Allergy - That Annoying Canary Allergy

Melissa was very excited because that Tuesday afternoon she was going to the zoo. She is very fond of animals, especially birds. She doesn't tire looking, talking and playing around her favorite bird in that zoo'the canary. Canary is a small finch or kind of tiny bird that is a native to the Canary Islands. Canary birds have a yellow to greenish color and has long been bred by people and bird collectors around the globe as cage birds. Back to Melissa, happiness with Canary birds must not be a thing for her because after an hour, a strong discomfort was beginning to ruin her mood. She started coughing and itching until she could no longer take it. Later, the physician who attended to her concluded that she has, yes, you have guessed it right, Canary allergy. What is Canary allergy? Canary allergy is no different from your usual bird allergy. It is brought about by the retaliation or defensive reaction of your body's immune system to allergens from birds or Canaries that gets through the system through feather dust or dander and through droppings or fecal matter. Because Canary birds are cage birds that could not freely fly, expect that its feathers are very much loaded with these irritating dusts that may cause allergic reactions. Exposure to Canary birds' dusts and allergens will bring about bird allergy symptoms within minutes, hours, or at very rare occasions days, which make diagnosing harder unless the patient volunteers the information. Symptoms of Canary allergy Like bird allergy, Canary allergy is also characterized by simple allergic reactions or symptoms including postnasal drip, stuffy nose, hives, coughing, itchy eyes, sneezing, watery or teary eyes and sore throat. Canary bird allergies may not be that fatal but the onset of its symptoms will surely cause a great discomfort to the patient. Failure to address or address severe attacks or symptoms can also lead to serious complications which can be fatal or deadly if untreated or unattended. In very sensitive individuals, Canary allergy is also accompanied by fever and chills. Treatment for Canary Allergy Canary allergy is a chronic attack that can cease by its own even if you do not take in any medication. Most often, the simple treatment recommended to people exhibiting canary allergy symptoms is to make that person get farther or away from Canary birds around. It is a practical treatment because constant and continuous exposure to the bird that causes the allergy will surely keep the onset of the allergic reaction. Doctors also prescribe little doses of antihistamines (drugs that treat simple allergies), decongestants (drugs that unblocks breathing areas or treat swollen nasal areas) and corticosteroids ( anti-inflammatory drugs). Avoiding Canary allergy Hygiene of course, is the most basic and effective measure to counter potential Canary allergy attacks. Always wash your hands even if you are not eating. Clean the surroundings and make sure there are no Canary bird feathers or droppings around especially if you have those birds at home. If you are allergic to Canary birds, just like if you have allergies to other substances, be sure to always keep your room well-ventilated by opening windows or turning on air conditioners to an optimal temperature. If you have Canary birds at home and there is no way you will be disposing them, there are measures that could help you avoid the onset of Canary allergy. First, make sure the Canaries' cage is clean and tidy. Do not overcrowd the cage because that will cause the Canaries to fight and play around often, spreading their feathers around. Make sure that area in the house where the Canary birds' cage is placed is properly ventilated. Buy an air purification system to make sure the air you breathe around your house is free from any allergen that may trigger another Canary allergy attack. Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR'S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes. Charlene J. Nuble 2006. For answers to All your frequently asked questions about bird allergy, please go to: http://canary-allergy.allergyanswers.net/ Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charlene_Nuble Allergy - Allergies and Asthma - How Are They Diagnosed When, for a prolonged period, you are exposed to and experience symptoms from an allergen to which you are sensitive, your nose becomes 'primed', that is, ready to respond to irritants or to other allergens to which you are normally less sensitive. This response could trigger an asthma attack. For instance, when you are having nasal symptoms during the ragweed season and you are then exposed to dust, the dust can trigger a worsening of your allergy and asthma symptoms even if you are normally not very sensitive to dust. Allergic Appearance People who have allergies often breathe through their mouths and frequently itch or rub their noses. Allergic children often rub their noses in an upward and outward manner, similar to a salute, which has been called the 'allergic salute'. A crease may be present along the lower third of the nose as a result of the frequent rubbing of the nose to relieve the itch. Dark circles may be present under the eyes, called 'allergic shiners', and the eyes may appear a little red. When the doctor looks inside your nose, the mucus membranes are swollen and 'boggy' and appear pale. If there is an infection in your nose, the appearance is quite different, as the mucus membranes are then reddened. How Allergies Are Diagnosed Allergies are diagnosed by a medical history suggesting a seasonal pattern of a particular exposure that makes asthma and allergy symptoms worse. A review of your overall medical history and present medications allows your doctor to rule out other possibilities that may account for your symptoms. A careful physical examination is also important, looking for characteristic appearance of the inside of the nose and checking for subtle asthma symptoms. Allergy Skin Tests Allergy skin testing is performed to determine if someone is allergic. The doctor who performs the skin tests must carefully correlate the test results to the patient's medical history, as it is possible on occasion to have falsely positive or negative test results. Allergy skin testing identifies whether the specific allergy antibody for the allergen being tested is present on mast cells found in the patient's skin. There are two ways to administer allergy skin tests - the scratch or prick test, and the intradermal test. The prick technique involves placing a drop of an extract of the allergen (such as dust, dog fur, or ragweed pollen) on the skin, typically on the back or forearm. Allergens are placed on the skin in rows so that multiple tests can be performed at the same time. A lancet is then used to gently scratch or puncture the skin to introduce the allergin into the skin. With the intradermal test, the allergen is injected in dilute form just under the skin to create a small bubble.