When allergies are nothing to sneeze at
For sensitive teens, adverse reactions to environment can range from disruptive to dangerous, but there are often things that can help
Ahhhh-ahhhh-chooooo!
Many of us are all too familiar with the sound of a sneeze, especially during allergy season. Allergies come in all different shapes and sizes, and some are more dangerous than others.
Katherine Sanchez, a student at Santa Fe High School, knows this all too well. She has struggled with allergies for as long as she can remember. She is allergic to all nuts, cats, dogs, horses, hay, grass, trees, weeds and some fruits. As a result, a surprise accident in elementary school ended with a hospital visit after she shared a bag of Goldfish crackers with a friend. The friend, who had eaten a granola bar, stuck her hand in the bag contaminating the contents. “I started to become very sick and had to be rushed to the hospital and be given the EpiPen shot because my throat was closing up,” she said.
Years later, Sanchez still has to be mindful of her allergies. “I try to bring my own food to school just in case there is cross-contamination in the cafeteria, and I carry my EpiPen and allergy medication wherever I go,” she said. She has to be very careful of not sharing food or drinks with anyone else. It’s very difficult for her to turn her head away from ice cream sundaes. “I’ve learned to be OK with turning down a lot of food and not getting my hopes up for desserts because most likely it will be produced on equipment that processes nuts,” Sanchez said.
Dr. James H. Sussman, D.O., said older teens are actually more susceptible to harsher forms of allergies. “Allergies are caused by an overactivity of part of the
immune system, and in fact, some of the most problematic allergies are found in older teens as their immune systems are growing stronger,” he said. “The immune system makes allergic antibodies to counteract pollens and other allergens that seem to threaten one’s system, and these antibodies cause the allergy symptoms.”
Many of these effects can be treated with over-the-counter remedies, but in some cases, immunotherapy injections, or allergy shots, can be productive, he said.
“Immunotherapy is the best treatment because it actually makes people less allergic to any type of allergen and it greatly reduces or eliminates the need for medications. In addition, allergies and asthma often go hand in hand, and it has been shown that immunotherapy minimizes the risk of developing asthma or experiencing serious asthma attacks.”
School can be the cause of a variety of allergies. “Older buildings can have mold problems, which students could react to,” Sussman said. “Also, being in crowds of people, students may experience allergic reactions to fragrances found in cosmetic products and perfumes or smoke and odors from people who smoke.”
Barshia Cohee, a language arts and special-education teacher at Capital High School, agrees. She worries about the consequences of many perfumes and fragrances. As a result, her classroom is completely fragrance-free — no perfume or scented products are allowed.
“First, because most fragrances can have health effects from just irritating to life-threatening,” Cohee said. “Many students and staff at our school have
asthma, which can be triggered by fragrances and other chemicals in our indoor [and outdoor] environment. Others have chemical sensitivities or allergies and can have reactions to fragrances that range from immediate headaches to nausea, loss of concentration, dizziness and other symptoms. Also, even those who do not seem to have a reaction at the moment can build up to sensitivities because of repeated or prolonged exposures.
“Most people think of fragrances as being made from flowers, herbs, etc. The vast majority are not, but rather are made from petrochemicals. It is not good for humans to breath or have these substances on their skin. Also, especially if someone sprays it on themselves in a space, particles of it remain in the space for a long time and can cause repeated reactions.”
Because of their allergies, attending school may be difficult for some students. “Students taking medications containing ingredients that may cause sedation have been shown to achieve lower test scores than those not on those medications, and they may have more difficulty focusing,” Sussman said. Even nasal congestion can lead to an inability to concentrate, he said.
Thankfully, there are many treatments for allergies beyond immunotherapy injections and eliminating the amount of dangerous perfumes you expose yourself to. If you are battling allergies — or think you may be allergic to something — Sussman and other experts suggest you see an allergist to get a test and see if you need treatment.