The number of people suffering from allergies is increasing in England and the Western World; there are several theories attempting to explain this. One is that children nowadays live too 'clean' an existence in their very early years and that their immune system does not develop proper tolerance to all foreign substances, although this is probably only part of the story.

In General Practice, hay fever is our commonest form of allergy. This can be due to trees (starts in March) or to grass and flower pollen (start June, July). It can make asthma worse in people who are specifically allergic to pollens. Antihistamines, nasal sprays and eye drops are the mainstay of treatment and some of these can be bought over the counter from your Chemist. In severe cases it is worth having the allergy fully diagnosed by skinprick testing (this is available in one of the Cotswold Practices) and considering desensitising injections, which now have improved and give good results and can be given over a 7 week course before the start of the specific pollen season. Problems with animal allergies and house dust mite allergy can also sometimes be improved. Everyone is slightly intolerant to the ubiquitous oil seed rape which, on a still muggy day, develops what amounts to an invisible cloud of vapourised oil over the fields which is irritant to almost everyone.

Food allergies are relatively uncommon but, when present, are usually severe and can be life threatening, commonly this is nuts in children or seafood in adults. People with such allergies should carry emergency self-injecting adrenaline pens. Food intolerance is much more common and this means, at times, that the stomach can be irritated by a variety of products and foods for some weeks, or months, at a time. However, the pattern is usually variable with times when many foods cause problems but which later can be reintroduced when the gastrointestinal tract is less inflamed. Wasp, bee and stinging insect allergy can also be very dangerous, simply because the beasts are equipped to give the chemicals by injection, which is an unfortunately effective way of producing a very severe reaction. Desensitisation is also available to those with severe and documented allergy to these types of insects.

Knowledge of an ability to manipulate the immune system is increasing and the prospect of conquering allergic problems in the 21st Century is very real.


Dr. Christopher C. Morton