keep up with environment control advances.
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No smoking in the house whatsoever.
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Use pillow and mattress encasements.
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Wash bedding weekly in hot water.
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No feathers or down.
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Use HEPA or double bag vacuum cleaner.
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Vacuum twice weekly.
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Use forced air duct filters.
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Complications of allergies
Allergies can cause significant complications to your health. allergic
rhinitis can lead to an increase in ear infections, sinus infection and
other respiratory infections. Allergies can even result in death
itf the person is very sensitive
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Websites for more information about allergies