Celiac disease is not just a food allergy, it is a serious, genetic disease. People who suffer from CD are allergic to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and oats. This reaction causes small intestine damage and causes malnutrition. Proper dieting is the only way out. Talk about your life with Celiac Disease, learn about gluten-free foods or get some good recipes.

The body’s immune system will react if it mistakes a medication for a disease-causing agent. Drug allergies are not so common and should be distinguished from a drug side effect. The most common drug allergens are antibiotics but other drugs could cause reactions too. Medications can also cause analyphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can lead to death. Talk about your experience with drug allergic or share info about desensitization.

Dust mites are common allergens. They live in bedding, carpets, stuffed furniture, old clothing and stuffed toys and feed on human skin scales. Allergy, asthma and/or eczema symptoms occur when a child or a person come in contact or inhale droppings of dust mites. There is so much work to do around the house in one suffers from a dust mite allergy. Share useful tips on how to create a dust-free bedroom!!!

Food allergies can cause a variety of allergic symptoms affecting the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, or cardiovascular system. The body misinterprets certain food as harmful and releases antibodies. Each time you eat the specific food, the immune system will release histamine and cause symptoms like tingling sensation in the mouth, swelling of the tongue and the throat, difficulty breathing, hives, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness and even death. Food allergies can be outgrown although certain allergies like peanuts, nuts, fish and shellfish are life-long.

Molds are often found in areas that are warm, dark and moist. They grow by sending tiny spores into the air and these spores cause allergy and asthma symptoms when inhaled. Pollen comes from trees, grasses and weeds and causes reactions in those sensitive to it. Pollen allergies are usually seasonal.

Insects release venom or other substances into the skin upon biting. It is venom that causes reactions whose severity depends on the sensitivity of the person bitten or stung. The symptoms can range from mild itching or stinging sensation to fever, hives, painful joints and swollen glands. What was/is your experience like with the insect bites?

A nickel allergy can occur in the first exposure or after prolonged exposure. Nickel is a metal found in many everyday items and one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis. People suffering from nickel allergy may have to avoid items such as earrings, rings, bracelets, necklaces, suspender clips, hairpins, coins, pens, utensils, tools, etc. Different solutions exist for treating nickel allergies like corticosteroids, moisturizing creams, wet compresses and antihistamines.

Lactose intolerance is luckily almost never a serious disorder but it is extremely annoying. It occurs when the intestine does not contain an enzyme lactase needed for lactose (milk sugar) break down and cause symptoms like nausea, abdominal cramps and rumbling, bloating, rectal gas (flatus) and diarrhea. How are you or your love ones coping?

Unfortunately, those cute little creatures called pets we easily fall in love with can often make us experience allergic reactions. The reactions usually occur after coming into contact with the animal’s dander, urine or saliva. It is feathered or furry animals such as cats, dogs, birds, rodents that cause allergy symptoms. Ever had to part from your favorite pet or had bad experience with somebody else’s pet? Join this forum and tell us all about it!

Join this forum if you have an allergy other than listed above.