Specific Allergic Disorders

Asthma (Allergic):

Presentation: Chronic respiratory disease where airways narrow and swell due to allergens or irritants. Symptoms can be triggered by airborne allergens.

Common Symptoms: Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, especially at night or after exercise.

Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA):

Presentation: An allergic reaction to the fungus Aspergillus in the lungs, primarily affecting individuals with asthma or cystic fibrosis.

Common Symptoms: Worsening asthma symptoms (wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath), fever, and sometimes coughing up brown mucus plugs.

Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA) (formerly Churg-Strauss Syndrome):

Presentation: A rare condition involving inflammation of small and medium-sized blood vessels, often associated with asthma and allergies.

Common Symptoms: Asthma, nasal allergies, sinus problems, nerve pain, skin rashes, and potentially affecting other organs.

Food Allergies:

Presentation: Adverse immune responses to specific food proteins. Common triggers include peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, soy, wheat, fish, and shellfish.

Common Symptoms: Range from mild (hives, itching, tingling in the mouth) to severe (swelling, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, anaphylaxis).

Drug Allergies:

Presentation: Allergic reactions to medications. Common culprits include penicillin and other antibiotics.

Common Symptoms: Rashes, hives, itching, swelling, wheezing, and in severe cases, anaphylaxis.

Urticaria (Hives) and Angioedema:

Presentation: Skin reactions characterized by itchy welts (hives) or deeper swelling (angioedema), often triggered by allergic reactions to food, medications, or insect stings. Can also be non-allergic triggers.

Common Symptoms: Hives are itchy, raised bumps on the skin. Angioedema involves swelling, often of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Anaphylaxis:

Presentation: A severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction affecting multiple body systems simultaneously. Can be triggered by insect stings, foods (like peanuts), or medications.

Common Symptoms: Difficulty breathing, wheezing, throat tightness, hoarse voice, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, rapid heartbeat, and a sudden drop in blood pressure. Requires immediate medical attention.

Insect Sting Allergies:

Presentation: Allergic reactions to insect stings from bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and fire ants.

Common Symptoms: Local reaction at the sting site (pain, redness, swelling) is normal. Allergic reactions can involve hives, itching, swelling away from the sting site, difficulty breathing, and anaphylaxis.

Mast Cell Activation Syndromes:

Presentation: Conditions where mast cells release too many mediators, causing a range of allergic-like symptoms.

Common Symptoms: Vary widely but can include itching, hives, flushing, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, and fatigue.

Allergic Skin Diseases (e.g., Atopic Dermatitis/Eczema):

Presentation: Skin conditions like eczema that are triggered or worsened by allergens, causing itchy, red, and inflamed skin.

Common Symptoms: Intense itching, dry, red, cracked, or thickened skin. In infants, it often affects the face and scalp; in older children and adults, it's common on the creases of elbows and knees.

Understanding immunodeficiencies and allergic disorders is essential for early diagnosis and appropriate management, ensuring improved health outcomes for affected individuals.