Food allergies

According to Allergy UK, up to 10 per cent of adults and children have a food allergy. Some allergic reactions to food can be severe and even life threatening. The most common food allergens in the UK include:

• Peanuts
• Tree nuts
• Sesame seeds
• Eggs
• Fruits (e.g. apples, strawberries and kiwis)
• Fish
• Milk
• Shellfish.

Symptoms: Most acute symptoms appear within minutes of contact with the food, but some can occur up to an hour later. They include tingling or itching in the mouth, an itchy red rash, swelling of the face, mouth and throat, difficulty swallowing, wheezing or shortness of breath, feeling dizzy or sick and abdominal pain or diarrhoea. Sometimes food allergies can also cause reactions after several days, such as chronic eczema, or may be less obvious, such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).

Treatments: The first step is to identify and then avoid any trigger foods. However, it is important for people to get professional advice, rather than cut out any essential food groups unnecessarily. Most people with food allergies will be given a treatment plan by their GP or allergy consultant. A mild to moderate allergic reaction may be treated with an antihistamine (usually chlorphenamine). Adrenaline may be required for more severe reactions – many people with diagnosed food allergies are prescribed autoinjector pens to use in an emergency.

Self care tips: Checking food labels is essential, especially for any ‘hidden’ or less obvious ingredients. Customers may need to check medicine and toiletry labels as well, for example for peanut oil and they should carry medicine with them at all times.

Pollen allergy (hayfever)

There are around 18 million hayfever sufferers in the UK. Hayfever, also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, occurs mainly in the spring and summer, when people react to pollen from trees, grass and weeds. Tree pollen usually affects people in February to June, grass pollen in May to July and weeds from June to September. If people have hayfever-like symptoms all year round, this is usually due to indoor allergens.

Symptoms: Hayfever symptoms include itchy, red and watery eyes (allergic conjunctivitis), sneezing, a sore or itchy throat, a blocked or runny nose, headaches, blocked sinuses, shortness of breath, coughing and tiredness.

Treatments: Non-sedating, once-a-day antihistamines (such as cetirizine and loratadine) are usually the first-line treatment for mild to moderate symptoms, although corticosteroid nasal sprays tend to be more effective for nasal congestion. The nasal sprays are most effective if customers start using them for a couple of weeks before their symptoms normally begin and use them regularly. Saline nasal sprays and protective nasal gels can be helpful to keep nostrils clear of pollen. If customers have allergic conjunctivitis, they can try cromoglicate eye drops – again, these should be used regularly. GPs can prescribe stronger treatments and refer customers for immunotherapy (desensitisation treatment) if this is suitable.

Self care tips: Pollen avoidance is hard to achieve, but customers should try to limit their exposure as much as possible by monitoring pollen forecasts daily and staying indoors if the pollen count is high. Other self care measures include:

• Putting petroleum jelly or a barrier balm in and around the nostrils
• Wearing wraparound sunglasses
• Showering and changing clothes after being outdoors
• Keeping windows and doors shut as much as possible.

Indoor allergies

Indoor allergies can affect people at home, work and school. Triggers include house dust mites (found in carpets, soft furnishings and clothes), mould spores and pets.

Symptoms: Indoor allergens generally cause perennial allergic rhinitis (hayfever-like symptoms), with a blocked or runny nose, itchy eyes and throat and sneezing.

Treatments: Customers may benefit from antihistamines, corticosteroid nasal sprays and/or cromoglicate eye drops, depending on their symptoms. If OTC products aren’t controlling the symptoms, customers should discuss prescribed treatments with their GP.

Self care tips: Taking steps to avoid indoor allergens may help the symptoms, but won’t reduce exposure completely. Customers can be advised to try:

• Ventilation to stop moulds flourishing in a damp environment
• Keeping pets out of bedrooms and away from soft furnishings
• Washing pets at least once a week
• Using anti-allergy bedding and duvet/mattress/ pillow covers to limit house dust mites
• Vacuuming regularly using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter
• Choosing wood or hard floorings and leather, plastic or vinyl furniture
• Regularly wiping surfaces with a damp cloth and avoiding dry dusting
• Dealing with any damp and condensation in the home.

Drug allergies

Around half a million people admitted to NHS hospitals each year have a diagnostic ‘label’ of drug allergy. Common triggers include vaccines, insulin, penicillin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) and anaesthetics.

Symptoms: Symptoms vary from local skin rashes, itching and hives to wheezing, swelling of the face, tongue and mouth and breathing problems. The symptoms may depend on how the medicine was taken (i.e. by mouth, on the skin or as an injection).

Treatments: If someone thinks they have a drug allergy, they should avoid taking that medicine and be referred to their GP straight away. Mild to moderate symptoms can usually be treated with antihistamines. Severe symptoms, such as anaphylaxis, should be treated immediately.

Self care tips: If customers are allergic to a medicine, it is important that this is recorded in their medical notes. They should wear allergy alert jewellery, so that healthcare professionals know they shouldn’t be given that medicine again. If they are given any medicines to take (over the counter or prescribed), they should be advised to check the label and information leaflet very carefully.