Allergy assignment

Assignment Of Pharmacognosy

ALLERGY Allergen Types, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment 9/20/2012

Pharmacognosy Department

Faculty Of Pharmacy

University Of Sindh

Submitted By

Qurat Ul Ain Qaimkhani

PHAE/2K9/64

64/PHAE PHARMACOGNOSY Page 2

ALLERGY

The term allergy is used to describe a response within the body, to a substance which is

not necessarily harmful in itself, but results in an immune response and a reaction that

causes symptoms and disease in a pre-disposed person, which in turn can cause

inconvenience or a great deal of misery.

Word allergy was coined in 19th century from the Greek word “allon argon” and means

“to react differently”. Allergic people respond differently to certain substances in that

they develop hypersensitivity reactions to various foods, drugs, inhaled particles, leading

to symptoms and illness.

What is an Allergen?

An allergen is a protein or chemical that is capable of causing sensitization &

subsequent allergic sensitivity on re-exposure. Allergens are substances that, in some

people the immune system recognizes as “foreign” or ‘dangerous” but cause no

response for most people.


Common Allergens Include

Bacteria, viruses & animal parasites

Chemicals

Dust

Drugs (such as antibiotics or medications you put on your skin)

Foods (peanuts, milk, chocolates, wheats)

Perfumes

Plants

Pollens

Smoke

Types Of Allergens

Allergens can be classified on the basis of types symptoms, which depend on shock

organ affected by the particular allergens & its entry into the body.

Inhalant allergens

Injectant allergens

Contactant allergens

Ingestant allergens

Infectant allergens

Infestant allergens

Inhalant Allergens

Inhalant allergens are those that are inhaled through the nose, throat, & into the

bronchial tubes & lungs. These are the airborne particles which may cause asthma or

allergy symptoms to appear. When you breath in something you are allergic to, a

reaction is likely to occur.

Inhalant allergens include animals, dust mites, feathers, cockroachesmold & pollens.If

the symptoms are restricted to the nasal mucosa & are manifested by by sneezing,


lacrimaton, itching & sweeling of nose & eyes, an inhalant allergy is usually detected.

The condition is known as ‘sinusitis’ or ‘hay fever’.

These usually present with problems in the airways- rhinitis, itchy palate or throat or

asthma with cough, wheeze & shortness of breath.

Symptoms

Pollen interfers with the normal function of many vital organs, including the:

Bronchioles

Larynx

Throat

Trachea

When pollens irritate the nose, hayfever symptoms such as congestion, sneezing & nasal

discharge occur. The throat reacts to pollen by becoming itchy & scratchy & the larynx

becomes hoarse & voice loss can occur.

Other Symptoms Include

Allergic shiners (dark circles under the eyes caused by increased blood flow near the

sinuses) Fatigue, Mental dullness, Watering eyes.


Timing Of Symptoms

Symptoms worse in

Winter suggest house dust mite allergy

Spring suggest tree pollens

Last week of May to the first 2weeks of July suggest pollen grains

August to the autumn suggest moulds

Hay Fever

Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is an allergy which results in irritation or inflammation of the

delicate linings of the nose or eyes. Most hay fever is seasonal and symptoms tend to

occurwhen pollen or other airborne particles are at high level.

The most common forms of hay fever are reactions to:

Pollens

Grasses

Pet Dander

Dust Particles

Mold Spores

Hay fever tends to be passes on through families. If you have allergies in your family

there Is an increased chance you will also get hay fever. Hay fever is more of a nuisance,

rather than a serious medical condition.

Treating An Allergy

If you have a pollen allergy, its curcial to avoid prolonged periods of time

outdoors when the pollen level is high.

After being outside, use a nasal rinse. This is a great way to wash out the pollen

that loges in nasal passages. Also, experts recommend that you should invest in

an air purifier for severe pollen allergies.


Over the counter medicine including Claritin, Zyrtec & Mucinex can help relieve

sneezing, itching, & couhing symptoms & hot tea can sooth an irritated, scratchy

throat.

Benadryl is also helpful but should only be used at night time, as it usually causes

drowsiness. If these medicines are not effective, a physician can prescribe

antihistamines, corticosteroids.

Regularly dust at home, vacuum, change air filters, & keep good hygiene.

Injectant Allergens

Substance to which a person is allergic, which are injected into the body. Usually drugs

& insect venom, these are th substances that penetrate the skin.

Injectants are the substances injected into the skin, muscles, joints or blood vessels.

Serum, antitoxins, vaccines immunizations, & drugs are among injected substances.

Insect bites are also considered injectants, & various substances can be injected through

these bites.

Allergic reactions to pencillin injections are well-known to most of the lay public.

It is estimated that anaphylactic reactions to pencillin occur with a frequency of 1 to

5/10,000patient courses of pencillin.


In addition to pencilin products, other injectables may cause allergies- liver extracts,

antitoxins & the glandular products.

Contactant Allergens

An allergen capable of inducing delayed contact type hypersensitivity of the epidermis

after one or more episodes of contact. Any group of allergens that elicit manifestations

of induced sensitivity by direct contact with the skin or mucosa.

Direct contact with the skin of the animal can result in allergic symptoms from

contactans. Cosmetic, soaps, oils, detergents, latex products, formaldehyde & various

plan oils such as those from poison ivy, oak can be contactant allergies.

Carpets, rugs plastics, vinyl, toys, shampoo, bath accessories & towels can also cause

contactant allergies.

When an allegen comes in contact with the body, it causes the immune system to

develop an allergic reaction in persons who are allergic to it.

Cauases & Risk Factors

The most common allergic diseases are allergic rhinitis, non-allergic rhinitis, asthma,

allergic dermatitis, contact dermatitis and urticaria. (Allergic rhinitis is the most common

of the allergic diseases and the main focus of this health profile.)

Allergic Rhinitis is a general term used to apply to anyone who has allergy-based

symptoms. Allergic rhinitis can be a seasonal problem (commonly known as "hay fever"


or pollen allergy) or a year-round problem (commonly known as perennial allergic

rhinitis).

Hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis is caused by allergy to pollens of trees, grasses,

weeds or mold spores. Perennial allergic rhinitis is caused by house dust, animal

danders, mold and some foods.

Asthma is caused by intrinsic and extrinsic (inhaled) factors.

Intrinsic factors are pollens, dust, dust mites, animal fur, animal dander or feathers.

Extrinsic factors are respiratory infections; a cough, cold or bronchitis; exercise and

tobacco smoke or other air pollutants, and can be caused by an allergy to a particular

food or medication.

Eczema also known as allergic dermatitis or atopic dermatitis, can be caused by foods

or other allergens.

Contact Dermatitis is caused by exposure to certain plants (such as poison ivy or

poison oak), cosmetics, medications, metals and chemicals.

Urticaria also known as "hives", is caused by allergy to foods, such as nuts, tomatoes,

shellfish and berries. Hives can also be caused by medications, such as aspirin and

penicillin.

Symptoms Of Allergy

The sign & symptoms of allergic rhinitis are

Sneezing often accompanied by a runny nose

Coughing & postnasal drip

Itching eyes, nose & throat

Allergic shiners

Conjuctivitis (an inflammation of the membrane that lines the eyelids, causing red

rimmed, swollen eyes & crushing eye lids

The signs and symptoms of asthma are

Feeling of tightness in chest


Breathlessness

Coughing

Noisy breathing (wheezing)

The signs and symptoms of eczema, contact dermatitis and urticaria are

Red, itchy skin

Inflammed skin

Welts (in hives)

Warning

If a person is experiencing more severe symptoms than what is listed above, they may

be in anaphylactic shock.

Anaphylactic shock is a medical emergency which is an acute systemic (affecting the

whole body) allergic reaction.

It occurs after exposure to an antigen (allergen) to which a person was previously

sensitized.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK INCLUDE

GENERAL SYMPTOMS OF COMMON ALLERGIC REACTIONS

Swelling of tissues such as lips or joints

Wheezing, noisy breathing or shortness of breath

Rash or redness of the skin

Loss of consciousness

Anxiety

Itching

Headache

Nausea and vomiting

Abdominal cramps

Diarrhea

Low blood pressure

Convulsions

Itching of the mouth & throat


Hoarsness, change of voice

Chest pain

Feeling of warmth & flushing

Feeling of having to urinate

Allergens more commonly associated with anaphylactic shock are: certain insect venoms,

drugs such as penicillin, and foods like fish, peanuts, nuts, eggs and seeds.

Diagnosis

There are three skin tests used to evaluate and diagnose allergies,

Prick method

Intradermal test

Patch test

Prick Method

It is the most common type of skin test. This test test is done by placing a drop of

allergen extract on the skin on the back and passing a needle through the puncture

within about 15 minutes. This test measures specific IgE attached to cells in the skin

important in allergies called "mast" cells.Skin prick testing is usually the first test

recommended when an allergy is suspected.

It is usually carried out on the inner forearm, but if the patient has bad eczema the test

can be performed on the back.

Ideally the allergens to be selected should be in accordance with the patient's history

As few as 3 or 4 or up to about 25 allergens can be tested

The arm is coded with a marker pen for the allergens to be tested


A drop of the allergen (extract) solution is placed by each code.

Intradermal Test

Intradermal allergy testing is another method of skin testing to help determine whether

an individual is allergic to a specific allergen. The test involves injection of a small

amount of the suspected allergen under the surface of the skin. After about 20 minutes

the area is examined for a reaction at the site. A typical reaction looks like a small hive

with swelling and redness.

The intradermal test is more sensitive than the skin prick test and can usually provide

more consistent results.

The intradermal test uses a syringe to inject the allergen extract into the top layer of skin

in the arm, which rises a small bublle on the skin surface. Like the prick method, a hive

will appear indicating an allergic reaction.

First, your health care provider examines the skin either on your forearm or back and

cleans it with alcohol.

Then a small amount of the allergen is injected just under the skin.

Lastly, you must wait about 15 minutes to see how your skin reacts.

Patch Test


It can be used to look for the substances that might be causing contactdermatitis. A

suspected allergen is placed on the skin and covered with a bandage for 48hours.If the

patient is allergic, the skin will be red and peel.

Allergen is applied to a patch that is then placed on the skin.

Sometimes, this is done to pinpoint a trigger of allergic contact dermatitis. If there are

IgE’s (allergic antibodies) in your body, your skin will become irritated and may itch.

This reaction means you are allergic to that substance.

Treatment Of Allergy

There are three general approaches to the treatment of allergic diseases such as allergic

rhinitis

Avoidance

Mediacation to relieve symptoms

Allergy shots

Avoidance

Wear a pollen mask mowing the grass or housecleaning.

Stay indoors in the morning (when the pollen count is at its highes) & on windy

days

Keep windows & doors closed during heavy pollination.

Use the air conditioner in the house and car.


Don’t allow dander-producing animals in the house.

Rid the home of indoor plants.

Change feather pillows, wolen blankets & clothing to cooton or synthetic

materials.

Enclose mattress, box springs & pillows in plastic barrier cloth.

Wash sheets, mattresspas & blankets weekly in hot water.

Remove carpets & upholstered furniture.

Use air filters.

Medication

When avoidance or control of an allergen isn't possible, medications may be necessary.

Common allergy medications are:

Decongestants administerd via spray or orally to nasal passages. Exaples are

oxymetazoline (Afrin) & phenyleprine (Vicks sinex).Oral decongestants include

pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and combinations of decongestants and analgesics.

Steriod nasal sprays administered via spray to mute the inflammatory

response. Medication include fluticonase (Flonase), mometasone (Nasonex),

triamcinolone (Nasocort) & beclomethasone (Beloconase, Vancenase).

Antihistamines drugs that block the action of histamine, which is responsible

for allergic symptoms. Short acting histamines which are generally over the

counter (non-prescription) often relieve mild to moderate symptoms, but can

cause drowsiness. Medication include ceterizine (Zyrtec), diphenylhydramine

(Benadryl), azelstine (Astelin).

Cromoglycate (Nalcrom) or related agents administered mostly as

eyedrops or nasal sprays to help prevent attacks.

Treatment of Eczema, Contactant Dermatitis *Urticaria

Eczema (allergic dermatitis) and contact dermatitis (such as with poison oak or

ivy) can be treated with cold compresses for 30 minutes 3 times a day, and/or

corticosteroid creams or ointments (topical steroids).

Hives (urticaria) can be relieved by applying calamine lotion or by taking type H1

antihistamine drugs.

More severe cases of hives may require corticosteroid drugs.


Question To Ask Your Doctor About Allergies

Should skin testing be done?

Do you recommend nasal sprays or drops?

What are the side effects?

What other madications are recommended to relieve the symptoms of allergies?

Do you recommend desensitization with injections?

Do allergic rhinitis (hayfever)reactions lead to sinus infctions or asthma or any

other condition?

Am I at risk for anaphylactic shock?

If so, what precautions can I take?

Are foods causing the allergies?

_______________________


GLOSSARY

Allergy An acquired, abnormal immune response to a substance, which can cause a

broad range of inflammatory reactions.

Allergen Anything (animal dander, pollen, or mold) that causes allergy symptoms.

Allergic reaction The body´s response to something called an allergen that comes

in contact with the skin or enters the body by inhalation, swallowing, or injection.

Animal dander Scales of dried skin shed from cats, dogs, and other furry animals.

Similar to dandruff.

Antihistamines Medications that block the effects of histamine, which is one of the

substances your body releases when it reacts to allergens. Antihistamines may help

relieve sneezing and itchy, runny nose and eye symptoms.

Decongestants Medications that shrink swollen nasal tissues. By opening up nasal

passages, they reduce nasal congestion. Decongestants offer relief from nasal

congestion after it has begun and are effective for temporary relief.

Dust mites Microscopic insects, usually found in house dust, that live in places like

mattresses, pillows, and carpets.They don't bite or spread any germs, but their

droppings and carcasses contain a powerful allergen to which a lot of people are

allergic.

Ingestant allergens Substances to which a person is sensitized that are swallowed,

such as foods, beverages, or medications.

Inhalant allergens Any airborne substance small enough to be inhaled into the

lungs (such as pollen, dust mites, mold, and animal dander) that elicit an allergic

reaction.


Injectant allergens Substances to which a person is allergic, which are injected into

the body. Usually drugs and insect venom.

OTC (over-the-counter) A term used to describe drugs that can be purchased

without a prescription from a healthcare professional.

Pollen The tiny spores or fine powder produced by grasses and flowering plants.

Airborne pollen is a major allergen responsible for hay fever.

Sensitization To become allergic as a result of repeated exposure to a specific

allergen.

Symptom A recognizable change in a person´s physical or mental state that is a

departure from normal function, sensation, or appearance, and that may indicate a

disorder or disease.

The End

Health & Medicine

Allergy assignment