Five facts about allergy

According to Allergy UK, around one person in four in the UK suffers from an allergy at some point in their lifetime. The number of people affected is increasing every year, and up to half of those affected are children.

What are the most common allergies?

The most common allergies are to pollen, house dust mites, mould, pets such as cats and dogs, wasps and bees, industrial and household chemicals, and foods such as milk, nuts (mainly peanuts) and eggs. You can also be allergic to fruit, medicines such as penicillin, metals such as nickel in jewellery, and rubber.

What are the main allergy symptoms?

The most common symptoms are sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, wheezing, coughing and itchy skin rashes (dermatitis). The type of symptoms you experience depends on what you re allergic to and how you come into contact with it. !or example, you may ha"e difficulty breathing if you inhale pollen, or dermatitis if you apply a lotion containing a chemical you re allergic to, or nausea and "omiting if you eat a food you re allergic to.

What are allergic illnesses?

#ome allergic symptoms are conditions in themsel"es. $ay fe"er is a runny nose, sneezing, blocked nose and itchy eyes caused by contact with pollen. %czema is itchy inflammation of the skin that is often linked to allergy. &n eczema flare can be triggered by foods, house dust mites, pollen or pet hair. &sthma is a type of breathing problem that can be triggered by allergens such as pets, house dust mite droppings in dust, pollens and moulds. &llergic rhinitis is similar to hay fe"er but occurs all year round. 'rticaria is a red itchy bumpy rash that can occur as part of an allergic reaction, for example to foods, drugs and insect stings. &llergic eye disease is also known as allergic conjuncti"itis, and is where the eyes become itchy and red after contact with an allergen such as pollen or pet hair. Can allergy be inherited?

#ome people are more likely to de"elop an allergy because it runs in their family. (f this is the case, you re said to be atopic or to ha"e atopy. )oys are more likely to de"elop an inherited allergy than girls, as are babies who ha"e a low birth weight.

s an allergic reaction dangerous?

&llergic reactions can be mild, moderate or se"ere. (n some cases they can be life threatening. This is known asanaphylaxis. &naphylaxis is a medical emergency and needs prompt treatment. *ead what to do if you or someone you know has an allergic reaction.