What are some first aid tips for allergic reactions?
- Administer antihistamines or other medications for general allergies
- Treat food allergies with oral cromolyn or epinephrine
- For environmental or nature-based allergies, remove the antigen completely
- Treat skin allergies with corticosteroids and moisturizing creams
- Consult a specialist if you suspect you have chronic or severe allergies
- Call a doctor immediately if someone is experiencing anaphylaxis
Allergic reactions can range from mild to severe, so it’s very important to know what to do in the event of one happening. Whether it happens to you or someone in your vicinity, you’ll want to be prepared. In this article, we’ll be listing some first aid tips for allergy that can help.
Allergic reactions happen when our immune systems perceive certain substances as harmful, even though they aren’t. These substances—also called allergens—can be anything, though commonly they are food, medications, and certain environmental atmospheres.
The way people react to allergens differs from person to person. They can cause mild and uncomfortable symptoms like skin irritation, sneezing, or watery eyes. Or worse, they can lead to a life-threatening condition called anaphylaxis, where the person has difficulty breathing and comes into shock.
Now that we’ve discussed how allergies happen, let’s dive deeper into what you should do when they occur.
Administer antihistamines or allergy-specific medications
Responding to allergic reactions doesn’t have to be hard. Many mild to moderate reactions can be treated at home or with over-the-counter medications like antihistamines or decongestants.
Antihistamines block your body’s histamine receptors so that it doesn’t react to allergens, while decongestants help clear your nose, which is particularly helpful for seasonal or environmental allergies. Make sure you take these according to the directives of your doctor, however, to avoid overdosing.
Treat food allergies with oral cromolyn or epinephrine
Prevention is better than cure when it comes to food allergies. Try not to consume foods that can trigger an allergic reaction, especially when you’re aware of it. If you do so by accident, depending on how severe your reaction is, over-the-counter drugs can lessen the reaction.
Oral cromolyn is a prescription drug that can ease other food allergy symptoms, but that’s something you’ll need to ask your doctor about. You can also treat more severe food allergies with epinephrine, which is usually administered through an epi-pen.
For environmental or nature-based allergies, remove the antigen completely
If you’ve been in contact with poisonous plants, been stung or bitten by an insect, or are suffering from seasonal allergies like pollen, prevention is once again your best bet. The trouble with nature-based allergies is they can be hard to fully get rid of, so make sure you do your best to eliminate the problem.
For example, if you’ve touched a poisonous plant, avoid touching other areas of your body, especially your face. Wash the area with soap and water for at least 10 minutes, and take a cool bath. You can apply anti-itching lotion if redness and itchiness occur.
For insect stings, remove stingers using an object with a straight edge using a brushing motion. Do not pull or squeeze the trigger, as this may release more venom. Then wash the area with soap and water, and apply an antiseptic.
Treat skin allergies with corticosteroids and moisturizing creams
Many allergic reactions have effects on the skin like inflammation and itching. Corticosteroid creams can reduce these effects while moisturizing creams with ingredients like calamine can treat adverse skin reactions. For redness and inflammation, you can also apply an ice pack to the area.
Consult a specialist if you suspect you have chronic or severe allergies
If you suspect that you have severe or chronic allergies, the best person to go to would be a professional. A doctor or allergy specialist can not only determine what it is you’re allergic to but he or she can also prescribe medications with stronger doses of the compounds in over-the-counter allergy medications.
Call a doctor immediately if someone is experiencing anaphylaxis
The worst-case scenario for an allergic reaction is a condition called anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock. It occurs when the body’s immune response is so strong and sudden that your body goes into a state of shock, impacting multiple organs. If left untreated, this can lead to a coma, organ failure, or even death.
The early symptoms of anaphylaxis can be fairly mild, but they quickly worsen. Some of these symptoms include tingling in the hands, feet, and lips, swollen tongue, throat, mouth, and face, difficulty breathing, rapid but weak pulse, low BP, vomiting or diarrhea, loss of consciousness, or a heart attack.
If you suspect anaphylaxis, call a doctor immediately for emergency medical care.
Key Takeaway
In this article, we listed some first aid tips for allergy that will hopefully help you the next time you or someone around you experiences an allergic reaction. For more severe reactions, remember to see a doctor before they can get worse. As a reliable Las Pinas medical center, our roster of doctors will be happy to help you.
At Perpetual Help Medical Center – Las Pinas, we value your health above all. Contact us today to set an appointment.
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