Allergies affecting South Africans

It is hay fever season once again.

The time of year when nature releases millions of microscopic pollen spores into the atmosphere, but while springtime has a whopping 17 million (30 per cent) of South Africans in a frenzy, our nation also seems to grapple with much rarer allergies, Germiston City News reports.

One of the country’s leading providers of allergy treatments, Pharma Dynamics, recently conducted a national poll among 1 772 allergy sufferers to find out to what degree South Africans are affected by unusual allergies.

Here’s what the survey revealed:

• Thirty-six per cent experienced eczema type symptoms when wearing jewellery.

• Twenty-five per cent of people were allergic to certain fruits.

• Twenty-one per cent broke out in a rash when spending time in the sun (different to sunburn).

• Seventeen per cent suffered from pressure urticaria, which means they can’t wear tight clothing, sit down, lean against or touch anything for too long.

• Seventeen per cent had an allergic reaction to air conditioners.

• Sixteen per cent were allergic to cigarette smoke.

• Fifteen per cent experienced allergy symptoms when eating shellfish, such as mussels, oysters, prawns etc.

• Fifteen per cent were allergic to alcohol.

• Thirteen per cent broke out in a red rash when exposed to cold temperatures.

• Nine per cent were allergic to hair dye.

• Seven per cent developed either hives, swelling of the mouth and throat or wheezing after eating chocolate.

• Six per cent complained of headaches, heart palpitations or skin problems when drinking coffee.

• Six per cent broke out in hives, coughed or sneezed when working with wood.

• Five per cent were allergic to fizzy drinks.

• Three per cent experienced redness, swelling or flaking around the nail when applying artificial nails.

Nicole Jennings, spokesperson for Pharma Dynamics, further explained although many of these allergies only affect a small percentage of the population they can cause a lot of discomfort and agony to sufferers.

“The fact that almost 20 per cent of the allergy sufferers polled had to either be hospitalised or treated in ER for these allergies speaks to the severity of their symptoms and how it impacts the quality of their life,” she said.

She explained an allergic reaction typically occurs when the body mistakenly misreads something harmless as a threat.

“This overreaction by the immune system leads to an allergic reaction, which can manifest as a rash, fever, headache, swelling of the mouth or affected area, wheezing, runny or stuffy nose, nausea and the like,” she said.

“Those who are allergic to jewellery are likely to have a nickel allergy – also known as contact allergic dermatitis.

“Nickel is often used in the base metal of less expensive jewellery, which is then plated with gold or silver.

“Affected individuals often develop eczema in places where nickel-containing jewellery touches the skin, such as the fingers, earlobes, wrists and neck.

“Sufferers should rather opt for jewellery that is hypoallergenic, made from stainless steel, sterling silver, polycarbonate plastic or at least 18-karat gold,” she continued.

“When it comes to fruit, fruits such as strawberries, kiwi, peach, apple, bananas and citrus are often the main cause of allergies, which can prove fatal in severe cases.

“Most often, symptoms include skin reactions, swelling of the oral cavity, asthma or rhinitis.

“Similar signs of alarm are also common in those who are allergic to alcohol.

“While some may be allergic to alcohol itself, others may be sensitive to certain allergens in alcoholic drinks, such as wheat, barley, yeast, grapes, etc.

“However, if you are allergic to alcohol, fruit or any other type of food, rather steer clear of these allergens,” advised Jennings.

Even though scientists are still grappling with why or how people become allergic to certain allergens, thankfully there are ways to treat it.

“If you suspect you may have an allergy it is best to consult a doctor who will be able to perform or authorise an immunoglobulin (IgE) antibody test, which will help to diagnose an allergy to a specific substance or substances.

“You should never ignore the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

“If left untreated, it can quickly worsen, especially in the case of anaphylaxis, where emergency treatment is required.

“Even if you never suffered from an allergy before, it is entirely possible to become allergic later in life,” she said.

Although there is no substantial data on allergy rates in South Africa, it is clear allergy rates are climbing and are likely to continue to rise in the future.

With this in mind, it is best to know your allergy status and to carry emergency medication on you if necessary.