Children aren’t the only type of people who experience allergies. Allergies can be irritating, debilitating conditions that affect countless people worldwide. Adults can also develop and experience allergies, even in later life, if you’re not aware. Hence visiting a physician or an ear, nose, and throat clinic in Singapore is fundamental for diagnosing and treating allergies.

The Causes of Allergies

Asthma and sinusitis are among the few most common allergies that can happen both early and later age. Inflammation within the body often triggers these allergies to occur. An allergen is a substance that can be in the form of pollen, a mould, your pet’s dander or dust. The tendency to develop a risk for allergies often lies in our genetics. While an ENT doctor in Singapore can help treat the conditions you might be experiencing now, it often still lies in your genetic make-up and how you can be at risk or immune to certain allergens. Your family history is also a determining role too.

It’s likely for everyone to develop and experience allergies at any age. However, allergies tend to occur more in children than in adults. Nonetheless, it does not rule out the possibility that it can happen even if you’re in your 30s or 40s. All it takes is for your immune system to react to anything that it thinks is foreign and needs to repel off. Thus the condition of allergies can trigger after an exposure to certain elements or substances that is different from others you’ve been exposed to for a long time before.

Environmental factors may be at play too. You can experience allergic symptoms due to a change to your environment, such as pollution or even because of a sudden lifestyle change (think of habits like eating a different type of food—which is also why some people can be allergic to a specific food type). Visiting an ENT doctor will provide an accurate diagnosis of possible allergic triggers that your body’s immune system often responds to out of balance.

The Possibility of Developing New Allergies

It’s possible to develop new allergies, even if you have one. You can also experience allergies to specific things you have never been exposed to and encountered before, such as a particular food ingredient you are about to ingest for the first time. Your immune system might mistake it as a ‘threat’ rather than a harmless protein, which causes an imbalanced response. Hence some children might need to see a paediatric ENT specialist in Singapore for certain allergies to food or for those experiencing asthma or recurrent sinusitis.

If someone has been exposed to things or substances repetitively without experiencing problems, it only indicates that the immune system has already acclimated to it. It recognises those allergens (mould spores, pet danders or dust) without needing to react aggressively, unlike when they will encounter again in later life.

After all, it’s all in the genes, which can either increase or decrease your risk of acquiring new allergies as you age or as your child grows. Your genetic make-up plays a pivotal role in developing other known allergy conditions, such as eczema and hay fever. Nonetheless, one should never ignore the symptoms of allergies. Going to an ear, nose, and throat clinic is better than self-diagnosing and treating without proper knowledge about the condition.

Here are some of the most common allergy reactions or symptoms to watch out for:

• A feeling of being sick
• Itchy skin or rashes
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Coughing or wheezing
• Breathlessness or difficulty breathing
• Tightness in the chest part
• Swollen throat or mouth
• Swelling in other areas of the face

Making An Appointment With An ENT Doctor

Finding an ENT doctor nowadays isn’t as hard as it used to be, thanks to the Internet. Booking an appointment or opting for a consultation/test is the first step to taking an action against allergic reactions. While allergies aren’t fatal and life-threatening, a severe form can lead to anaphylaxis (a potentially life-threatening reaction to an allergy). Without treatment for anaphylaxis, the reaction/trigger may become worse rapidly and may lead to death.

An ENT doctor is more than just there to treat patients with chronic snoring and sleep apnea in Singapore. They are specialised and trained to handle various allergy conditions (especially inhalants). An ENT doctor will conduct tests, such as blood tests and a special diet, to identify what type of food or substance you can be allergic to in the first place. They also provide proper medical prescriptions, including recommended advice that you must follow to help reduce the risk of experiencing recurrent and developing other allergy conditions. Never ignore the symptoms of allergic reactions.

Minimising The Risk

Apart from visiting a local ENT doctor to treat an allergy condition, you can do the following proven advice to minimise the risk of developing or experiencing an allergy:

• If you are aware of the allergens that can cause trigger reactions, identify if there are any sources at home to eliminate them.
• Ensure that your indoor air quality at home is clean and pure.
• Consider wearing a mask if you are going outdoors to avoid inhalant allergens.
• Clean and wash yourself up after going outside to prevent small pieces of things and particles in your clothing, shoes and skin.
• Know how to respond in times of allergy reaction, such as following a prescribed action or medicine from an ENT doctor.
• Practice a healthy and balanced diet to help treat allergy symptoms.

If you’re looking for a reputable ENT doctor for treating an allergy problem, ear infection in children and sleep apnea, visit Dr Jenica Yong for more info.