Allergies on the rise in summer, patients urged to seek timely treatment.

• Hot weather and dust spells trigger existing allergies.
• Patients with allergies urged to visit specialist before the onset of summer, those with symptoms urged to get themselves checked early on.
• Late diagnosis of allergies is a common problem among patients, which often leads to complications and the onset of other diseases.
• One in five in UAE may suffer from allergic rhinitis.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 25, 2016:  The onset of summer not only means hot and dusty months, but also an increase in the number of people seeking treatment for what seems to be recurrent colds.

However, recurrent colds can be a sign of allergies, said a top health official during the DHA’s bi-weekly smart clinic.

Dr Hussain Ali Hattawi, consultant and head of allergy and immunology unit at Dubai Hospital said that cold and seasonal allergies are very similar in many ways and this often leads to late diagnosis of allergies. However, the duration and frequency of symptoms can help tell the difference.

 “One in five people in Dubai may have allergic rhinitis but not everyone is aware of it because the symptoms are similar to that of a flu and include sneezing, runny nose, coughing, sore or scratchy throat and itchy and watery eyes. Therefore, often patients continue taking over-the-counter medications which is a major concern because prolonging treatment often triggers other medical conditions,” said Dr Hattawi “The rule of thumb is that if the cold continues for more than six weeks and is a frequent occurrence, the patient should visit an allergist.”

Dr Hattawi said that high prevalence of allergies including allergic rhinitis occurs due to genetic predisposition and environmental factors. “Almost 40 to 50 per cent of patients we see at our clinics have allergic rhinitis due to dust mites. Other indoor pollutants include pets and in some cases cockroaches while outdoor pollutants include grass and tree pollens. Indirect outdoor pollutants include pollution and dust from construction sites, which do not directly cause allergies but aggravate the symptoms in people who already have them.”

Data from Dubai Health Authority run hospitals highlight that the top three types of allergies are allergic rhinitis, urticarial( mosquito-bite like symptoms) and food allergies.

Latifa Hospital’s paediatric pulmonology department sees more than 1000 children per year for allergy and non-allergy related asthma cases, while Dubai Hospital’s allergy and immunology department treats approximately 800 patients per year for allergies.

Dr Hattawi said while allergic rhinitis often masks flu symptoms, food allergies might also go undetected by the patient unless they cause moderate to extreme reactions. “People need to be to be very alert if they find that exposure to a particular food allergen has caused a reaction and parents particularly need to exercise extra caution especially when they are exposing their babies to solid food for the first time. An allergic reaction should not be taken lightly because allergies can have mild to extreme reactions.”

Dr Hattawi said that symptoms could include difficulty breathing, persistent colds, redness and rashes, mosquito bite like symptoms, pain and bloating in the stomach, diarrhoea, vomiting etc.  
Top food allergies in adults are nuts, shellfish and grains. Top food allergies in children include milk, eggs, grains, nuts and some fruits.
“People will feel or suspect an allergy to the food item because of the reaction they experience when they consume it,” said Dr Hattawi. “This should never be ignored and they should seek an allergist’s assistance.”
Dr Hattawi said detecting food allergies is now a simple procedure and includes a blood test or a skin prick. 

He said that in cases of food allergies, the most effective and safe treatment is to completely avoid consuming the food. For other allergies, treatment options include identifying and avoiding or minimizing exposure to allergens and irritants through environmental control. Since that is not always possible, medication is used to control or minimize symptoms and to control the underlying inflammation associated with the allergic reaction. 

In some cases, allergen immunotherapy is an option. This treatment actually includes exposing the patient to minute doses of the offending substance so that the patient’s body learns to accept the allergen and over time the patient will no longer be allergic to that allergen.

Dr Hattawi said people with severe food allergies should carry with them an epinephrine autoinjector device at all times. Some allergies can cause life-threatening anaphylaxis, and patients should have access to this device within five minutes of consuming the food and they should ideally visit the emergency department within 15 minutes of such an episode.
“Children with food allergies must be taught how to use an epinephrine autoinjector device and if the child is too young the device should be kept with the caregivers and with the school nurse. School staff including all teachers in that year group, should be made aware of the child’s allergies,” said Dr Hattawi. “Management of allergies, especially in children, requires education and teamwork so that all those who come into daily contact with the child are aware of the situation.”
The Dubai Health Authority’s allergy clinic located is located in Dubai Hospital and is open every Monday from 8am to 2 pm and every Tuesday from 3pm until 8pm. Walk-in patients require a passport and visa information to register. The facility is a sister clinic to the hospital’s immunology clinic.