Allergies are a common health issue, affecting millions of people worldwide. In fact, more than one-quarter of Canadians age 12 and older have been diagnosed as having allergies following testing with an allergist (a doctor specializing in diagnosing, treating, and preventing allergies).
There are various types of allergies, and they are classified by the type of substance that triggers the reaction. The most common types of allergies are respiratory allergies, food allergies, and skin allergies. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, with the potential to significantly impact a person’s quality of life.
What Is an Allergic Reaction?
An allergy is a sensitivity in a person’s immune system. After inhalation or contact with a substance that is normally considered harmless, these substances (known as allergens) trigger the body to release chemicals like histamine, causing various symptoms that are referred to as an allergic reaction.
Respiratory allergies can be triggered by airborne substances such as pollen, pet dander, and dust mites. These allergies cause symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and difficulty breathing.
Food allergies are triggered by over 170 different foods. Common food triggers include peanuts, shellfish, milk, and eggs. Food allergies can cause a range of reactions from a mild rash or stomach discomfort to shortness of breath or anaphylaxis (a severe reaction that can be life threatening). Often the first symptom of a food allergy is the appearance of a skin rash or development of itching or tingling in the mouth, lips, or throat immediately after eating the food the person is allergic to.
Skin allergies, such as eczema and contact dermatitis, typically result in itching, redness, and swelling. Common triggers include latex, pet dander, poison ivy, insects, certain drugs, some foods, or sun exposure.
Treating Allergies
Traditionally, treatment has been focused on preventing allergic reactions and managing symptoms when they do occur. However, advances in allergy management have led to the development of oral and sublingual (under the tongue) medicines and treatments that are applied to the skin.
Nonprescription drugs—including antihistamines, decongestants, and corticosteroid sprays and creams—are often the first medications used. For more persistent or severe allergies, prescription-strength medications may be needed.
Allergy shots are in a treatment category known as immunotherapy. Because injections are administered repeatedly over time, the immune system becomes less sensitive to the allergen in the injections, and the symptoms are reduced. This treatment involves regular weekly injections of small but slowly increasing doses of the allergen until a maintenance dose is achieved. Then the injections are often reduced to just once a month. This method takes time and patience, but the relief from allergy symptoms can last for several years.
In recent years, there have been advances in immunotherapy that enable it to be administered through a tablet placed under the tongue. The tablet contains a small amount of an allergen, and as the tablet dissolves, it releases the allergen into the body. This works to desensitize the immune system to the allergen in the same way allergy shots do but with the convenience of dosing at home.
Another promising development in allergy treatment is a newer class of drugs known as biologics. These medications work by targeting certain parts of the immune system that cause allergic reactions. Biologics are especially helpful for people with severe allergies. They can help reduce inflammation in the airways, making it easier to breathe and improve overall allergy symptoms.
In the past, food allergy treatments had been limited to avoiding the foods a person was allergic to and emergency treatment with epinephrine if the person unknowingly consumed that food. Now there are other treatment options.
Recent research has paved the way for innovative treatments in areas such as gene therapy (the use of genes to prevent or cure a disease), exploring the role of gut bacteria in reducing allergic reactions, and utilizing nanotechnology (tiny particles) to deliver allergy medication directly to the cells responsible for allergic reactions. Clinical trials are currently investigating new types of immunotherapy that aim to make the immune system less sensitive to allergens so allergic reactions are less severe.
Skin allergies occur when an allergen comes in contact with the skin of someone who is sensitive to it. Because there is a link between psoriasis and skin allergies, people with some skin allergies may benefit from treatments developed for psoriasis that reduce the body’s immune response. Two new treatments fall into this category. Vtama (tapinarof) is a new prescription cream that is currently available in Canada, and Nemluvio (nemolizumab-ilto) has been approved in the U.S. and other countries, and it is undergoing regulatory review by Health Canada as part of the approval process for new drugs.
The recent strides in allergy management are making future treatment much easier for people with allergies, enabling them to manage their condition more effectively and lead healthier lives.
If you suffer from allergies, your London Drugs pharmacists will be happy to answer your questions and suggest or prescribe appropriate treatments. You can speak to a pharmacist in store, visit londondrugs.com/prescribing for a list of prescribing services in your province, or visit us in store anytime.
