Allergies come in all shapes and sizes and can cause a myriad of problems ranging from the mild “hayfever” caused by sensitivity to elevated pollen levels in the air to dangerous sensitivities to things like bee venom and peanut butter, for which those severely afflicted with an allergy to such things death, can even result from exposure to them.

The word allergy itself is derived from the Greek allos, meaning other and the word ergon which means work. The actual term was first coined in 1906 by Clemens von Pirquet, a Viennese pediatrician. He had begun noticing how often he saw young patients who seemed adversely affected by normally innocuous environmental elements such as dust and pollen.

People are most commonly affected by airbourne allergens, both indoors and out. Things like pollen and dust which are commonly found in the air almost everywhere can produce what is medically known as allergic rhinitis, an inflammation of the nasal passages and throat that causes coughing, sneezing, wheezing and other widely recognized respiratory issues. There are a number of drugs on the market, available by prescription and over the counter that contain anti-histamines designed to counteract the affected person’s immune system having an adverse reaction to certain stimulants and thus lessening the symptoms. In most cases these drugs are adequate to control their allergies and little further treatment is needed.

Food allergies are being seen more frequently these days, with patients displaying sensitivity to everything from shellfish to peanuts. Food allergies usually cause gastric rather than respiratory problems , and the best course of a action for any one known to suffer from a food allergy is to avoid exposure to or ingestion of the substance altogether.

Insect bites and stings, as well as certain medications can cause a more severe allergic reaction that is commonly known in the medical community as anaphylaxis, a systemic reaction that can affect organs throughout the body and in severe cases calls for the speedy administration of ephedrine. Those who are aware of the fact that they do have an allergy to insect stings, which in some cases can be impossible to predict or avoid, often carry an EpiPen or Twijcet device that can deliver a precise dosage of ephedrine to halt the progress of the anaphylaxis.

Most allergies are diagnosed by means of skin testing. A small pinprick is made on an unobtrusive area of the body, most often the inner arm and a minute amount of the suspected allergen, or allergens are introduced to the tiny open wound. If a patient is unusually sensitive to a certain substance the area will usually redden, or a hive will develop, indicating a probable allergy.

For those who are being seen on a more emergent basis after having suffered an anaphylactic reaction a blood test is the preferred method that allergists use to determine the cause of the problem.

Allergies of all kinds have been noticed to be on the rise, and many attribute that fact to adverse changes in the environment. This theory has some merit as the rise in allergic reactions reported in the less industrialized regions of the world is much lower and has shown few signs of rising.