Addressing Allergies
- Sana Lifestyle
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to harmless substances (allergens). Allergies can significantly affect quality of life. They are among the most common chronic childhood diseases.
Common Symptoms:
Respiratory - Sneezing, coughing, runny/stuffy nose, wheezing, chest tightness, throat closing.
Skin - Itching, redness, hives, swelling (including lips, mouth, or throat).
Eyes - Redness, tearing, itching.
Digestive - Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps.
Severe - Anaphylaxis (rapid pulse, dizziness, loss of consciousness).
Common Causes:
Environmental - Pollen, dust mites, pet dander, mold, cockroach allergens.
Food - Peanuts, eggs, milk, soy, wheat, shellfish, fish.
Other - Insect stings (bees/wasps), medications (e.g., penicillin), latex, cosmetics.
SA Statistics:
- 14% of women report food allergies, nearly double the 7.5% reported by men.
- Sensitivity often increases after puberty because estrogencan exacerbate allergic responses.
- 40% of children suffer from some form of allergic disease.
- Nearly 1 in 5 children (20%) are impacted by asthma. In some urban areas like CT, symptoms of wheezing in adolescents reached 21.7% by 2022.
- Studies in Gauteng found current rhinitis rates as high as 40% among 13- to 14-year-olds.
- 2.5% among toddlers (aged 1–3 years). However, for children with moderate to severe eczema, this figure jumps to 30–40%. Common triggers include egg (25%) and peanut (24%).
- Food allergy rates are 2.5% in urban children compared to only 0.5% in rural areas.
Key Trends:
- Food allergy prevalence in SA surged from 3.5% to 11.1% between 1999 and 2019, attributed to industrialisation and urban living.
- A child’s risk of developing an allergy is 15% with no family history, 40–50% if one parent has an allergy and 60–80% if both parents are affected.
Medical Management:
- Proactive avoidance.
- Check pollen counts - pollencount.co.za
- Use saline nasal washes.
- Vit C & Omega-3 to fight inflammation.
- Replace carpets & wash linen in hot water. Use HEPA-filtered vacuums.
- Consult with Allergy Foundation of South Africa or UCT Lung Institute Allergy Clinic.
