How to stay safe from allergies in UAE this summer

Dubai - Dust mites, pets or in some cases cockroaches are indoor allergens.

Summer has set in and doctors are advising those with dust allergies to take adequate precautions to prevent developing allergic rhinitis.
"Summer months can cause dust and pollen allergies," said Dr Hussain Ali Hattawi, consultant and head of allergy and immunology unit at Dubai Hospital. "In case of a dust allergy, it is important to decrease exposure to environmental allergens. In addition to staying inside as much as possible during sandstorms, people who suffer from allergies can benefit from reducing the humidity in their homes and keeping their homes relatively dust-free," he said.
He also said that using air purifiers with high-efficiency filters is helpful. "Air conditioners should be serviced regularly. Avoid carpets as they collect dust mites and vacuum clean the house properly to avoid dust," he added.
Dubai Hospital's allergy and immunology department treated approximately 1,236 patients last year of which 612 received treatment in the immunology clinic and 624 received treatment in the allergy clinic.
The top three types of allergies, as per the data collected by these clinics, is allergic rhinitis, urticarial (mosquito-bite like symptoms) and food allergies. Dr Hattawi said that the reason for a high prevalence of allergies including allergic rhinitis is genetic predisposition and environmental factors.
"Environmental factors include indoor and outdoor factors. Dust mites, pets or in some cases cockroaches are indoor allergens, while grass and tree pollens are outdoor allergens," he explained.
Other outdoor irritants like pollution, construction do not directly cause allergies but aggravate the symptoms in people who already have them. "Allergies should be treated on time to prevent development of more severe conditions like asthma, especially as they can build up over time," said Dr Hattawi.
"The most common problem we find is that people are unaware that they have allergies and continue to take other medications to manifest the symptoms of allergies but do not actually address the real problem," he said.
"This often leads to deterioration of the condition. This is a common scenario in patients with allergic rhinitis because the symptoms include a runny or blocked nose, frequent sneezing and when it includes allergic conjunctivitis it can cause redness, itching and watery eyes. Patients assume this is due to a flu and common cold and continue taking over-the-counter medications. The rule of thumb should be that if the cold continues for more than six weeks and is a frequent occurrence, the patient should visit an allergist."
Symptoms could include difficulty breathing, persistent colds, redness and rashes, mosquito bite like symptoms, pain and bloating in the stomach, diarrhoea, vomiting etc.
Simple tests can help detect the cause of the allergy. "Since children do not like blood tests, a simple skin prick test can help identify allergens. In adults, a blood test can identify the source of the allergen and if that does not work, a skin test is the next option.  Learning what triggers allergies and understanding how to treat them are the first steps toward controlling allergy," said the doctor.
Dr Al Hattawi said that treatment options include identifying and avoiding or minimising exposure to allergens and irritants through environmental control. Over a period of few years, the patient's body learns to accept the allergen and there will no longer be any reactions to that allergen.

Know your allergens and keep them away