“This is the time of year when everything comes alive outside. During the winter, vegetation is dormant and pollen counts are lower,” explains Frances Gross, DO, a pediatrician at Roseville Pediatrics (a Lancaster General Medical Group practice) who has a special interest in allergies.

An allergic reaction is triggered when a normally harmless substance comes into contact with the body and the immune system overreacts. An allergic reaction may be relatively mild, such as minor congestion, but it can also be intense enough to interfere with your quality of life and make it hard to complete daily activities. Although far less common, allergic reactions may also constitute a medical emergency.

Stephen Lockey, III, MD, an allergist with the Allergy and Asthma Center, explains that typical allergic symptoms include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, itchy, watery, red eyes and episodic wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.

Common outdoor allergens include pollen from trees, grasses, weeds, and molds. With lots of trees and plants, Lancaster County often has a high pollen count, causing trouble for people who suffer from asthma and hay fever.

Insects such as bees, hornets and wasps are also more active during the spring and summer. The venom from their stings can cause allergic reactions in many people.

If you have an allergy, one or both of your parents may have allergies. Dr. Gross and Dr. Lockey explain that allergies can be passed on genetically. Many allergies initially surface during adolescence and can continue to worsen into adulthood.

“Allergies can take years to present themselves,” Dr. Gross says. “Much depends on how much you are exposed to a particular allergen.”

 One example of an allergy that can develop over time is an allergy to animal dander or animal saliva (cats, dogs). This allergy isn’t always immediately apparent. But as pet dander builds up in your home, you may begin noticing symptoms. “You can develop allergies to a pet three years after bringing it home,” Dr. Gross says.

On the other hand, food allergies become obvious rather quickly. They usually develop during the first year of a child’s life. Some of the most common foods that people are allergic to include milk, peanuts, nuts, soy, fish and shellfish.

Treatments for allergies vary. Dr. Lockey says that the first step in treating an allergy is to make sure the patient’s symptoms are caused by allergies and not by another medical condition. Dr. Lockey works with his patients to develop a treatment approach that enables them to pursue their daily activities without constantly suffering. Some patients can avoid the allergens. Others take medications. And some patients undergo a series of allergy shots to try and desensitize them to the allergen.

“There is no cookbook formula to get the job done,” he cautions. “Each patient is different and requires an individualized approach.”

In extreme cases, allergic reactions can cause anaphylactic shock, which is a sudden, severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Symptoms can include hives, swelling (especially of the lips and face), difficulty breathing (either because of swelling in the throat or an asthmatic reaction), vomiting, diarrhea, cramping and a fall in blood pressure. If you or someone you know ever experiences this type of reaction, the professionals at the Lancaster General Emergency Department and Trauma Center can help.

Think you or your child might be suffering from an allergy?