Various Allergic Factors

1 Extrinsic Allergic Factor

Besides some of the factors causing allergy / asthma in a patient are: (i) house dust (present in bedrooms, mattresses, pillows, rugs, curtains, woollen clothes, blankets, carpets, upholstered furniture, etc.), (ii) moulds (which grow in humid places, like where there is a leakage of water in walls, roofs, filters of desert-coolers or airconditioners and places of poor ventilation like cowsheds, barns, etc.), (iii) pollens (from flowers, trees, grasses, weeds, etc.), (iv) dandruff from the skins of animals (i.e., scales from the outer parts of the skins of animals, like dogs, cats, cows, buffaloes, goats, sheeps, horses, etc.), (v) insect debris in the environment (house-flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, ants, butterflies, etc.), (vi) feathers of birds (pigeons, feather pillows), (vii) various contact ants (like lipsticks, powders, soaps, perfumes, hair-dyes, shampoos, oils, creams, after-shave lotions, etc.), (viii) air pollutants (from ill-maintained engines of automobiles, like cars, two-wheelers, trucks, etc.)

Food allergy

Food allergy is also an important causative factor in many cases of asthma. Any food, like wheat, cereals, ice-cream, vegetables, non-vegetarian food, edible oils, fruits, milk, curd, ghee, eggs, coffee, cold drinks, etc. can cause allergy. Various condiments/spices used in the preparation of food may be the source of the allergy. Likewise, various preservatives used to preserve food articles may cause asthma. Coloring agents used in sweets, etc. too may prove harmful. Fermented food, like pickles, jams, beer, wines are other causes of food allergy. Even the metabolic by-products of ingested food may cause allergy. It is also seen that sometimes the patient is allergic to the outer covering of wheat, cereals, vegetables, etc. Hence a patient may be allergic to wheat, but not to maida, and similarly, one may be allergic to whole cereals, but not to the ones without outer shells.

Further, sprouted food like beans or any other cereals may cause allergy as a result of fungus in the food. Likewise, stale bread/cooked food may cause allergy when spoiled, as a result of fungus.

Therefore, it may be said that the various types of foods or related materials may cause allergy, and thus, sometimes it is almost impossible to identify the factor in the food causing the allergy / asthma.

2 Intrinsic allergic factors

Some of the factors present inside the body called intrinsic factors may' be the precipitating factors causing such an allergy. The most important factors are psychogenic, sucl1 as emotional stress, mental conflict, depression. Children may suffer emotionally because of the parents having marital problems. Even parents who frequently scold their children may cause them emotional trauma.

Infection anywhere in the body contributes to the factors causing allergy in a patient. Even cold/cold air or strenuous exercises, like running, swimming, jogging, etc. may cause allergy.

A family history of asthma is an important intrinsic factor. Hormonal changes in the body during pregnancy, menstruation, or in the case of diseases like thyrotoxicosis, may be responsible for an allergy.

Hence, an allergy in case of asthma is a very complex problem, and the patient may be suffering from more than one or multiple types of allergies at a time. Hence the difficulty in diagnosis and permanent cure.