Between 30% and 35% of the world’s population suffers from some type of allergy

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***These reactions need to be controlled to prevent them from generating new conditions and sensitizations over time that make it difficult to treat the patient**

Allergies are pathologies present in between 30% and 35% of the world’s population. They can manifest in different parts of the body, such as the skin, respiratory and digestive systems. They are triggered by genetic and environmental factors and require control to prevent them from generating new health problems.

Joselit Torres Bermúdez, an allergist, said that “patients must have a genetic predisposition to suffer from allergies, so when one of the parents suffers from them, the children face a 30% risk of developing them, but if both have them, the possibility increases to between 70% and 80%.”

In addition to genetic predisposition, the doctor said that in Venezuela, for example, the most frequent causes of allergies are mites, followed by mosquitoes, shellfish, gluten and milk, according to epidemiological studies.

“Allergies interfere with patients’ quality of life and their ability to carry out their daily activities, as they make it difficult to concentrate on studying and working, cause restlessness and irritability, and affect sleep. Allergies must be controlled to prevent them from progressing, as over time they can cause new conditions and sensitizations that make it difficult to treat the patient.”

The doctor explained that, for example, a patient who initially presents rhinitis or eczema may eventually suffer from asthma or hives, as well as develop adverse reactions to medications and foods.

World Allergy Day is celebrated annually on July 8 to raise awareness regarding the importance of detecting and controlling these common reactions, in order to prevent them from harming people’s health and quality of life.

PATHOLOGIES AND EVALUATIONS

The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) indicated that 67% of allergic patients suffer from rhinitis, 32% have bronchial asthma and 20% have atopic dermatitis and urticaria, according to the Central University of Venezuela (UCV).

Dr. Torres stated that, to detect the presence of allergic pathologies such as those mentioned above, adult and child patients who should undergo a medical evaluation are those who present:

• History of recurrent respiratory symptoms that do not improve with usual treatment, such as difficulty breathing or rhinorrhea.
• Persistent mucus, whether watery or crystalline, that generates the constant need to blow the nose and inhale, and causes snoring.
• Apnea, which is a period during which a person does not breathe.
• Frequent flu episodes. Cough.
• Skin lesions such as those caused by hives.
• Indication to perform allergy and asthma screening studies.
• Allergy emergencies.

Dr. León, who is an occupational physician, explained that patients with low-complexity cases – mild swelling and itching – are initially given anti-allergy and steroid medications to block the reaction immediately, and may be given hydration. In addition, they should be offered the care of an allergist.

The emergency medicine specialist indicated that if the patients have highly complex cases – respiratory distress, tachycardia and facial swelling – more intense medications are administered, nebulization may be required and an allergist’s evaluation is necessary.

THE MOST COMMON

Rhinitis has become the most prevalent allergic disease in Venezuela, present in 67% of patients and 25% of chronic diseases worldwide. It is not surprising that if you usually suffer from regular allergies, with sneezing, congestion and discomfort associated with the flu, it is very possible that you have allergic rhinitis.

According to experts, this pathology, characterized by inflammation of the nasal mucosa following exposure to an allergen, considerably impacts the quality of life of those who suffer from it, since the symptoms are usually a combination of physical discomforts that can begin with sneezing and end up affecting the patient’s proper breathing.

What sets allergic rhinitis apart from other allergies is that in this case the allergens are inhaled, such as pollen, dust mites or pet dander. The symptoms that characterize it are sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy nose and eyes, and irritability.

It is considered a chronic, incurable disease, which, in the case of other allergies, can be short-lived or eradicated with medication. It can become complicated to the point of causing bronchial asthma. However, complications are not usually common or fatal.