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Allergies are very common. They are caused by exposure to a substance, known as an allergen, which provokes an inflammatory reaction, which can cause a variety of symptoms:

Hayfever
Individuals allergic to grass or tree pollens have symptoms including running nose, nasal blockage, and sneezing occurring during the spring and summer months. In some patients these symptoms may occur throughout the year and the condition is then called perennial rhinitis. In these cases, other allergens particularly housedust mite may be responsible.

Asthma
In some cases of asthma, there may be allergy to specific agents. These may include grass or tree pollens which can cause wheezing during the spring and summer months. Allergens in the home which can provoke asthma throughout the year, include furry animals, and housedust mite.
In some cases, patients with hayfever-type symptoms or asthma, may be allergic to substances encountered at work, for instance flour or wood dust.

Skin
The skin rash knows as ‘weals’, otherwise known as urticaria, may sometimes be caused by allergy, particularly to foods. This may be accompanied by swellings of parts of the body, for instance the lips or face, known as angioedema. In many patients, it is not possible to identify an underlying cause, even with appropriate tests. Medication including antihistamine tablets is likely to be helpful and in general, this condition tends to resolve with time.

Allergy to specific foods
Some patients have a suspicion that they are allergic to a particular food. In adults, the foods commonly responsible include peanuts, peanuts, soya, and wheat. The effects of food allergy can include tingling or swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat. There may be nausea or vomiting, skin weals, and sometimes severe food allergy may cause wheezing and collapse.

Other allergies
Rubber, otherwise known as latex, can cause symptoms of allergy particularly in people exposed at work. Insect venoms, particularly wasp and bee venoms, can cause reactions which deserve investigation in order to determine whether specific vaccine, or desensitization, therapy may be appropriate.

Allergy tests
Appropriate testing may help determine which allergen is responsible for the symptoms. Skin allergy tests are widely used and provide a result within 15 minutes. Alternatively, a blood test, known as RAST, provides results usually in a matter of days.

Treatment of allergies

Avoidance
The ideal, where possible, is for affected individuals to avoid the underlying cause. Individuals undergoing assessment will be asked to complete a comprehensive questionnaire to help in the assessment of whatever allergens in the environment might be relevant. In the case of food allergies, it is frequently helpful to have advice from a qualified dietician, and at the Highgate Allergy Clinic, there is ready access to this expertise.

Medical therapy
Medication is helpful when symptoms cannot be abolished by avoidance. Long established therapies include antihistamine tablets. There are newer agents including leukotriene receptor antagonists which may have a role in selected cases.

Surgical
Patients with allergies affecting the nose may be considered for a surgical procedure, for instance removal of nasal polyps. At the Highgate Allergy Clinic there is ready access to appropriate surgical ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) expertise.

The Highgate Allergy clinic is held on Thursday evenings by Dr Stefan Lozewicz, Consultant Respiratory Physician and it is usually possible to be seen within one week. To book an appointment, please call Outpatient appointments on 020 8341 4182.

Please note, we are unable to treat children under the age of 16.