There are many different types of allergies. Each has its own set of symptoms, and the severity of the symptoms depends entirely on your sensitivity and the amount of the allergen involved.
Pet allergies, specifically those to dogs and cats, are very common. You are not allergic to the animal itself; what you are allergic to is the allergens the animal creates. These allergens are found in the pet’s hair, dander, saliva and urine. Common symptoms of this type of allergy are sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, facial pain, coughing, wheezing, skin rash or hives.
Environmental allergies are a broad term used to describe an allergy to molds or pollens from various trees, grasses and ragweed. Since some plants only grow and flower at a certain time of year and some molds grow better in different weather conditions, environmental allergies may only affect you during specific seasons. A runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy, watery, red eyes, sneezing, a post-nasal drip and fatigue are common symptoms. These symptoms are very similar to the common cold, except a cold may include a low-grade fever and lasts only a week on average.
An allergy to insect stings can cause swelling, redness, hives, itching and anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can lead to trouble breathing, vomiting, low blood pressure, fainting and cardiac arrest. The only treatment for this life-threatening reaction is an injection of epinephrine. Honeybees, hornets, wasps, yellow jackets and fire ants are the five known insects to cause an allergic reaction.
There are numerous potential causes for your allergy symptoms. The only way to know for sure what is causing them is to complete a series of tests. Contact our office at 337-266-9820 to schedule an appointment for allergy testing.