Nowadays, having no allergies is considered a huge blessing. However, allergies can develop at any time. You may have been a bona fide peanut butter fanatic, only to discover that at forty, your body has decided, no more. That’s why it’s important to know the signs. If you feel them, then TelMDCare can help with their urgent care doctor online.
Allergy Vs. Intolerance
Allergies and intolerances are not interchangeable. If someone is lactose intolerant, it doesn’t mean they have a dairy allergy. This is why online doctor appointments and consultations are an integral part of managing them. An allergic reaction happens when the body’s immune system identifies something harmless, like sesame, as dangerous.
In this case, it’ll try to block the sesame from entering the bloodstream through the digestive tract and display symptoms like rashes and swelling to signal that something is wrong. That’s why, when an allergen is ingested, it leads to throats closing up. Due to a glitch in biology, it’s the body’s way of stopping the threat in its tracks.
Intolerances only affect the digestive system, and they’re never life-threatening. Symptoms also start slowly, whereas an allergic reaction will trigger instantly.
The Usual Suspects
Having access to the best online doctors on call in Illinois and all over the country means that if you think you’re experiencing a reaction, you save time. A virtual doctor could save your life because sometimes the wrong treatment is worse than no treatment. If you want to be extra careful, then here are some of the most common allergens that you can look out for:
Food Allergies
Some allergens will trigger you upon ingestion. It differs from case to case, but sometimes, even byproducts of the following can be triggers. On the other hand, some people can eat foods they’re allergic to once they’ve been cooked. However, you should never try to test your own allergies.
- Eggs
- Peanuts
- Soy
- Wheat
- Tree nuts
- Seafood
- Sesame
There are known cases of people reacting to things that have been in contact with the allergen. This can make it hard to nail down the culprit, but the best doctors will make sure to caution you about the possibilities that apply to you. However, if you or someone in your household is severely allergic to something, then keep in mind that trace amounts can be triggers.
If you’re parenting children with allergies who aren’t old enough to know how to respond, it helps to take extra steps. Your doctor may recommend using separate plates and cutlery, or being extra careful to make sure their dishes don’t have any residue from previous meals.
Non-food Allergies
These allergens don’t have to be ingested to flare up the immune system. They could cause skin rashes upon contact or watery eyes and noses upon inhalation.
- Pollen (hay fever)
- Animal dander or pet allergies
- Insect bites (not an allergy to the insect, but the saliva)
- Latex
- Plants (some plants are natural skin irritants, so this applies to plants that should otherwise be harmless to touch)
Since latex is found in condoms, the reaction can be mistaken for a sexually transmitted disease. As primary care doctors can explain, symptoms of an STI won’t present as quickly as an allergy. If you have a latex allergy, book an online video doctor consultation, and your physician will recommend latex-free contraceptives.
As for pet allergies, there are hypoallergenic breeds of cats and dogs. Poodles, for example, don’t shed as much. However, you should check with your online family care physician before adopting.
Possible Reactions
Allergic reactions can be somewhat irritating, or they can be fatal. It depends on the person and the amount of exposure.
Mild
The following symptoms are classified as mild reactions:
- Skin rash
- Itchiness
- Hay fever
- Red or water eyes
- Runny nose
Although they’re mild, an telemedicine doctor could recommend the right medication to keep them from affecting your day-to-day activities.
Moderate
If you experience a moderate reaction, you should immediately get an online medical consultation. These are the symptoms:
- Welts or hives on the skin
- Tingling in the mouth
- Swelling around the tongue, lips, or face
- Trouble breathing
Severe (Anaphylaxis)
Anaphylaxis calls for urgent care. Even if the prescribed medication is on hand and is quickly administered, a video doctor consultation will rule out side effects.
If you’re experiencing mild reactions, you still need to book a doctor’s appointment online. There’s no cure for allergies, sadly for flower, animal, and food enthusiasts, but there are management strategies. You might be sure that peanuts caused your reaction, but expert virtual doctors might find a different answer.
Of course, you can’t go ahead and ingest the food again to see what happens, or at least, you shouldn’t. A mild reaction doesn’t mean there won’t be a severe one next time. TelMDCare offers patients online doctor consultations and prescriptions in Idaho, and video doctor consultations in South Dakota. No matter where you are, you can access the website anywhere.
Make an account now to get started with an affordable online doctor.
About The Author
Marcus Jones is a retired RN (registered nurse) who spent the majority of his career in the pediatric care department. He’s seen and assisted with several cases of anaphylaxis in children and adults while providing urgent care in the ER. He now acts as a part-time healthcare consultant for the local high school’s sports teams.
