Allergies are particularly common in children but sometimes go away as the child gets older. Conversely, adults can develop allergies to things they were not previously allergic to.

The substance that causes an allergic reaction is called an allergen.

Common allergens include:

• Grass and tree pollen – an allergy to these is known as hayfever or allergic rhinitis. Different plants and trees shed their pollen at different times of the year, resulting in a hayfever season that can run from January to September, depending on which pollen the person is allergic to²
• Dust mites – most likely triggered by a substance in dust mite droppings
• Animals – this is often an allergy to proteins found in the animal's flakes of skin (dander), saliva, urine or even fine particles from bird feathers known as ‘feather dust’³
• Food – there are 14 major food allergens including gluten, crustaceans, eggs, nuts, soya and sulphur dioxide (sulphites)
• Insect bites and stings
• Medicines – including ibuprofen, aspirin and certain antibiotics
• Latex – used to make some gloves and condoms
• Mould – these can release small particles into the air that are breathed in
• Household chemicals – including those in detergents and hair dyes.

Symptoms

The symptoms of an allergic reaction include:

• Sneezing
• A runny or blocked nose
• Red, itchy, watery eyes
• Wheezing and coughing
• A red, itchy rash
• Worsening of asthma or eczema symptoms

If a person develops an allergy, their first step should be to try and identify the allergen responsible – this will allow them to avoid the allergen wherever possible. For any suspected food allergy, customers should see their GP who will be able to make an appropriate referral, if required. Customers can be advised to start a diary to record the time and duration of symptoms, any food or drink consumed and any environmental factors. Avoiding allergens can be easier to achieve with food allergies by using careful food preparation and reading ingredient labels. The full list of food allergens can be found on the Food Standards Agency website.⁵

The following products are available from pharmacies to help customers manage allergy symptoms. Not all products are suitable for all allergies so read the product packaging carefully before making any recommendations.

Antihistamines - available as tablets, liquids and eye drops. There are many different antihistamine products available without prescription and customers may need to try a few before finding the one that works best for them.

Some customers may need to combine treatments to achieve full symptom control. For example, a customer with hayfever may use a steroid nasal spray daily to help manage symptoms and then also use an antihistamine tablet and/or eyedrops when symptoms are particularly severe.

Alternative options

Some customers may wish to avoid taking medicines for their allergies; they may be uncomfortable with taking medicines long term or they could be pregnant or breastfeeding. There are a number of options you could suggest for these customers. Always check the product information for suitability and remember, if you are unsure, ask your pharmacist for advice.

• Barrier nasal sprays line the nasal passages, trapping airborne allergens and therefore preventing the allergic reaction
• Saline nasal sprays/washes clear and cleanse nasal passages, eliminating allergens that are in contact with the nasal lining
• Eye drops produce a protective barrier to help prevent the entry of allergens
• Eye masks cool the eye area and help calm inflammation associated with eye allergies
• Lozenges form a protective barrier on irritated mucous membranes in the mouth and throat
• Barrier balms are applied around the nostrils and eye sockets to help trap airborne allergens.