Rise in Allergies

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It’s amazing. About 30 years ago, except for in the medical and perhaps the developed world, people hardly ever heard of the term ‘Allergy’. Yet, now it’s become so commonly used and also so loosely used. It’s kind of fashionable to a certain extent to be allergic to something or the other, or even someone for instance.

Allergy as I have understood is defined as the body reacting in a certain way to a foreign substance when in contact. This reaction could be a simple rash on the skin in mild cases or in some instances could result in the individual going into a state of shock and could even die if not properly and promptly treated. With regard to the contact, it could be ingestion of the substance, inhalation or even mere skin contact as in the case of allergic contact dermatitis.
The incidence of this condition has gone up significantly in the last few years, partly due to the improved hygiene, indiscriminate use of antibiotics in young children and even in adults, environmental changes and also other factors, which are not fully understood by scientists.

Its well understood that allergies are related to certain other conditions such as Asthma, eczema, hay fever etc. and we have seen a fairly significant increase in the incidence of these conditions as well.

Some of the common food allergies are to fish, eggs, cereals, dairy, nuts etc. Other agents that one can be allergic to are antibiotics, detergents, plants, insect bites, pollen, dust, house dust mite etc.

In majority of the cases, one must have had some prior exposure to the substance or shall we say ‘the allergen’, before developing an allergic reaction when exposed to the same substance for a second or a third time. The first time a person is in contact, the body develops a memory of this allergen, a process called sensitisation.
The second time a person is exposed to the same allergen, the body recognises this and certain cells called the mast cells and basophils are broken down releasing inflammatory mediators in vast amounts. These inflammatory mediators bring about the swelling, redness; flushes etc. and in extreme cases can drop the blood pressure resulting in a state of shock. Prompt resuscitation with fluids and other medications are important in these instances.
The drug of choice in such instances, otherwise called an ‘Anaphylactic reaction’ is intramuscular Adrenaline. This particular drug is available in pre-filled syringes and it can be seen to be carried around by some people who have previously had such a reaction or even by those people wherein there is potential for such a reaction to occur. Some of the other commonly used medications are anti-histamines.

Is there a way to try and avoid allergies all together?  Well it’s well understood that ordinary people in third world countries and poorer nations have a tendency to lesser allergies than those in the developed world, but that’s now fast changing, with improvements in the socio-economic conditions around the world. And so as of now, there is no clear consensus as to how one can avoid acquiring allergies at all and am sure if there is someone who can tell us that, it could put many a allergy specialists out of their monthly pocket money.