What are Allergies
An allergy means that your body reacts to something that bothers it (allergen). It is not a normal reaction. This can happen from something that you:
- Eat.
- Breathe in.
- Touch.
You can have an allergy (be allergic) to:
- Outdoor
things, like:
- Pollen.
- Grass.
- Weeds.
- Indoor
things, like:
- Dust.
- Smoke.
- Pet dander.
- Foods.
- Medicines.
- Things
that bother your skin, like:
- Detergents.
- Chemicals.
- Latex.
- Perfume.
- Bugs.
An allergy cannot spread from person to person (is not contagious).
Follow these instructions at home:
- Stay away from things that you know you are allergic to.
- If
you have allergies to things in the air, wash out your nose each day. Do
it with one of these:
- A salt-water (saline) spray.
- A container (neti pot).
- Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.
- Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.
- If
you are at risk for a very bad allergy reaction (anaphylaxis), keep
an auto-injector with you all the time. This is called an epinephrine
injection.
- This is pre-measured medicine with a needle. You can put it into your skin by yourself.
- Right after you have a very bad allergy reaction, you or a person with you must give the medicine in less than a few minutes. This is an emergency.
- If you have ever had a very bad allergy reaction, wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace. Your very bad allergy should be written on it.
Contact a health care provider if:
- Your symptoms do not get better with treatment.
Get help right away if:
- You
have symptoms of a very bad allergy reaction. These include:
- A swollen mouth, tongue, or throat.
- Pain or tightness in your chest.
- Trouble breathing.
- Being short of breath.
- Dizziness.
- Fainting.
- Very bad pain in your belly (abdomen).
- Throwing up (vomiting).
- Watery poop (diarrhea).
Summary
- An allergy means that your body reacts to something that bothers it (allergen). It is not a normal reaction.
- Stay away from things that make your body react.
- Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.
- If you are at risk for a very bad allergy reaction, carry an auto-injector (epinephrine injection) all the time. Also, wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace so people know about your allergy.
