In a nutshell, an allergy can be defined as an abnormal reaction from an individual’s immune system normally against a harmless substance. Individuals with no allergies would not have a reaction to these substances, or allergens, but the body’s of those who do release certain chemicals and it is these that cause the allergy symptoms.

An allergy can range from such things as itchy eyes to rashes to runny nose and is so widespread that they can affect 25% of the population at some stage of their lives. People have to be aware though, that these symptoms can be caused by factors other than an allergy as well, and could well be from a disease instead. More or less anything can be classed as an allergen for an individual but the most common come from pollen, dust mites, pets, insects, industrial chemicals, certain medicines and some foods like eggs and milk.

Common Allergic Reactions

The immune system of an allergic person reacts by producing special kinds of antibodies called IgE when it thinks it is being “damaged” by an allergen, and these antibodies attack the invader. This procedure then causes other blood cells to discharge other chemicals, which together with the antibodies cause the allergic reaction symptoms.

Food Allergies

The tonsils are small glands which are found at the back of the throat behind the tongue, and the infection of these glands is known as tonsillitis. Frequent recurring infections of the tonsils may result in an operation to remove them known as a tonsillectomy.  The infection is usually caused by bacteria or a viral infection and usually affects children from 5-15 years.  Tonsillitis can be passed from person to person through hand contact, airborne droplets or saliva.

The more common symptoms of tonsillitis include pain when swallowing, fever, coughing, tiredness, pain in the ear or neck, swollen tonsils, or swollen glands in the neck (lymph nodes).  Other less common symptoms of tonsillitis are constipation, bad breath, difficulty opening the mouth, vomiting or a ‘furry tongue’.  It can also cause abdominal pain in young children due to swollen lymph glands in the stomach.

Tonsillitis can be treated at home by getting plenty of rest and making sure to eat and drink plenty of fluids.  Painkillers and antibiotics can help to clear up the infection but it will clear up on its own over a few days.  There are also lozenges or sprays which can help to relieve pain in the throat.

The most effective way to avoid tonsillitis is to keep away from people who have the infection.  Do not use the same cups or cutlery etc as someone who has the infection and maintain good hygiene by washing hands frequently.

Tonsillitis

A headache involves having mild to severe pain in a specific, or many, areas of the head or back of the neck. Countless “types” of headache exist, all caused by a variety of reasons, and although they can be painful and rather annoying, they are, for the most part, not a sign of a serious disorder and in most non-chronic situations can be treated and relieved by medicines.

Although there is no single cause of a headache, several causes have so far been identified by the medical community and these can fall into two main categories – tension headaches and migraine headaches. Tension headaches are the result of contraction of the neck and head muscles and are the most common type of headache, accounting for nearly seventy percent of cases. Some causes of muscle contraction linked with tension headaches include stress, fatigue, eye strain, poor posture, hormonal changes, and alcohol or tobacco use.

Migraine headaches occur when blood vessels located in the neck and head constrict, which therefore leads to decreased blood flow in them. Symptoms of migraine include a throbbing pain usually on one particular side of the head, along with a feeling of nausea and sensitivity to sound or light. Migraines are usually chronic and affect more women than men

Headache

Although for the most part headaches are not a sign of anything sinister, as mentioned above, there are certain symptoms that need to be looked at by a doctor or physician immediately. These include a sudden onset of headache accompanied by vomiting or nausea; recurring headaches which are accompanied by memory issues, tiredness and difficulty in concentrating; neck stiffness accompanied by high fever; fits; vision irregularities, i.e. light flashes; trouble controlling, or loss of feeling in, the limbs; and difficulty in communicating while being tired and apathetic.