Health and Hygiene : Allergy
Exercise
SECTION I
A. Name the following.
1. Substances that can cause hypersensitivity.
= Allergen;
2. Entry route of pollen grain in human body for allergic reaction.
= Nose;
3. Allergies occurring throughout the year.
= Perennial allergies;
4. The system that recognizes the allergens as a threat.
= Immune system;
5. Life threatening reaction caused by severe allergic reactions.
= Anaphylaxis;
B. Write true or false. Correct the False statements by changing the first or last word/s.
1. Hay fever is also known as allergic arthritis. [F]
= Hay fever is also known as allergic rhinitis.
2. Scabies is caused by pollen grains. [F]
= Scabies is caused by mites.
3. Medicine that cause allergies are categorized as non-food allergens. [F]
= Medicine that cause allergies are categorized as food allergens.
4. An improved immunity can develop resistance against allergens.
= Avoiding exposure to allergens can develop resistance against allergens.
5. Allergies caused by dust are perennial allergies. [T]
C. Choose the correct option.
1. Which of the following is an allergen?
a. Paper. [ ]
b. Wood. [ ]
c. Cotton dust. [✓]
d. stone. [ ]
2. Penicillin can
a. cure allergies. [ ]
b. Trigger allergies. [✓]
c. trigger bacterial diseases. [ ]
d. trigger fungal disease. [ ]
3. Which of the following allergies is caused due to detergent and soaps?
a. Nasal allergy. [ ]
b. Skin allergy. [✓]
c. Anaphylactic shock. [ ]
d. Insect allergy. [ ]
4. An allergic reaction that is hereditary is
a. bronchitis. [ ]
b. coughing. [ ]
c. sinusitis. [✓]
d. asthma. [ ]
D. Match the following.
=
|
Column A |
Column B |
|---|---|
|
1. Air borne allergen |
a. Immune response. [4] |
|
2. Food allergen |
b. Allergic rhinitis. [5] |
|
3. Anaphylaxis |
c. peanuts. [2] |
|
4. Allergy |
d. Life threatening. [3] |
|
5. Hay fever |
e. dust. [1] |
|
|
f. mouth watering. [ ] |
|
|
g. bleeding. [ ] |
E. Given below are a list of allergic response. Write the names of allergens next to them.
=
|
Allergic response |
Allergens |
|---|---|
|
1. Hay fever |
Pollen grains |
|
2. Rashes on skin |
Sunlight |
|
3. Swelling of the tongue |
Food |
|
4. Scabies |
Mites |
|
5. Runny nose |
Dust |
SECTION II
F. Differentiate between the following.
1. Allergy and allergen.
= Allergy is a condition in which the body produces an abnormal immune response to certain substances which are otherwise harmless.
An allergen is a foreign substance that is either inhaled or eaten and is recognized by the immune system as a threat causing abnormal immune response.
Allergy is the result of the allergens.
2. Food and non-food allergen.
= Various types of foods and medicine which we intake in our moth are the food allergens. On the other hand, dust, pollen grains, Mites, Sunlight etc are non-food allergens.
3. Seasonal and perennial allergy.
= Allergies that occur during a particular season are called seasonal allergy. Example - Allergy caused by pollen grains, hay fever.
Allergies that are not caused due to seasonal factors and may occur throughout the year are called perennial allergies. Example - Dust allergy.
4. Hay fever and scabies.
= Hay fever is caused by pollen grains. On the other hand, scabies is caused by mites.
5. Anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock.
= Sometimes allergic reactions become serious and trigger a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. On the other hand, the person suffering is said to have gone into anaphylactic shock.
G. Short answer questions.
1. List five different types of allergens.
= Five different types of allergens are - dust, pollen grains, mites, sunlight, and food.
2. How does pollen grains cause allergic reactions?
= Pollen can cause rashes on the skin of some people. The allergic reactions lead to cold-like symptoms such as runny nose, itchy eyes, congestion, and sneezing. This condition is called hay fever or allergic rhinitis. Pollen can also cause asthma attack.
3. What are the main pathways for the entry of allergens?
= Allergens enter the human body through three main pathways: the mouth (ingesting the allergen), the nose (breathing in the allergen), and the skin (allergen rubbing against the skin).
4. Give an example of a seasonal allergy and a perennial allergy.
= An example of a seasonal allergy is pollen allergy.
An example of perennial allergy is dust allergy.
5. What are the precautions to be taken against seasonal allergy?
= The precautions to be taken against seasonal allergy are -
❐ The weather report in newspapers or broadcast on news channels give us an idea of the pollen and mould discharge that could happen in that season.
❐ Keep windows and doors shut at home and when you are travelling in a vehicle.
❐ Take a shower and change your clothes when you come home.
❐ Do not hesitate to wear a filter or a mask to cover your nose and mouth when travelling.
H. Long answer questions.
1. What are the symptoms of oral, nasal and skin allergic reactions?
= The symptoms of oral, nasal and skin allergic reactions are -
❐ Sneezing and coughing.
❐ Blocked or runny nose.
❐ Itching or burning of the skin, nose, mouth, throat, and eyes.
❐ Redness of the skin often in areas where itching occurs.
❐ Bumps or rashes forming on the skin.
❐ Abnormal swelling of the ears, eyelids, or any other part on the body.
❐ Swelling of the tongue throat or lips.
❐ Difficulty in swallowing or speaking.
❐ Difficulty in breathing and asthma.
❐ Pain in the abdomen, nausea, and vomiting.
❐ Sudden feeling of weakness and fainting.
2. What is anaphylaxis? What are the symptoms of it?
= Sometimes allergic reactions become serious and trigger a life-threating reaction called anaphylaxis. Stings of bees, wasps and red ants are likely to trigger anaphylaxis.
The person suffering is said to have gone into anaphylactic shock. This condition may lead to difficulty in breathing or bouts of severe coughing. It can occur suddenly and become fatal. Such allergies need immediate medical attention.
3. What causes asthma? How can it be treated?
= During rainy season, when moulds grow in humid spaces, the spores released by moulds cause severe allergies in some people leading to asthma.
Symptoms include difficulty in breathing and a wheezing sound is produced. The airways of the lungs become constricted and it makes breathing difficult, causing a whistling sound while breathing out. The narrowing airways can be caused by inflammation, mucous secretion, and muscle tightening of the bronchial tube.
Anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to control asthma.
4. Give examples of food allergens. What allergic reactions do they cause?
= Certain food substances can also cause the immune system to react to them. The immune system to recognizes the food as dangerous, hence triggering an immune response.
Most common food allergens are milk and dairy products, nuts, eggs, gluten-based items, mushrooms, and sea-food.
Symptoms of food allergy vary from mild to severe and can be life threatening. Swelling of the lips, tongue, face, stomach ache, and tingling sensation in the mouth are some of the symptoms.
5. Write a note on the preventive measures to be taken against allergies.
= Here are a few important points to bear in mind in order to prevent allergies -
❐ Most allergies can be controlled by avoiding the allergen. This is especially true in case of food allergies.
❐ Learn to recognize allergic symptoms and make a mental note of what triggered the allergic reaction.
❐ If there is a chance of anaphylactic reactions then it is better to have an emergency plan. This includes details of what is to be done in the event of an allergic reaction. Keep this with you at all time. Present it to your teacher or caretaker to avoid an emergency.
❐ Educate your friends, the school staff, and others who will be with you while dealing with allergies. They can help you avoid emergencies and offer to provide medical help.
PICTURE STUDY
1.
a. Identify the type of allergens shown in the picture above.
= The allergens shown in the picture above is pollen grains.
b. What category does this allergen fall into?
= The category this allergen falls into is non-food allergens.
c. Describe the common symptoms that can result due to this allergen.
= If pollen-laden air is breathed, it can cause allergic reactions.
Pollen can also cause rashes on the skin of some people. The allergic reactions lead to cold-like symptoms such as runny nose, itchy eyes, congestion, and sneezing. This condition is called hay fever or allergic rhinitis. Pollen can also cause asthma attack.
2.
a. Name the type of allergy and give the symptoms of the allergic reactions shown in the picture above.
= The type of allergy is seasonal allergy. It is called asthma.
The narrowing airways can be caused by inflammation, mucous secretion, and muscle tightening of the bronchial tube.
b. What could be the possible causative agent for this allergy?
= The possible causative agent for this allergy is pollen grains and dust.
c. Mention any two symptoms, other than the one shown here, that the person could suffer from.
= Symptoms include difficulty in breathing and a wheezing sound is produced. The airways of the lungs become constricted an it makes breathing difficult, causing a whistling sound while breathing out.
3. The figure below shows four different kind of particles that can be identified as allergens present in the surroundings. Observe the same and answer the questions that follow.
a. Identify the allergens labelled as 1 - 4.
= 1 - Pollen grains;
2 - Mites/Insects;
3 - Put fur;
4 - Cigarette smoke;
b. What could be the entry route of the allergens numbered 1,2, and 4?
= 1 - Nose;
2 - Skin;
4 - Nose;
c. Write two symptoms of allergic reactions due to allergen labelled as 2 and 4.
= Symptoms of allergic reactions due to allergen labelled as 2 are - scabies, a skin condition, which results in itching and rashes all over the body.
Symptoms of allergic reactions due to allergen labelled as 4 are - breathing difficulty, inflammation, asthma.
d. What precautionary measures can be taken to prevent oneself from such allergies?
= 1 - Do not hesitate to wear a filter or a mask to cover your nose and mouth when travelling.
2 - We should keep our windows and doors shut and keep our households clean.
3 - We should sanitize our pets regularly.
4 - We should not smoke and be away from the persons who smokes.