5 Allergies Potentially Far More Serious Than Mild Seasonal Annoyance

Allergies can range from a mild seasonal annoyance to a life threatening condition. There are a number of different types of allergies that affect millions of people.

Some of the most common types of allergies are food allergies. The reactions to food allergies can range in severity. Some individuals experience an upset stomach or mild headache when they eat certain kinds of foods. Other people, however; have very serious reactions that can be life threatening.

Of the food allergy categories, shellfish and peanut allergies are quite common and can very serious, even leading to death. Many of the signs and symptoms related to food allergies include rashes, itching, nasal congestion, diarrhea, nausea, dizziness, swelling of the lips, tongue and/or throat.

In very serious reactions, the individual may go into shock and experience a rapid drop in blood pressure. The airway may also begin to constrict, making it difficult for the person to breath. At this point, the allergic reaction becomes life threatening and emergency medical help should be sought immediately.

In many cases, food allergies can be caused due to a genetic family history. Many children experience food allergies in their younger years but then eventually grow out of the condition as they mature.

Some individuals also suffer from various types of drug allergies. These types of allergies most commonly include reactions to the drug known as penicillin; however other types of drugs may also cause reactions. Sulfa drugs, anesthesia and insulin also cause allergic reactions in a number of people.

It is very important to let anyone treating you know if you suffer from any type of drug allergy. Many people who suffer from drug reactions and allergies also find it beneficial to carry some kind of identifying information with them to denote the allergy in the event of an accident.

While no one reacts well to an inset sting or bite, in some people the situation can become life threatening. These individuals usually begin to experience what is known as anaphylaxis when stung or bitten. Anaphylaxis is an extremely serious medical condition in which the airway becomes constricted and the person is at risk for dying if medical help is not sought immediately.

Other common symptoms related to impending anaphylaxis include swelling of the face and shock. Severe allergic reactions are usually associated with bites and stings from wasps, bees, hornets and yellow jackets.

Allergic reactions to latex are a problem that is not well known by many people but that can be extremely serious. Individuals can come into contact with latex in a number of ways and environments; both at home and at work. It is commonly found in many types of rubber as well as shoes, balloons, gloves, condoms and rubber bands.

The reaction related to latex exposure in a person with this type of allergy can range from mild to severe. As with all other allergic reactions, it can become life threatening if anaphylaxis occurs. Individuals who suffer from latex allergies develop it because they have been around and exposed to latex significantly at some point in their lives.

Considering that thousands of products contain latex, it may be difficult to pinpoint when and where this occurred. Some people develop the problem if they have frequent surgeries because of the fact that most surgical gloves are made from latex. If you suffer from a latex allergy it is imperative that you inform your doctor if you are scheduled for surgery.

Exposure to latex during a surgery can be quite serious, even life threatening. Alternate measures can be used if you inform the medical staff.

You may also consider carrying some type of allergy identification in the case of an accident.

Individuals who have life threatening allergies, such as some food allergies and allergies related to insect stings and bites may be advised by their doctor to carry a special medical kit with them at all times. This kit usually contains an antidote known as epinephrine and is commonly used as an =injectable. While the epinephrine will work as antidote, medical attention should still be sought immediately.

Dust mite allergies affect many people who do not even realize that the symptoms they experience are related to an allergy. Dust mites are small organisms that prefer to inhabit areas that are dark and warm. They are completely invisible to the naked eye.

Most homes have dust mites. The problem arises when someone is either allergic to dust mites or has asthma. Medical professionals recommend that you eliminate the warm and humid environments in your home where dust mites thrive. They are particularly fond of pillows, mattresses,
carpet and upholstery. Eliminating these areas in your home as much as possible can help to reduce the dust mite population and the possibility of allergic reactions.

Hay fever is an extremely common allergy related ailment. In some individuals the symptoms, including sneezing and watery, itchy eyes, appear all year while other people only recognize the symptoms during certain seasons of the year. Most people who experience hay fever at isolated times of the year, such as the spring or fall, are actually allergic to pollen.

Persons who have problems with hay fever all year are more than likely allergic to something inside their home. This might include dust mites as mentioned above or pet dander. There are a number of over the counter and prescription medications that can help reduce the symptoms of both seasonal and year round hay fever.

A small number of people are allergic to mold and the symptoms can be quite distressful. Black mold is a situation that has recently come to light and the results of being exposed to black mold have proven to be quite severe.

While not all molds are black, if you suspect that your home or office has mold of any type, it is well worth it to have a trained professional investigate the situation. Reducing the humidity in your home or office is an affective way of controlling all kinds of mold, as well as using a disinfectant regularly and keeping the air circulating.

A medical professional can determine if you suffer from any of the above mentioned allergies by performing blood work. Today it is possible to isolate numerous different types of food allergies as well as dust, mold, pollen and pet dander allergies.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

 

About the Author

Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.

Chlymitia Kla-Mid-Dee-Ah

Chlymitia (Kla-Mid-Dee-Ah) is the commonest and curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the UK.

The most important thing to know about Chlamydia is that any one who is having sex is vulnerable. You only need to have unprotected sex with one person who has the infection to catch it; but of course, the more partners you have, the more likely you are to be infected. During 2001, there were more than 71,000 new reported cases, the highest level ever and a 10 % rise from 2000.

According to Public Health laboratory Service figures it is estimated that one in ten under 25 year olds now have the infection.

If you are over 25 and have had two partners within a year, or recently changed partners your risk increases.

One of the most alarming problems with Chlymitia as sex problem is that it is asymptomatic; that is to say most people don’t know that they have it in the early stages. This means that it is very easily passed on without people knowing. Some warning signs could be:

Discharge
Pain or burning when urinating
Inflammation of the penis or vagina
Pain in the lower part of the body
Heavy periods or irregular bleeding
Testicular pain
It can be passed on through:

Unprotected vaginal or anal sex with an infected partner.
Sharing sex toys
Passed from mother to baby at birth.
If it is left untreated for long enough it can cause serious damage such as problems with fertility including:

Blocked fallopian tubes (resulting in infertility)
Miscarriage or premature birth
Ectopic pregnancy
Help and Support

Chlamydia will not go away on it’s own. However it can be simply and successfully treated with antibiotics.

If you think you have been at risk you can either talk to your GP and ask specifically for a test, or you can contact a sexual health clinic. These are also known as Genito-Urinary Medicine (GU) clinics, and are usually found at a large hospital. The clinics are free and confidential. Anyone can go; your doctor does not need to refer you.

You can find your nearest one in the phone book. Or by calling:
NHS Direct 0845 4647.

Sexual health help-line is available seven days a week 24 hours a day
Call: 0800 567 123

climidia detection

The diagnosis of genital chlamydial infections evolved rapidly from the 1990s through 2006. Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), transcription mediated amplification (TMA), and the DNA strand displacement assay (SDA) now are the mainstays. As of January 2007, the most commonly used and widely studied chlamydia NAATs in the US and many other industrialized countries are Aptima (Gen-Probe), Probe-Tec (Becton-Dickinson), and Amplicor (Roche). The Aptima Combo II assay tests simltaneously for C. trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the cause of gonorrhea. NAAT for chlamydia may be performed on swab specimens collected from the cervix (women) or urethra (men), on self-collected vaginal swabs, or on voided urine. Urine and self-collected swab testing facilitates the performance of screening tests in settings where genital examination is impractical. At present, the NAATs have regulatory approval only for testing urogenital specimens, although rapidly evolving research indicates that the Aptima test may give reliable results on rectal specimens.

Because of improved test accuracy, ease of specimen management, convenience in specimen management, and ease of screening sexually active men and women, the NAATs have largely replaced culture, the historic gold standard for chlamydia diagnosis, and the non-amplified probe tests, such as Pace II (Gen-Probe). The latter test is relatively insensitive, successfully detecting only 60-80% of infections in asymptomatic women, and often giving falsely positive results. Culture remains useful in selected circumstances and is currently the only assay approved for testing non-genital specimens.

climidia symptoms

amydia is an asymptomatic disease for about 50-70% of the female population. Of those who have an asymptomatic infection that is not detected by their doctor, approximately half will develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a generic term for infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries. PID can cause scarring inside the reproductive organs, which can later cause serious complications, including chronic pelvic pain, difficulty becoming pregnant, ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, and other dangerous complications of pregnancy. Chlamydia causes 250,000 to 500,000 cases of PID every year in the U.S. Women infected with chlamydia are up to five times more likely to become infected with HIV, if exposed.[5]

Chlamydia is known as the "Silent Epidemic" because in women, it may not cause any symptoms and will linger for months or years before being discovered. Symptoms that may occur include: unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge, pain in the abdomen, painful sexual intercourse (dyspareunia), fever, painful urination or the urge to urinate more frequently than usual.

Male patients may develop a white, cloudy or watery discharge (shown) from the tip of the penis.

In men, chlamydia shows symptoms in about 50% of cases. Symptoms that may occur include: a painful or burning sensation when urinating, an unusual discharge from the penis, swollen or tender testicles, or fever. Discharge, or the purulent exudate, is generally less viscous and lighter in color than for gonorrhea. If left untreated, it is possible for Chlamydia in men to spread to the testicles causing epididymitis, which in rare cases can cause sterility if not treated within 6 to 8 weeks. Chlamydia causes more than 250,000 cases of epididymitis in the USA each year.

Chlamydia may also cause reactive arthritis, especially in young men. About 15,000 men develop reactive arthritis due to chlamydia infection each year in the USA, and about 5,000 are permanently affected by it. The triad of reactive arthritis, conjunctivitis and urethritis (inflammation of the urethra) is known as Reiter's Syndrome. All three entities must be present for this label to be used. It can occur in both men and women, though is more common in men.

As many as half of all infants born to mothers with chlamydia will be born with the disease. Chlamydia can affect infants by causing spontaneous abortion; premature birth; conjunctivitis, which may lead to blindness; and pneumonia. Conjunctivitis due to chlamydia typically occurs one week after birth (Compare with chemical causes (within hours) or gonorrhea (2-5 days)).

what is climidia?

The real spelling is "Chlamydia", also known as women climida bacteria

Chlamydia is a genus of obligate intracellular bacteria in the family Chlamydiaceae, order Chlamydiales, class and phylum Chlamydiae.

The three species in this genus are Chlamydia trachomatis (affects only humans), MChlamydia suis (affects only swine), and Chlamydia muridarum (affects only mice and hamsters).[1]

At one time, this genus also included the species that are presently in the genus, Chlamydophila.

(text from wikipedia)