Allergy | Medtick
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Allergy

  • It is when one gets in contact with an allergen [examples include metals (i.e. earing, necklaces) materials i.e. nylon, dust, chemicals (i.e. paints),  house dust mites, flecks of skin shed from animals with fur (cats, dogs, horses), animals with feathers, cosmetics (i.e. eye lash glue), ingested foods and/or moulds] and exposed to air conditioned rooms.
  • The body’s defence system, the immune system treats it like a threat and thinks it is under attack and produces a variety of chemicals (e.g. histamines) and it is these chemicals that causes the variety of symptoms in allergies (allergic reaction).

Allergy Test

  • An allergy test can detect a range of allergens, this is very useful to find out what one is allergic  too. It can be quite specific  for example one may be allergic to a specific type of nuts and not others, however please note it only detects the most common allergens and at times it may give a result of an unknown allergen.

Symptoms and severity

The symptoms and severity can vary from individual to individual and one needs to also bear in mind that an allergen can be anything so the patient needs to try to identify the cause.

  • An allergy is said to short term if one has it from a few hours to six weeks.
  • An allergy is said to long term if one has it greater than six weeks.

 

Babies and children:

Tattoos and Body piercing:

Factors to consider:

  • Skin infections can occur, they can range from a simple skin infection to Superficial infections (eg, impetigo), deep bacterial infections that present as cellulitis or erysipelas to serious infections such as  sepsis.
  • Most infection are caused by the bacteria S aureus, Streptococcus species, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
  • Jewellery piercing can lead to contact dermatitis and the most common allergic metal tends to be nickel. Sterling silver, 18- and 24-carat gold, and platinum are less likely to cause allergic reactions.
  • If one has a body piercing on their genitals and it has been infected, chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing should be considered.
  • Acute (short term) inflammatory reactions are associated with physical tissue injury and the injection of pigment, dyes, or metals into the skin. This reaction usually recedes without consequence within 2-3 weeks and is an expected adverse effect of the tattooing process.
  • If after two to three weeks the reaction continues it is most likely to be an allergy to the pigment used in the tattoo showing symptoms of  localized eczematous eruptions (bumps and rashes or, rarely, as an exfoliative dermatitis.
  • Keloids are common with body piercings i.e. ear and belly button though can occur anywhere. The lesions can develop as soon as 1-3 months after the injury or piercing or as late as one year after. Most keloids tend to grow slowly over months to a year, extending past the initial area of injury.

Medscape

  • Allergic reactions to red pigments (mercury sulphide) is the most common but all colours pigments can cause an allergic reaction.

Forbat E, Al-Niaimi F. Patterns of reactions to red pigment tattoo and treatment methods. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2016 Mar;6(1):13-23. PMID: 26972808 [Full text].

Symptoms

Does one have:

ALLERGIC RASH

Many have none of the symptoms below except a rash.

Always tell the healthcare professional what you may think that can be the cause and/or changes (emotional or not) or anything new introduced to oneself even if it occurred many weeks ago (delayed reaction), this information is essential.

  • Consider the ‘Infection service’ especially if one has a fever and/or rash.
  • If a rash has not gone away (without fever), consider ‘The Rash Aftercare Service’.

Please answer all questions below, as this is a very common condition.

Head
  • Headache?
  • Pain around temples and/or forehead?
Eyes
  • Allergic conjunctivitis:
    • Eyes (lids) hot, red and swollen?
    • Eyes itchy, soreness, burning and feeling uncomfortable?
    • Whites of eye look inflamed, hot, red, and swollen?
    • Producing a watery discharge?
    • Both eyes infected?
  • Dry/gritty eyes?
Nose
  • Frequent sneezing?
  • Itchy/runny nose?
  • Sinus discomfort?
  • Watery and itchy eyes with runny nose?
  • Groggy feeling?
  • Lack of smell/taste?
  • Blocked nose/congestion?
  • Sinusitis symptoms:
    • High fever?
    • Pain radiating from jaw and mistaken for toothache?
    • Pain at worst when moving head forward/lying down/swimming/flying (facial pain or pressure)?
    • Pain at worst at morning and easier throughout day?
    • Tender sinuses and/or hurts when touched?
Throat
  • Itchy throat/roof of mouth?
  • Is phlegm at the back of the throat (travelling from the nose) causing catarrh, sore throat, horse voice, cough, tiredness and fever (one may have some of these symptoms)?
Cough
  • Chesty cough i.e. bring up phlegm or feel phlegm is stuck?

OR

  • Dry cough i.e. no phlegm at all?

OR

  • Post nasal drip- The feeling of mucus running down the back of the throat thats leads to swallowing and/or cough?
Abdominal
  • Nausea and vomiting?
  • Stomach cramps?
  • Diarrhoea (last less than 24 hours)?
Rash
  • Small spotty size eczema/dry skin type rash (can be many, spread on one part of body or spreading sparingly or many over the body) appear anywhere on body (not on face)?
  • Itchy rash on face?
  • Skin broken?
Other symptoms
  • Tiredness or feeling of fatigue and/or no energy?
Chemical/Materials Allergy
  • Has one exposed themselves to anything one may be allergic to i.e?
    • Deodorants
    • Chemical fumes
    • Formaldehyde
    • Glue
    • Hairspray
    • Household cleaning products
    • Paint
    • Refrigerant coolants
    • Sulphuric acid
    • Latex
Pets and animals allergy
  • Exposed to pets and/or animals?
Dust mite Allergy

(Please note it is the faeces of dust mites that cause an allergy not the dust mite itself)

  • Allergic symptoms increase when in dusty environments?
  • Touching products that retain dust e.g. soft toys, cushions, (old) untouched products?
  • Allergy symptoms increase or occur when sleeping in duvets and on pillow?
Mould Spore Allergy
  • Allergic to any fungal/yeast i.e mouldy foods like blue cheese?
  • Allergic response when in moist environments i.e. communal areas, gyms, saunas, home?
  • Any contact with damp, where there is yeast and fungi growth?
  • In contact with ‘off’ food or plants/vegetables/fruit where there is yeast and fungi growth?
Buildings Allergy
  • Allergic response to air conditioning systems, heating systems, carpets, dust, insulating materials?
Food Allergy
  • Eaten or drunk (baby include breastfeeding) anything out of the ordinary or recently i.e?
    • Cow’s milk
    • Chicken eggs
    • Soya
    • Peanuts
    • Wheat
    • MSG contain food
Other/Unknown allergy
  • No idea how the allergic reaction occurred?
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