Allergies are increasingly common . Not only allergic rhinitis, but also severe asthma and severe reactions with risk of anaphylaxis. On the other hand, however, it is often used inadequately to visit the allergist, convinced that they are victims of allergies that are not present.

Allergies are a very current and debated topic, but there is still too much confusion, for example, few really know how large and complex the world of allergies is and many do not have clear ideas about the role of the allergist.

About 1% of all access to the Emergency Room in Italy is due to anaphylaxis and, in particular, to systemic allergic reactions to food, or to drugs and stings of hymenoptera .

In young children the first cause of allergy is food, while in adolescents allergies caused by drugs or stings of hymenoptera are more frequent.

Among the specialists in the sector, the need to clarify, for example, what food allergies are, strongly distinguishes them from intolerances that seem to have become almost a fashion. Recent English research has estimated that one out of three allergy examinations is inappropriate .

What are we allergic to?

Allergic diseases manifest themselves in different ways based on the allergen, that is the trigger, which is at the base: a pollen, a food, the component of a drug, the hair of a domestic animal, the latex, the poison of a insect, etc.

Allergies are complex diseases; they are often mild but still have a big impact on the quality of life . The most important risk is anaphylactic shock.

The main types of allergy are:

> food allergies;

> drug allergies;

> allergies to the hymenoptera poisons;

> Respiratory allergies, pollens, mites and fungi, for example allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma;

> Dermatological contact allergies;

Of these, the main causes of anaphylaxis are drug, food and hymenoptera sting allergies.

Food allergies

Food allergies are an immunological reaction to normally tolerated dietary proteins. The disorder affects 2-4% of the adult population; the incidence rises to 6-8% in young children . However, the global perception of food allergy is much higher and reaches a percentage of around 20%.

One of the main confusing topics is the distinction between intolerance and food allergy. While food allergies are abnormal reactions of the immune system, intolerances are generally caused by a lack of digestive enzymes and by toxic or pharmacological mechanisms .

Foods that are most exposed to food allergies are shellfish, fish, shellfish, eggs, cereals, soy, peanuts and nuts, celery, mustard, lupins and celery seeds . These foods are responsible for 90% of food allergies.

Drug allergies

They represent one of the possible adverse reactions to drugs and can cause even very serious disorders, up to anaphylaxis.

All drugs can cause allergies, but the main culprits are antibiotics and anti-inflammatories.

Allergies to the hymenoptera poisons

Every year, about 5 million Italians are victims of hymenoptera bites; 1-8 people out of 100 later develop an allergic reaction, even a very serious one. The epidemiological weight of allergies to Hymenoptera poisons is therefore quite important and is comparable to that of food allergies.

Source: //www.allergicamente.it/