Skin Allergies

Allergic Rashes

By Daniel More, MD, About.com

Updated: June 16, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

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• allergies
• itching
• antihistamines

This person has atopic dermatitis on the arms. Red, scaly plaques can be seen on the inside of the elbows. In adults, atopic dermatitis usually involves the body creases, or flexural areas.

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There are many types of itchy skin rashes. However, not all rashes that itch are related to skin allergies. The following are the most common types of allergic skin rashes.

Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)

Atopic dermatitis frequently occurs in young children, although may start in young adults, and can continue into adult life.

The rash of atopic dermatitis, often called eczema, occurs where a person scratches. In infancy, the rash occurs on the chest, cheeks and scalp, where the child is able to scratch. Older children and adult typically have the rash in the skin folds of the elbows and behind the knees, although may also occur on the face, neck, hands, feet and back.

The rash is red, often flakes or oozes, and has small blisters or bumps. There are often excoriations, or areas of broken skin, from aggressive scratching.

Learn more about:

• The basics of atopic dermatitis
• Prevention and treatment of atopic dermatitis

Urticaria (Hives) and Angioedema (Swelling)

Urticaria, commonly called hives, is an itchy rash that can occur at any age. This rash appears as raised red bumps of various shapes and sizes, and typically lasts for only minutes to hours. While it can be very itchy, a person will generally not excoriate (scratch to the point of breaking the skin and cause bleeding) themselves.

The swelling that sometimes goes along with urticaria is called angioedema, and often involves the lips, the eyes, and the hands and feet. Angioedema is usually not itchy or red, it tends to burn, sting or cause a tingling sensation. Severe swelling that blocks the ability to breathe can be dangerous and even life-threatening.

Learn more about:

• The common causes and treatment of urticaria and angioedema

Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is caused from skin contact with a substance that causes a rash-like reaction. People react to a variety of chemicals, including cosmetics, hair dye, metals, topical medications and dental materials. An example of a contact dermatitis is a rash from poison ivy, which is an extremely itchy and appears as blisters that ooze and crust after contact with plants of the Toxicodendron family.

A contact dermatitis rash may look like atopic dermatitis, but the rash is typically located only in the area of contact with the offending chemical. Common locations include the face, especially the eyelids, neck, hands and feet. Contact dermatitis to metals, such as in jewelry or snaps/buttons/zippers on clothing, commonly occurs on the neck, wrists/hands, earlobes and at the waistline.

Learn more about:

• Common causes of contact dermatitis
• Evaluation and diagnosis of contact dermatitis

Itching Without a Rash

It is a relatively common problem for people to have itching without a rash being present. The medical term for itching is pruritus, and this symptoms can represent a skin problem, or even an internal disease within the body.

When the itching is limited to a certain area of the body, the most likely reason is a disease process limited to the skin. The area of the body that itches often gives a big clue as to the cause of the itching.

Pruritus the involves the entire body may still represent a disease of the skin, or may be caused by metabolic problems such as thyroid disease or iron deficiency. Many medications can cause itching, particularly pain medications like codeine and morphine.

Learn more about itching and pruritus, how to determine the cause, and the treatments available.

_Sources:

_{Atopic Dermatitis Practice Parameters. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2004;93:S1-21.}

_{Practice Parameters for Disease Management: Acute and Chronic Urticaria and Angioedema. Ann Allergy. 2000; 85: S525-44.}

_{Beltrani VS, Bernstein IL, Cohen DE, Fonacier L. Contact Dermatitis: A Practice Parameter. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2006;97:S1-38.}

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this site is for educational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for personal care by a licensed physician. Please see your physician for diagnosis and treatment of any concerning symptoms or medical condition.
Taken from: http://allergies.about.com/od/skinallergies/a/skinallergyhub.htm

Stroke Symptoms

Stroke Symptoms
http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=SYMP

If you think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T. and do this simple test:

Act F.A.S.T.
FACE	Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
ARMS	Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
SPEECH	Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can he/she repeat the sentence correctly?
TIME	If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important. Call 911 or get to the hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.

Stroke Symptoms include:

SUDDEN numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg - especially on one side of the body.

SUDDEN confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.

SUDDEN trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

SUDDEN trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.

SUDDEN severe headache with no known cause.

Symptoms of malaria infection

Malaria can occur despite taking anti-malarial drugs and symptoms of malaria infection usually occur within 9 to 14 days.

The general symptoms include:

• headache
• nausea
• fever
• vomiting and
• flu-like symptoms

These symptoms can vary depending on the type of plasmodium that caused the infection.

Time for symptoms to develop

Plasmodium falciparum normally take 7 to 14 days to show symptoms while Plasmodium vivax and ovale normally take 8 to 14 days (but in some cases can survive for some months in the human horst) and Plasmodium malariae 7 to 30 days.

These figures are as indication only - the onset of symptoms varies tremendously and people should not try and diagnose themselves by using any time-frame figures as these listed above.

Symptoms of malaria infection are not always dramatic, and can easily be dismissed as unimportant.

Should the infection not be attended to deterioration is normally sudden and drastic as the parasites rapidly increase in the blood stream.

Symptoms may appear and disappear in phases and may come and go at various time frames. These cyclic symptoms of malaria are caused by the life cycle of the parasites - as they develop, mature, reproduce and are once again released into the blood stream to infect even more blood and liver cells.

When this happens a high swinging fever can develop, with marked shivering and intense perspiration.

Further serious complication involving the kidneys and brain can then develop leading to delirium and coma.

There are cases reported where symptoms of malaria infection developed 12 months after the patient was bitten by a mosquito, as the plasmodia may remain dormant in the liver for a long period.

List of symptoms

Malaria causes a flu-like illness and these would include

• fever
• rigors
• headaches
• sweating
• tiredness
• myalgia (limbs and back)
• abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• loss of appetite
• orthostatic hypotension
• nausea
• slight jaundice
• cough
• enlarged liver and spleen (sometimes not palpable)
• vomiting

Fever in the first week of travel in a malaria-risk area is unlikely to be malaria; however, any traveler feeling ill should seek immediate medical care.

Although malaria is unlikely to be the cause, any fever should be promptly evaluated. If you or your child becomes ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a malaria-risk area and up to 1 year after returning home, seek immediate medical care.

Tell your health care provider where you have been traveling.

The normal treatments for malaria infection are drugs based on quinine, or a combination drug therapy known as ACTs, based on artemisinin (which is expensive).

Symptoms may develop later

It is possible, but not very general, to develop a relapsing type of malaria months for even years after being infected by malaria - even if anti-malarial drugs were taken.

While anti-malarial drugs can prevent symptoms of acute malaria from developing, by suppressing the infection in the bloodstream, they however do not prevent relapses of the infection caused by certain strains of the plasmodium parasite which have a persistent liver phase.

The most common type of malaria infection is that of Plasmodium falciparum and this strain does fortunately NOT have a relapsing phase.

The other strains such as Plasmodium vivax, ovale, or malariae can infect the liver and persist in a dormant state for months, or even years after exposure to the infection.

Should a relapse develop it can be treated by restraining the acute symptoms with chloroquine and then overcome the liver infection with medication called primaquine.

This medication is more toxic and has more side effects than chloroquine but is a very effective form of treatment.

People with a deficiency of the blood enzyme G6PD are predisposed to reactions from primaquine treatment but such an enzyme blood deficiency is easy to ascertain with a simple blood test before treatment with primaquine is started.

Prevention of malaria infection is better than curing the disease as the infection is becoming increasingly resistant to prescribed drugs.

Various insecticides, which are used to spray areas favored by mosquitoes, are also no longer effective, and a constant struggle is under way to develop new anti-malarial drugs and insecticides, to keep the disease at bay.

10 Essential Health Tips

10 Essential Health Tips (The Basics to Practice Every Day)

http://www.health-fitness-tips.com/features/10-essential-health-tips.htm

"He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything." -Arabian Proverb

1. Move More
Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's a stress buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or tai chi or kickboxing. But that's great when you're up to it. Meanwhile, move more. Thought for the day: Cha, Cha, Cha…. Then do it!

2. Cut Fat
Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning machine…. Then be one!

3. Quit Smoking
The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill. Just recently, we've seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens. Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems the stars in every movie of late smoke cigarettes. Beware. Warn your children of the false romance or 'tough guy' stance of Hollywood smokers. Thought for the day: Give up just one cigarette…. the next one.

4. Reduce Stress
Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e.,Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when possible. Thought for the day: When seeing red, think pink clouds….then float on them.

5. Protect Yourself from Pollution
If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It's a good pollution and dirt from the street deterrent. Thought for the day: 'Smoke gets in your eyes'…and your mouth, and your nose and your lungs as do pollutants….hum the tune daily.

6. Wear Your Seat Belt
Statistics show that seat belts add to longevity and help alleviate potential injuries in car crashes. Thought for the day: Buckle down and buckle up.

7. Floss Your Teeth
Recent studies make a direct connection between longevity and teeth flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it's because people who floss tend to be more health conscious than people who don't? Thought for the day: Floss and be your body's boss.

8. Avoid Excessive Drinking
While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer. Thought for the day: A jug of wine should last a long time.

9. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook
There's a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life. Thought for the day: You can't be unhappy when you're smiling or singing.

10. Choose Your Parents Well
The link between genetics and health is a powerful one. But just because one or both of your parents died young in ill health doesn't mean you cannot counteract the genetic pool handed you. Thought for the day: Follow these basic tips for healthy living and you can better control your own destiny.

Health life is a right for everyone! Get it now!