From late summer to early fall, those with weeds allergies experience sneezing, sniffling, and burning red eyes every time they step outside. Ragweed is a particularly difficult weed for those with allergies, and is found all over North America and other regions of the world.
While many children will outgrow allergies to dairy products by the age of six, it still remains prevalent among children and adults across the world. Milk allergies consist of an immune response to milk proteins (whereas lactose intolerant people lack the enzyme needed to digest milk sugars), and those with allergies must avoid all dairy products.
Building inspectors ensure that our homes are mold free for our health, but some people suffer from even more severe reactions to mold. Molds are microscopic plants that send their spores airborne as they reproduce, making it extremely easy to people in the vicinity to ingest them. Mold thrives in the damp and dark, and can be found in any type of climate.
Peanuts are among the most common and most severe of food allergies, and some studies suggest that the rate of peanut allergies is increasing, particularly in the United States. Peanut allergies are often severe, with higher rates of anaphylactic reactions, and tend to be lifelong – i.e. sufferers rarely outgrow peanut allergies.
Soy allergies, while more common in children and often outgrown by the age of seven. Soy allergies are particularly difficult as it is a very common ingredient in everything from packaged foods, to hair and skin products, to gasoline. Parents must also be careful with babies with milk allergies, as feeding them a soy-based formula instead may actually lead to the development of a soy allergy.
Dust mites are in the same family as spiders, but are tiny little monsters that can live by the hundreds in a single gram of dust. These eight-legged creatures love to make their homes in furniture, carpets, bedding, pets’ fur, and the like, meaning they can be absolutely everywhere in your house. Their numbers and small form make them especially obnoxious and uncomfortable for those with allergies.
Latex constitutes approximately 4 percent of allergy sufferers’ primary allergy, and are particularly common amongst healthcare workers. This is presumably due to the constant use of latex gloves in healthcare settings, as it is very common to develop latex allergies with consistent exposure.
Shellfish allergies are unique in that they are common in adults more than children, and may be developed later in life. They include a variety of foods, such as crustaceans (lobsters, shrimp, crawfish, etc.), mollusks (clams, oysters, mussels), or both, and may be activated by ingesting the food itself, or even just breathing in airborne particles from sizzling or boiling food.
People with grass allergies must be pretty thankful that grass isn’t everywhere – oh wait. Grasses are particularly annoying for those with allergies after trees finish their pollination period in late spring, and stir up all manner of sneezing, wheezing, and the like.
Wheat allergies – a separate phenomenon from Celiac disease, which is an autoimmune disorder – are common in children, and are often problematic, as wheat is a common ingredient in many food items. Exercise-induced anaphylaxis is also common in those with wheat allergies, complicating the maintenance of the allergy even further.
Though tree nuts are different than peanuts – peanuts are in fact legumes, not nuts – people with peanut allergies also tend to have a higher rate of tree nut allergies. It is also possible, however, to be allergic to some tree nuts but not others. Like peanuts, tree nuts tend to have higher rates of anaphylactic reactions, and are rare to outgrow.
Pollen, coming from not just flowers but trees as well, is the dust-like male reproductive parts of plants that can crowd the air and make life extremely difficult for those with pollen allergies. Carried by bees, but also by wind and other weather, pollen can get be ingested in the system easily and will go on to wreak its havoc.
Eggs are the second-most common food allergy for children, though they are not as common among adults – up to 80 percent of children will outgrow their egg allergies by the age of six. Some people may be allergic to just egg white, or just egg yolk, or both, but it is difficult to completely separate the two safely. There are immunizations available for egg allergies, often grown from growing viruses in hen’s eggs.
While the variety of insect allergies vary – bee/wasp stings, venomous ant bites, cockroach allergens – they are extremely prevalent worldwide. Those with minor allergies may suffer from nasal or skin symptoms, while in severe cases, they can result in shock, cardiac arrest, and death.
Fish allergies, like shellfish allergies, are more common among adults and tend to develop in adulthood. It is also possible to be allergic to some types of fish and not others. Meanwhile, some people may assume they have an allergic reaction to fish should they ingest some that is not fresh – older fish can develop high levels of natural histamine, resulting in allergy-like symptoms such as swelling, difficulty breathing, nausea, etc., called scromboid poisoning.
