What Are the Different Types of Allergies?
What is an Allergy?
It is a response generated by a hypersensitization of our body towards the stimulus in question, which is called an allergen, and which causes our white blood cells to synthesize antibodies to fight against this element. However, it must be borne in mind that to speak of allergy properly it is necessary that we are facing a reaction generated by immediate contact with some type of exogenous substance, being otherwise faced with other types of hypersensitivity or disorder (although very similar). If you are looking for allergy medicine such as Rhinocort Nasal Spray or Epipen Auto-Injector Online in the UK, Pharmacy planet has you covered.
- Inhalation allergies
It is understood as such that type of allergies in which the allergenic substance enters our body through the inhalation of air, through the respiratory or nasal route. They are usually small particles of substances such as pollen, dust or mites. - Contact allergies
This type of allergy is the one that occurs when it is direct contact at a physical level with a substance that generates an allergic reaction. It is common for it to generate symptoms at the dermatological level and is frequent, for example, in an allergy to animals. - Ingestion allergies (food allergy)
Ingestion allergies are all those in which the immune system reacts in a virulent way by identifying a substance that we have consumed as a pathogen. It is one of the types of allergies that tends to have the greatest potential to cause serious damage and anaphylaxis. We usually talk about food or drug allergies. - Inoculation allergies
Similar to the previous one, in this case, we are talking about substances that are introduced into our interior through routes such as intravenous. These are usually allergies to medications (including anaesthesia) or drugs that are not consumed orally. - Respiratory
Respiratory allergies are one of the most frequent types of allergies that exist, understood as those that generate an affectation at the level of the breathing process. Generally, the problems are found in the lungs or in the airways, making it difficult for the subject to breathe normally and causing problems such as coughs, bronchial problems, asthma or wheezing when breathing. It is usually caused by inhalation allergies, although it is not essential. - Cutaneous/dermatological
Together with respiratory allergies, they are the most common type of allergic reaction. It is common in contact allergies, but it also occurs often in ingestion or inoculation allergies. In this case, the most common type of symptoms is the appearance of some type of skin rash, ulcer, sore, urticaria, eczema or itching. This is the case of many dermatitis. - Nasal
Of the most visible, it is the type of allergic reaction that generates sneezing, runny nose or itchy nose. Often confused with colds or flu, it usually proceeds to do the respiratory symptoms of inhaling the allergen. - Eyepieces
Conjunctivitis, lacrimation and eye beak are allergic reactions at the ocular level that usually appear when allergens come into contact with our eyes. - Digestive
Another type of allergic reaction is digestive, which can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, inflammation or other gastrointestinal problems. It is common with food allergies, although they also appear in other types of allergies. - Seasonal allergy
Seasonal allergies are a highly known and very common type of allergy, in which the stimulus to which one is allergic has a tendency to appear at a specific time or period of the year. One of the most obvious examples is pollen allergy, which tends to be more difficult during spring. - Food
Food allergies are a group of allergies that have the particularity of the fact that the allergen in question is a product or substance that can generally be consumed by humans and that can be nutritionally beneficial, but that is the person in question triggers a dangerous reaction with fatal potential. - Medicated
This type of allergy refers to the presence of an extreme and adverse reaction on the part of the immune system to a priori substances designed to cure us or help us overcome some type of illness or disease. It is one of the most dangerous types and requires extreme care when choosing and administering drugs since it can aggravate the patient's situation or even cause death. - Occupational
We call occupational allergy the type of allergic disorder or alteration generated by some type of stimulus from our occupation or work environment. This type of allergy can appear through any contact route or manifest itself in different ways, although the most common is its appearance through the respiratory or skin routes, and what is defining is that it is generated by some substance typical of the workplace.
Authored By
HARMINDER ‘HARMY’ KAUR
BSc(hons) Pharmacy
GPhC Number: 2061107
Reviewed By
GURDEV SEHMI
BSc Pharm, MRPharmS, Independent Prescriber, Superintendent Pharmacist, Clinical Lead
GPhC Number: 2050925