An allergy is an inappropriate reaction of the immune system to a typically harmless substance. It never manifests after the first contact with an allergen. It must always be preceded by an exposure that allows for the development of hypersensitivity to the substance. However, the patient may not be aware of this contact (can be direct or indirect); in infants, there may be previous contact in utero...The most common symptoms include itching, redness of the skin, rash, sneezing or swelling. The most serious manifestation is anaphylactic shock, which can be life-threatening.

"Some allergies are often easily recognised by the patient themselves - often seasonal, occurring only in certain months. The most common allergens include pollen, dust, dust mites, bacteria, certain foods or medications. However, allergies also manifest themselves in the form of an exaggerated immune reaction to insect venoms, typically after a bee or wasp sting. In the Czech Republic, there are not many other animal poisons that can trigger allergies," says Martin Hospodka, MD, head of allergology at Canadian Medical, and emphasizes that some symptoms may be barely noticeable, while others require hospitalization. The patient's family history plays a big role. Diagnosing an allergy sometimes takes too long – often years. This may be due to missed tests or late referral for testing. Allergies can often be treated very successfully with allergen immunotherapy, e.g. such treatment of insect bite allergy has a success rate of up to 96 %. Allergies spontaneously disappear very rarely. We encounter this phenomenon, especially in infants with allergies to basic foods, but it’s not something someone should bet on. 

Cat allergens are the most aggressive

Many people mistakenly believe that their pet allergies are only to the animal's hair. In reality, however, animal allergens are mainly found in skin scales. Another source is the animal's saliva and urine. Up to 30 % of Czech allergy sufferers have problems with reactions to pets. "Allergies to animals usually present as allergic rhinitis. Symptoms include repeated sneezing, stuffy nose or watery nasal discharge. Redness or burning of the eyes can also occur," explains Martin Hospodka, MD, adding: "In any case, I do not recommend underestimating these symptoms, as the disease can develop into bronchial asthma. We do not necessarily have to say goodbye to our pets because of the disease. However, it is essential to follow the prescribed treatment from an allergist and to attend regular check-ups.

Enjoying your beautiful garden can be a real pain during allergy season

Pollen allergens enter the body very easily and are responsible for what we call inhalant allergies, which are considered the most widespread. They are seasonal allergies that usually start in spring and end in autumn, with symptoms appearing when plants start to bloom. Sources of pollen are mainly grasses, grains, trees and herbs. "Pollen allergies usually appear immediately, within a few minutes. Symptoms include hay fever, sneezing, stuffy nose or conjunctivitis. Itching all over the body is also seen commonly. More serious symptoms affect the respiratory system. Each patient often has his or her own characteristic allergy symptoms and a specific combination of allergens to which he or she reacts. Depending on the season, they are forced to follow their own pollen calendar every year," says Martin Hospodka, MD.

The only way to be sure is to get tested

During an allergy examination at the clinic, the doctor will perform a „skin-prick test", i.e. a skin test in which the allergologist applies drops of the most common allergens to the forearm. Depending on the extent of the irritation on the skin, they then assess the degree of intolerance to the particular substance. Treatment depends on both the type of allergy and its intensity. In some cases, pharmacotherapy is necessary. The best prevention is to limit contact with allergens, but in many cases this is impossible.

Martin Hospodka, MD.