Allergies are reactions that a body produces in response to an external stimulus. The stimulus can be in any form and mostly experienced in some way with the help of sense organs. For example, it could be a substance that is inhaled through nose, consumed orally or touched on the skin. The allergic reaction can be manifested in various forms like running nose, sneezing, coughing, skin rashes or itching and stomach upset in case of food allergies.
If a person suffers from repeated symptoms of cold, cough and skin rashes, it can be worth to consider if there is any allergic reaction in this case.
Common allergies
Some of the commonly found allergies include:
Allergic rhinitis – This is a common complaint often presented in the form of sneezing, running nose and other cold and cough like symptoms due to irritation of the respiratory system. This irritation is caused by a substance called allergen for example, dust particles, pollen, molds, pet dander, etc.
Asthma – This also occurs due to irritation of the respiratory system but predominantly the airways and the lungs. This causes coughing, breathlessness and other symptoms due to constriction of the airways in the lungs.
Eczema – This is commonly called dermatitis and is a kind of rash that occurs when the skin is exposed to allergens. There can be itching, redness and rashes on the affected skin that comes in contact with the allergen.
While these are the commonest classic manifestations of allergic problems, simple ones like just sneezing or slight itching in a local area can also be seen in many people. Some of the common allergens found responsible for this are
Dust – Dust mite, which is present in dust around the house or surrounding areas, can be a major cause for cold and cough that persists all round the year.
Molds – These could be found in the house and the complaints are more during summer.
Food allergens – These can be many for example, shellfish, chocolate, peanut, strawberries, etc. This presents by stomach upset and rashes in and around the mouth on consumption of the particular food.
