Allergies and hay fever

Our team of allergy experts are here to help you get allergy relief and prevent an allergic reaction. Aurora’s otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat doctors) have experience in identifying allergies, including seasonal allergies, bee stings, indoor allergies and food. We provide testing and treatment options that could include prescription allergy medications, immunotherapy (allergy shots) and steroids.

To schedule an appointment, find the nearby specialist who’s right for you.

What are allergies?

An allergy is a reaction from your immune system to specific proteins found in foods, airborne particles, venom, latex and medications. Your immune system views these proteins as harmful and reacts to them, causing a wide range of symptoms.

Most of these proteins (allergens) are typically harmless and just cause discomfort. Although rare, an allergic reaction can be severe and become life threatening and require immediate medical attention. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that includes symptoms such as swollen eyes, lips, hands and feet, feeling lightheaded or faint., swelling of the mouth, throat or tongue, which can cause breathing and swallowing difficulties and wheezing.

How an allergic reaction occurs

An allergic reaction happens when an allergen encounters the skin, eyes, nose, gastrointestinal (GI) tract or respiratory tract. Allergens can be absorbed, injected, inhaled or swallowed.

Your immune system produces IgE (Immunoglobulin E) antibodies when it encounters an allergen for the first time. Your airways, skin and GI tract have allergy cells, or mast cells. The IgE antibody binds to these cells.

The antibodies find allergens and transports them to the allergy cell and attach them to a receptor. This process triggers the release of histamines, which causes allergy symptoms such as hives, runny nose, sneezing, digestive problems and more.

Allergy causes

Nearly one in three adults and one in four children in the United States have a seasonal allergy, food allergy or eczema. Allergies are common and can be caused by several factors. The most common allergens include:

• Inhaled substances
• Medications
• Foods
• Latex
• Insect stings

Inhaled substances

Substances in the air that you can inhale may cause an allergic reaction. They can impact you seasonally or throughout the year. Common airborne allergens that can affect you all year include:

• Molds
• Cockroaches (saliva, feces and shedding body parts that can be inhaled)
• Pet dander
• Dust mites

Most people with seasonal allergies are affected by tree pollination in the early spring. Grass and ragweed pollen levels increase in the late summer and fall. Not everyone has a reaction to all types of pollen. Symptoms of seasonal allergies could include a stuffy nose, sneezing, and itchy and watery eyes.

Seasonal allergies depend on the area you live in. In some areas, they last from spring until fall. In warmer climates, seasonal allergies can happen year-round.

Medications

Allergies to prescription or over-the-counter medications are also common. Allergic reactions to medications may cause a severe reaction, including anaphylaxis. The most common medications that cause an allergic reaction are:

• Aspirin, ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Anticonvulsants
• Penicillin and other antibiotics
• Chemotherapy medications
• Prescription insulin

Foods

Food allergies can cause a reaction in minutes of eating trigger foods. Symptoms can be mild or severe and may also include swelling or anaphylaxis. The most common food allergies:

• Eggs
• Milk
• Peanuts
• Shellfish
• Soy
• Tree nuts
• Wheat

In some cases, an allergy may develop to vegetables and fruits, including apples, citrus fruits, mangoes and berries. Fruit and vegetable allergies are uncommon and typically only affect teenagers and children.

Latex

Latex allergies are rare, affecting only 1% of the people in the United States. Latex allergies develop due to a reaction to rubber latex, which comes from tree sap. Common latex products include:

• Balloons
• Bandages
• Condoms
• Rubber balls
• Rubber gloves

In most cases, a latex allergy causes mild symptoms such as hives, runny or stuffy nose and itching. The most common latex allergy symptom is dermatitis, or skin irritation.

Insect stings

When you’re stung by a bee or other insects, venom is released into the skin. Venom is a poison and can cause an allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, in some people. It’s important to seek immediate care if symptoms are severe. The most common insect stings or bites that cause an allergic reaction include:

• Some spiders
• Yellow jackets
• Bees
• Wasps
• Fire ants
• Hornets

Symptoms of an allergic reaction

It’s important to understand that everyone may react differently to certain allergy triggers. Allergy symptoms can widely vary depending on the severity of the allergy and the allergen causing it. Sometimes symptoms can be mild and cause little to no discomfort. Other times they can be uncomfortable, moderate to severe or be a medical emergency.

Some symptoms you may experience include:

• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
• Joint pain
• Anxiety
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Bloating
• Runny nose
• Coughing
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Hives
• Itchy nose
• Rashes
• Redness
• Sneezing
• Swelling
• Light headedness
• Tongue swelling

Testing for allergies

There are several types of allergy tests available, including a skin test and a blood test for IgE antibodies.

Using a skin prick, your doctor will use small needles to inject tiny amounts of potential allergens into the skin to check for a reaction. A skin test can detect allergies to food, pollen and medications. A more advanced skin test can be performed to check for insect sting allergies or if the skin prick test was inconclusive.

Once your doctor has determined what you're allergic to, they will outline effective treatment options to manage your symptoms and help you find allergy relief.

Schedule an appointment with an Aurora specialist for testing If your symptoms last longer than a week or keep coming back.

Effective allergy treatment options

Allergy medicines are an effective way to treat your allergy symptoms. Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter antihistamines (Allegra, Claritin or Zyrtec) or nasal sprays (Flonase) to help relieve your symptoms. They may also recommend decongestants such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) to help you relieve congestion in your chest.

Your allergy specialist may also recommend allergy shots (immunotherapy). Allergy shots are regular injections given for three to five years that contain tiny amounts of the allergen that trigger your allergic reactions to help your immune system recognize it.

If you have more severe allergies, your doctor may prescribe stronger allergy medications, steroids or bronchodilators.

Preventing allergies

There are several allergy remedies that can be used to prevent symptoms. Keeping your house clean and vacuuming carpets will help remove dust and pet dander inside your home. Using air purifiers and changing your air filters regularly can also help reduce indoor allergens. Avoiding contact with allergy triggers is the best allergy remedy to prevent an allergic reaction. Daily antihistamines and other medications can control symptoms and prevent or reduce an allergic reaction.