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Anaphylaxis: Symptoms and what to do
Fig: insects stings insects that are members of the hymenoptera family, such as honey bees, wasps, hornets, ants, etc. , commonly cause allergic reactions. Some of these insects have very harmful venom too. The area around the sting shows redness, swelling, pain and itching. Most of the time, these reactions occur only a few hours, except in some cases. In certain cases, insect stings can be life-threatening to some people. Such reactions are called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis includes severe symptoms such as itching and hives all over the body, swelling of throat and tongue, dizziness, headache, cramps, nausea and vomiting, shock, loss of consciousness and in the worst case, death. What about mold and asthma? Fungal sensitization is a potential risk factor for allergic rhinitis and asthma and may contribute to the development of acute respiratory issues [ 23 , 24 ]. The prevalence of fungal allergies is estimated to be 3–10% worldwide [ 25 , 26 ]. Prominent allergenic fungi have been reported to provoke allergic responses in 19–45% of allergic patients and 80% of asthmatic patients from skin tests [ 27 , 28 , 29 ] and increase the duration of asthmatic symptoms [ 30 ].
Fuel groundbreaking medical research!
This detailed calendar is built on 13 years of rigorous data collection in leicester, revealing seasonal peaks for 23 types of fungal spores, each with varying activity levels throughout the year. Fungal spores are tiny particles released into the air by fungi, similar to pollen. When inhaled, these spores can trigger allergic reactions or worsen asthma and other respiratory issues. Thanks to the groundbreaking work of researchers at the national institute for health and care research (nihr) leicester biomedical research centre (brc), this calendar represents a major advancement in respiratory health management across england. The study published online in the journal allergy in october 2024 was led by fiona symon, experimental officer in respiratory sciences at university of leicester. Mold allergy and asthma Fungi are ubiquitous in the environment, and their spores are found widely in the air. As early as the 12th century, fungi were recognized as aeroallergens. Living in a damp or moldy environment has been reported to be associated with an increased risk of developing asthma, allergic rhinitis/sinusitis and atopic dermatitis as well as increasing severity of allergic diseases. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ,
What is the outlook for people who have a mold allergy?
There are thousands of types of molds and yeasts in the fungus family . Yeasts are single cells that divide to form clusters. Molds are made of many cells that grow as branching threads called hyphae. Although both can probably cause allergic reactions, only a small number of molds are widely recognized offenders. The seeds or reproductive pieces of fungi are called spores. Spores differ in size, shape, and color among types of mold. Each spore that germinates can give rise to new mold growth, which in turn can produce millions of spores. What is mold allergy? when inhaled, tiny fungal spores, or sometimes pieces of fungi, may cause allergic rhinitis. You’ve probably heard the term pollen count or mold count, especially during allergy season. This is because the count of pollen and mold spores in the air can have an impact on people with allergy symptoms. Thankfully, there are sources that provide pollen and mold counts and even in some cases, the types of pollen and mold. If you have a mold allergy, your immune system overreacts when you breathe in mold spores. That’s why inhaling mold spores, whether outdoors or indoors, can cause
What causes mold allergy?
To learn more about how mold spores can impact your health, abc13 meteorologist elyse smith spoke to dr. Duyen nguyen with allergy & ent associates. She said that mold allergies typically present themselves with similar allergy symptoms to that of tree, weed, and grass pollens in the spring and fall. That could include nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, itchy throat, and eyes. "many studies show that asthma symptoms can be triggered by exposure to mold spores," dr. Nguyen said. "in some patients exposed to certain molds, can cause a severe asthma attack. "while rare, a mold allergy, if severe enough, can lead to major complications for those with immunodeficiencies, like patients with hiv or cancer. Children and adults with seasonal allergic rhinitis, or "hay fever," may experience sneezing, stuffiness, a runny nose, post-nasal drip and itchiness in your nose, the roof of your mouth, throat, eyes or ears. These allergic reactions occur after pollen and mold spores land in your passages (nose, eyes, throat). A chemical reaction or allergic cascade is triggered, causing these allergy symptoms. The first steps to keeping one’s “allergies” under control and staying healthy includes identification of the airborne substances, called allergens, which trigger
Are there different types of mold allergies?
That is either damp or rotting. There are different species of mold, which can grow indoors or outdoors. Mold spores are present in even the cleanest of environments, which means that everyone experiences exposure to mold at some point in their life. Although molds themselves are not toxic , certain types can be toxigenic. This means that they create spores or cell fragments that produce toxins. They can also produce inflammatory substances and allergens. Indicates that mold or damp exposure in childhood can increase a person’s risk of developing asthma and allergies. People sometimes refer to mold as mildew. However, the terms are not interchangeable, as mildew only refers to specific types of mold, whereas mold is a more generic term. If you have a respiratory mold allergy, your immune system overreacts when you breathe in mold spores. This reaction triggers a cascade of reactions that lead to allergy symptoms. Like other respiratory allergies, mold allergy can make you cough, make your eyes itch and cause other symptoms that make you miserable. In some people, mold allergy is linked to asthma and exposure causes shortness of breath and other symptoms. Molds are very common both inside and
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
The reason that so many organizations are concerned with monitoring pollen and mold levels is that they can fluctuate significantly over time . Though seasonal allergens do tend to follow a cyclical pattern, there are a variety of factors that influence the amount of pollen and mold present in the air that we breathe. These can include: region and climate—as the climate varies across different regions, so too does pollen and mold growth. For example according to the american academy of allergy, asthma & immunology , colder climates may see a drop in pollen and mold production during the winter, while warmer climates can see evidence of these airborne allergens year-round. Medical content developed and reviewed by the leading experts in allergy, asthma and immunology. © 2021 american academy of allergy, asthma & immunology. All rights reserved. These references are in pubmed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article. Adams k. F. Year to year variation in the fungus spore content of the atmosphere. Acta allergol. 1964;19:11–50. Doi: 10. 1111/j. 1398-9995. 1964. Tb03220. X. Aas k. , backman a. , belin l. , weeke b. Standardization of allergen extracts with appropriate
What Are the Treatments for Mold Allergy?
There are natural remedies you can try before taking medication for mold allergies. Stuck in a damp basement? get yourself a nasal douche. Rinsing your nasal passages with saline will help to clear irritants. This may reduce allergy symptoms. If these drug-free treatments aren’t effective enough you can try the symptom-relieving medications. Antihistamine and corticosteroids are available as over-the-counter or with a prescription. They come as tablets, liquids, nasal sprays and eye drops. Some nasal sprays combine corticosteroid and antihistamine. A decongestant may be helpful too. Ask your pharmacy or healthcare provider for advice on mold allergy medicines. The above tips can help drastically reduce your exposure to mold spores. However, you may find it nearly impossible to completely remove all possible mold allergy triggers. Mold growth can not only make allergy symptoms worse, but create additional health issues with long-term exposure. If you’ve tried everything to minimize your allergies, and over-the-counter treatments just aren’t doing enough, it may be time to try more long-lasting treatments. Contact aspire allergy & sinus today to have you or your family members tested for mold allergens and get help finding the best treatment option for you. How Can
What Are the Symptoms of a Mold Allergy?
Mold spores get into your nose and cause rhinitis (hay fever) symptoms. They also can reach the lungs and trigger asthma. Symptoms can include: itchy nose, eyes, ears, and mouth red and watery eyes swelling around the eyes if you have asthma and are allergic to mold, you may have allergic asthma. This means mold triggers your asthma symptoms. Mold allergy can cause an allergic reaction right away. But in some cases, it may cause delayed symptoms. If your symptoms often get worse in a damp, humid, or moldy room like a basement, this may mean you have a mold allergy. Outdoor molds often cause allergy symptoms in summer and fall. When it comes to allergies, not all fungi are created equal, according to a study by university of cincinnati researchers published in the september 2006 issue of pediatric allergy and immunology. Exposure to certain fungal spores can make children more susceptible to developing allergies to mold, pollen, dust mites, pet dander, or foods, the study revealed. On the other hand, exposure to other types of fungal spores may be protective. Fungal samples were collected in 2003 and 2004 from the homes of 144 infants under age 10 months as part