[Medical Q&A] It’s the peak season for allergies again. Do you know how to treat allergies?

Author: Wang Changyuan, Chief Physician, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University

Reviewer: He Jingyu, Chief Physician, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University

Common allergic diseases in life include allergic asthma, allergic laryngeal edema, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, urticaria, eczema and anaphylactic shock.

The treatment of allergic diseases is a long-term management process. Allergen vaccine desensitization therapy is one of the methods for treating allergic diseases, but antiallergic drugs are the main means of common treatment of allergic diseases and can effectively control symptoms. Commonly used antiallergic drugs include glucocorticoids, antihistamines, leukotriene receptor antagonists, anticholinergics, etc. Allergic skin diseases can be treated with topical glucocorticoid preparations, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, etc. Allergic conjunctivitis can be treated with drugs such as eye drops or eye ointments.

If the patient has acute allergic laryngeal edema or anaphylactic shock, he should call 120 immediately, explain the condition in detail to the emergency center dispatcher, stay calm and keep the phone open, and give oxygen if conditions permit. After the medical staff arrives, they will give treatment such as epinephrine and dexamethasone according to the condition. If the treatment does not relieve the symptoms or the airway obstruction is severe, first aid measures such as cricothyroid membrane puncture should be performed as soon as possible to save lives.