ALLERGY

An allergic reaction is part of the body’s immune reaction to foreign bodies, and the result can be something as mild as a red rash to a full-blown, fatal asthma attack.

The key with allergies, is for the patient to determine what is causing the reaction, and then to avoid that allergen as far as possible. A skin-prink allergy test is quite straightforward to arrange through a GP, and can be very helpful in narrowing down what’s causing the problem.

Certain foodstuffs may also be a factor – this needs to be determined through a specially designed elimination diet, usually in conjunction with a dietician.
However, it is not always possible to avoid allergens – they may be in the air all around us, in which case patients need to manage their allergies.

If they suffer from severe allergic reactions, such as asthma attacks, those will need to be controlled by their doctor, or even a specialist.

However, for the person on the street who suffers from a mild grass rash in spring, or the occasional bout of hay fever, there are excellent over-the-counter antihistamines available, in both oral and topical form.

Patients do need to be warned, however, that some of these preparations may cause drowsiness, and could affect them while driving or operating heavy machinery. There are also antihistamines available which have no sedating effects.

Patients should also be referred on to a doctor if the over-the-counter preparations are not improving their allergic reactions.