Posts Tagged ‘Rashes’
Bare Facts About Asian Alcohol Allergy
Asian flush, a condition that affects millions of people, is more commonly known as alcohol allergy. Obviously then, anyone who has the condition will experience a variety of different symptoms after drinking alcohol. If you think some of your symptoms may be signs of an allergy, you need to know some basic facts about it.
#1- Asians have no monopoly of the condition.
There are studies that confirm that half of all Asians have this allergic condition. You can easily be misled into believing that only Asians suffer from it. The truth of the matter is that people from other racial origins can have it too. To find out if you might be one of the thousands with the condition, try drinking a shot or two. If any symptoms come out after a few minutes, you are likely to have allergy to alcohol.
It doesn’t matter who gets affected the most. Anyone who has it will most definitely end up embarrassed and frustrated. There is nothing great about looking like a berry right in front of friends or business partners. You can just stay away from the alcoholic drinks to avoid the symptoms but that would mean missing the enjoyment.
#2- The symptoms can be uncomfortable and disturbing.
The reddening of the skin, especially around the face is the first and most common symptom of the condition. It is not the only one however. The color quality can actually become splotchy and rashes that are elevated above the skin may appear. These will start to feel itchy and warm. Other than the common skin signs, other alcohol allergy symptoms include difficulty breathing, nausea and headaches. Pulse rates are also usually quick.
Some people prefer not to pay attention to the condition. This isn’t the best course of action though. You will feel a great deal of discomfort with these symptoms and there is a huge chance that you will not be able to keep your hands from scratching all over. Even if you can hold back from doing so, people around you will still notice your unusual appearance.
#3- Biology is involved in all this.
People who have allergic reactions to alcohol have biology to blame. When you drink, alcohol is treated in much the same way as anything else that you eat or drink. The problem is that in people who have an allergy to alcohol, alcohol is not completely processed. The enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 is not active in people with Asian flush. The toxin acetaldehyde that is packaged with all alcoholic drinks stays in its original form. This then causes allergy symptoms.
Because the root cause is biological, it isn’t very easy to find an excellent solution for it. Some sufferers claim that aspirin or other forms of medication not originally intended for treating Asian flush have reduced their symptoms. Experts maintain though that these medications are not medically proven to cure the condition and may even do more harm than good by creating false confidence in sufferers.
There’s nothing great about an alcohol allergy. If you have some symptoms showing though, you owe it to yourself to find out as much as possible about the condition. Being informed is the best start to finding a sensible and safe solution.
Penicillin Allergy Dangers
Penicillin is a commonly used antibiotic to treat many illnesses. When it was first discovered it was considered a real breakthrough in the treatment of illness and infection. It is derived from the penicillin mold, the blue-green mold found on moldy oranges. Before penicillin, common infections and diseases that are only a nuisance to us today were very often fatal. For years penicillin was the only effective antibiotic treatment available for doctors to use. It is relatively cheap and easy to manufacture, making it the most often used antibiotic world wide.
Allergic Reactions To Penicillin
Allergic reactions to penicillin can often be a serious and life threatening matter. They can range from annoying rashes to life threatening breathing difficulties. You might recall answering the question ” are you allergic to penicillin” on a medical question form at your doctors office or upon admittance to a hospital for treatment. This is because doctors must know if you are do to the potential for catastrophic results should you be given penicillin and you are allergic to it. Knowing if they are allergic to penicillin is something every person should know. Penicillin is the most common drug allergy.
It is not clear why some people have an allergic reaction to penicillin while others do not. It is also unknown what predisposes one person with an allergy to penicillin to minor symptoms while another person allergic to it will experience life threatening symptoms. For those who are allergic to penicillin, the only treatment is not to use it. Fortunately there are other powerful antibiotics available to replace penicillin. Prior to their discovery, penicillin allergy could sometimes have grave consequences. It could leave doctors with their hands tied in treating the infection or disease.
Common Penicillin Allergy Symptoms
Common symptoms of penicillin allergy are as follows. A rash or hives that can range from a minor rash to a dark red rash that covers large portions of the body. Swollen lips tongue and face, ranging from minor swelling to extreme swelling. Itchy, irritated eyes that can be bloodshot and watery. The most serious reaction happens in people that are highly allergic to penicillin. An anaphylactic reaction is a reaction that manifests itself as a swelling of the bronchial airway, making it difficult to breath. This can also be accompanied by a sudden drop in blood pressure, resulting in light headedness. This reaction can be deadly, so it’s important to be aware of this fact.
If you are given penicillin and experience any of these symptoms, tell your doctor immediately. It’s much better to be safe than sorry. The most serious reaction, the anaphylactic reaction, appears almost immediately. The other less minor reactions can take hours to appear. Treatments for the symptoms are readily available but as of yet there is no cure for the allergy itself. If your child has never been given penicillin it is imperative that you let your doctor know this. He or she can make a determination as to whether or not your child is allergic to it prior to administering a large dose of penicillin.
By: Sven Ullmann
About the Author:
Article by Sven Ullmann, who runs Deserved Health - information on health for you and your family. Read more about penicillin allergy.