CD-ROM Today 1996 January/CD-ROM Today 1996 January.iso/dp/0186/01863.txt

Text File | 1994-01-17 | 3.6 KB | 68 lines

$Unique_ID{BRK01863}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Adult Onset Allergies}
$Subject{runny nose allergy allergies age child children childhood symptom
symptoms adult adults sign signs signal signals life style environment
environments environmental factor factors mold pet pets flower flowers
furniture floor dust aerosol aerosols chemical chemicals test tests testing
testings skin antihistamine antihistamines decongestant decongestants defense
defenses drip dripping immunotherapy control controlled controlling rhinitis}
$Volume{}
$Log{
Allergen Injection Desensitization*0001303.scf
Histamine Release Causes Allergy Symptoms*0001202.scf
Reactions From Allergy Scratch Tests*0001302.scf
Skin Testing for Allergens*0001301.scf
The Process of an Allergic Reaction*0001201.scf}

Copyright (c) 1993  Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Adult Onset Allergies


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QUESTION:  Of late, I have developed a runny nose that doesn't want to quit.
I can't understand it.  My closest friend tells me it looks like an allergy,
but I am past 50 years of age and believe that such allergies are developed
in childhood.  Would you please try to expand my knowledge about this, and
perhaps offer a suggestion about stopping it?  Thank you.

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ANSWER:  You are right in thinking that allergies develop more frequently in
childhood, for about 20 out of every 100 children will develop some type of
allergic symptoms.  But adults too, have their share of allergies, about 1 in
10, and the first signs may not be noted until later in life.
     A great deal depends upon your life style, and where you live and work;
environmental factors that play a larger role in adult onset allergy than the
inherited factors that are seen in children.  In trying to determine the cause
of your allergy, you must consider your home environment, the age of the
house, the presence of pets or flowers in the home, the composition of your
furniture and the materials present in the floor coverings.  Your bedroom
should receive special attention as you may spend more time in this area than
any other.  The material in your pillows, mattress, bedspreads and blankets,
as well as the wall hangings (and the dust they may contain) are all possible
sources of your problem.  The type of heating or cooling systems in the house
and the condition of their air filters are additional considerations, for the
presence of mold in the system is often the precipitating factor.
     In the work place, consider the types and composition of materials you
contact, particularly the presence of aerosols that place chemicals in the air
you breathe.  The trick is to link the symptoms with contact to a specific
material or place, and then attempt to remove the offending material from your
surroundings.
     Your physician can help you in your search for causes, and may skin test
you for the most probable culprits.  The use of prescription antihistamines
and decongestants provides the first line of defense against a constantly
dripping nose, and often are all that is needed.  When this therapy fails,
consider the possibility of immunotherapy, which can be successful in
controlling symptoms in 85 percent of patients.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.