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By Jamie Ee
There are many different types of allergies and they can trigger different reactions:
Environmental allergy null
Allergens in the environment, when inhaled, may trigger asthma and allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis refers to the inflammation of the lining of the nose due to allergy. Symptoms include runny or blocked nose, sneezing and nose itch.
However, not all rhinitis and asthma are caused by environmental allergens, said DrLeong Khai Pang, a senior consultant at the department of rheumatology, allergy and immunology at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Common environmental allergens include:
House dust mites: In Singapore, the most common environmental allergen is house dust mites. Up to 80 per cent of patients who suffer allergic reactions have house dust mite allergy. They especially thrive in high humidity and in areas where human dander (dead skin flakes) are located - like bedding, carpets and soft toys. The allergen is found in their droppings.
Pets: It's not the fur but rather a protein found in the saliva and dander of the animal. They are invisible particles in the air.
Grass and tree pollen: In Singapore, the common ones include oil palm pollen and resam fern (a common jungle plant) spores.
Mould: The allergen is in the spores released by moulds which thrive in damp areas of the house like bathroom windows.
Cockroaches: The allergen is in the droppings of the cockroach.
Treatment may include using a nasal spray to prevent and treat the inflammation in the nasal lining. Oral antihistamines may also be used to relieve itching, sneezing and a runny nose. Immunotherapy to environmental allergen is also another mode of treatment.
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Food
These are generally more common in children than in adults.
A study by the department of paediatrics at the National University of Singapore in 2004 estimated that about 4 to 5per cent of Singaporean children and 1 per cent of adults suffer from food allergies.
Among children in Singapore, the study also showed that the most common food allergens are bird's nest, crustaceans such as prawns (Photo 3) and crabs, eggs and cow's milk.
Among adults, another local study showed that shellfish and bird's nest were the most common allergens.
In contrast to Western studies, peanuts and tree nuts are not a common cause of food allergy in both children and adults here. The reason is uncertain but TTSH's Dr Leong said studies suggest that it could be due to the way the nuts are manufactured.
Dry roasting peanuts, which is common in Western countries, increases allergenicity, compared to boiling or frying peanuts, which is more common in countries like China and Singapore.
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