Causes
Food Allergies
Food allergy symptoms are most common in babies and children, but they can appear at any age and range from mild to severe. 18
These eight types of food account for majority of allergic reactions: 17,18








INDOOR ALLERGIES
Indoor allergens often cause allergic rhinitis or asthma. Your doctor can help in determination of severity
and cause of the problem. The best defence is to avoid the allergens that cause your symptoms.11, 20, 21, 22
The most common indoor allergens are : 20, 21





OUTDOOR ALLERGIES
These are the most common outdoor allergies 21,22,23

Pollen:
Tree pollen often causes seasonal allergic rhinitis in early spring.

Air Pollutants:
As solid and liquid particles suspended in air. Common in high-traffic areas.

Molds:
These are fungi whose spores float in the air.
ALLERGIC DISORDERS
Allergic Rhinitis (Hay fever):
Common symptoms:25

Runny Nose

Itchy eyes,
mouth or skin

Sneezing

Stuffy Nose
What triggers hay fever?
Although the name suggests it, you don’t have to be
exposed to hay to experience its allergic symptoms.
Some common other triggers include:25
- Pet hair
- Dust mites
- Mold
- Cigarette smoke
- Perfume
- Diesel Exhaust
- Pollen
The two types of Allergic rhinitis: 25
Seasonal
Usually caused by symptoms of sensitivity to
airborne mold spores or pollen, seasonal Allergic
Rhinitis can occur in spring, summer and early fall.
Perennial
People with perennial Allergic Rhinitis experience
symptoms year-round. It is generally caused by dust
mites, pet hair or dander, cockroaches or mold.
Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma:
The connection between the allergic rhinitis and asthma had been known for centuries, although they are treated
as separate disorders due to specializations in medicine. Many times an individual may suffer from both these airway
disorders at the same time, and uncontrolled allergic rhinitis can lead to worsening of co-existing asthma. It is important
to effectively manage allergic rhinitis, as effective treatment of nasal disease have shown benefits in preventing the development of asthma, and on existing asthma symptoms. 26,27
Hives12
Hives, also known as Urticaria, can be triggered by many substances or situations and usually starts
as an itchy patch of skin that turns into swollen red welts.
Common symptoms of Hives:
- Raised itchy bumps, either red or white
- Welts that vary in size, change shape, and appear and fade
repeatedly as the reaction runs its course
What triggers Hives? 12,28
- Food like peanuts, eggs, nuts, cheese and shellfish
- Pet dander
- Medications, such as antibiotics (penicillin and sulfa), aspirin and ibuprofen
- Insect stings or bites
- Physical stimuli, such as pressure, cold, heat, exercise or sun exposure
- Blood transfusions
- Bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections and strep throat
- Viral infections, including the common cold, infectious mononucleosis and hepatitis
- Pollen
- Plants, such as poison oak and poison ivy
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