Airborne and Food Allergies are two major types of allergies

In our last post we briefly discussed what are allergies and their causes. Today we will take a look at the different types of substances and things that you can be allergic to. Substances you are allergic to are known as allergens and they can be broadly classified into two groups:

AIRBORNE ALLERGENS

Airborne allergens are substances dispersed and carried through in the air and they are some of the most common causes of allergic reactions in people. Airborne allergens include:

Dust mites

Dust mites are microscopic insects that are found everywhere around us- living in curtains, carpets, bedding and upholstery- which feed off the dead cells naturally falling off our bodies. Dust mites are a big part of house dust and the most allergen in nature.

Pollen

Pollen allergy is one of the most common allergy types and happens due to the fertilization process of trees, plants and weeds which requires them to release the tiny particles known as pollen into the air.

Molds

Poorly ventilated areas inside the home and poorly drained areas outside are often home to fungi. This fungi- known as molds- can thrive in a variety of settings and temperatures (whether it’s in a damp basement or a pile of rotting leaves) and be a cause of allergies.

 Pets

Household pets- and especially cats- often lick their fur or feathers as part of their cleaning ritual. The saliva left on their fur starts drying up and releasing protein particles in the air than can act as allergens. Urine, dander and hair are other sources of pet allergens.

Cockroaches

Not only can cockroach-infested places cause asthma in small kids but they can also act as allergens. This is a particularly big problem in the inner city.

FOOD ALLERGENS

Almost 2 million kids in the US have some type of food allergy. Here are some of the most common edibles that kids could have an allergic reaction to:

Cow Milk

Proteins present in cow milk (which are often used for baby formula milk and other milk based products like cheese) could cause allergic reactions.

Eggs

Eggs play an important role in a healthy diet and many of our food products. But if your kid has an egg allergy, you will need to be very particular about which food products you buy as they could contain an egg ingredient that could cause an allergy reaction in your child. Fortunately, most kids outgrow the egg allergy by the time they are 5.

Seafood

A common allergy type for adults, it can last for an entire lifetime!

Peanuts (and other nuts)

One of the most dangerous (and possibly life threatening) allergies is to peanuts.  Peanuts allergy is often accompanied by an allergy to the other nuts.

Soy

Babies who are allergic to cow milk are often allergic to soy milk as well. Soy allergy is less common in older children.

Wheat

Like eggs, wheat and wheat ingredients form a huge part of our diet and it’s not always easy to tell if a particular food product has the wheat ingredient that you’re allergic to.

In addition to airborne and food allergies, other common allergies include allergies to insect stings, certain medicines and particular chemicals.

If you suspect that you are allergic to any particular substance, visit us at the MedHelp clinic. Our team of doctors and trained medical professionals will diagnose your allergy and provide you with the treatment and advice necessary for your allergy type.