Spring is here, which means it’s Allergy Season! When it comes to therapeutic interventions, there are many widely-held beliefs about allergies that just aren’t true. Let’s dive in and explore some of the most common of these misconceptions.
Can local organic honey treat allergies? The theory is that exposure to a small daily dose of regional pollen, presumably carried on the feet of the bees and incorporated into their honey, will build up a defense to that allergen. In truth, honey does not contain the same pollen that causes environmental allergies and there is no definitive proof that it protects against airborne allergens.
Is every rash while on Amoxicillin considered an allergy? While 10% of the population report a penicillin allergy, only about 1% are truly allergic to this family of antibiotic. Even those with a true penicillin allergy are likely to outgrow it after a decade. Genuine allergic reactions usually appear within an hour of dosing, and non-allergic rashes tend to arrive in the second half of the antibiotic course, on day five or later.
Do hives indicate allergy every time? No. In children, the most common cause of hives is actually a virus. Most hive reactions will respond favorably to an oral antihistamine (like Benadryl, Claritin, or Zyrtec). Rarely, hives will become chronic, but even in these cases, they mostly resolve within a few years’ time.
Food allergies— the top eight of which are milk, soy, fish, shellfish, egg white and yolk, peanuts, and tree nuts— can present at any age. Unless the egg allergy is anaphylactic, most patients can safely get the flu shot or MMR, vaccines that are cultivated in an ovum. Shellfish allergy has been said to cross-react with IV contrast used for MRI and CT scans, but this claim has been debunked. Behavioral changes from ingesting food dyes (in particular red #40 and yellow #5) are considered an intolerance and do not constitute true allergy.
Some allergies can cross-react with others. For instance, patients allergic to latex can have a similar reaction after exposure to bananas, kiwi, or avocado. Those with hay fever can react to zucchini, cucumber, melon, or apples. And patients with allergies to grass pollen may negatively react to tomatoes or oranges.
Symptoms of severe allergic reactions may include swelling of the face, mouth, or tongue, coughing, dizziness, abdominal pain, vomiting, hives, and difficulty breathing. Even a small amount of an allergen can cause a dangerous reaction in a patient with an allergy. While Benadryl and other antihistamines can treat milder symptoms, an Epi-Pen (or the nasal delivery system known as Neffy) is what’s needed to halt the anaphylactic progression. Allergies can be life-threatening and patients can decompensate quickly, so be sure to take symptoms seriously and seek medical help when indicated.
