CONDITIONS & SYMPTOMS
Being miserable with asthma, respiratory issues or allergies doesn’t have to be a way of life. Make an appointment and come to the Arizona Asthma and Allergy Institute if any of the following describe your symptoms.
Asthma is a complex, recurrent disease of the airways that causes shortness of breath, wheezing, and cough (particularly at night or early in the morning). Asthma is episodic in nature and usually reversible, either spontaneously or with treatment. There are allergic and non-allergic triggers to asthma.
Hay Fever – A seasonal allergy to airborne particles characterized by itchy eyes, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy throat, and excess mucus. Hay fever is a misnomer because it is not caused by hay and it does not produce a fever. It is also known as allergic rhinitis or pollinosis.
Eczema also know as Atopic Dermatitis, is a chronic or relapsing inflammatory condition of the skin. It causes itching, drying and rashes that can appear red and irritated, scaling, crusting or cracking. There are several allergic and non-allergic triggers to eczema.
Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses, which are airspaces within the bones of the face. Sinusitis is often due to an infection within these spaces. Sinus infections are more common in allergic individuals.
Hives are a skin reaction causing localized redness, swelling, and itching. There are many allergic and non-allergic causes to hives.
Bedbugs can cause symptoms similar to Hives. Please see this article for more information
Food Allergies are an adverse immune response to a food protein. There are other adverse responses to food, such as food intolerance and toxin-mediated reactions. Symptoms of food allergy can range from mild itching of the mouth and throat, to hives and swelling, gastrointestinal symptoms and to more severe reactions such as wheezing, airway closure and anaphylactic shock (drop in blood pressure).
Drug Reactions – Adverse reactions to drugs are common, and almost any drug can cause an adverse reaction. Reactions range from side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea to allergic reactions causing hives, rashes and life-threatening reactions called anaphylaxis (trouble breathing, airway closure or drop in blood pressure).
Insect Allergies – Insect stings commonly cause local swelling, pain, itching and redness at the site of the sting. Many people who have an allergy to insect venom have these same symptoms but causing much larger reactions that can persist for days. Up to 3-4% of Adults and 1% of Children in the general population have an allergy to insects that cause more serious “systemic reactions”. Systemic reactions will not only cause large local reactions at the site of the sting but also can cause diffuse hives, trouble breathing and possibly life threatening symptoms such as throat swelling and anaphylactic shock. The most common insect allergies to cause these types of reactions are from Bee and Fire Ant stings.
Chronic Cough is one of the most common complaints in patients seeking medical attention. Coughs that last several weeks or several months in duration are categorized as chronic cough. 90% of chronic cough is caused by either asthma, post nasal drainage or acid reflux. The most common cause of chronic cough in adults is post nasal drainage. The most common cause of chronic cough in children is asthma. There are still several other important conditions that cause chronic cough. Because of this, we perform further diagnostic work up to investigate other causes if appropriate.
Allergic GI Disorders are related disorders in which white blood cells (eosinophils) in the intestinal tract react to certain foods or other allergens, causing difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, nausea, and other digestion problems.
Immunodeficiencies – Primary immunodeficiency occurs when part of a person’s immune system is missing or does not work properly and therefore the person cannot fight bacteria, viruses or other pathogens as well as they should.
Contact Dermatitis is a condition in which the skin becomes red, itchy, or irritated after direct contact with a substance. There are two kinds of contact dermatitis: irritant or allergic.
Vocal cord dysfunction– VCD is characterized by a closing or tightening of the vocal cords during inspiration. This condition may produce mild shortness of breath to severe spasms of choking and an inability to breathe. This condition may mimic an asthma episode to the casual observer. However, VCD is characteristically different than asthma and requires different treatment.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, set up an appointment to treat your Arizona allergies or respiratory problems. Call us at (602) 843-2991 to set up an appointment at any one of our 5 Phoenix Valley Asthma and Allergy specialist locations.
