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Prevalence of respiratory allergic disease on the up-and-up globally

11 April 2014 Dr Jacques Snyman, Agility

If you are one of the unfortunate souls who sneeze and wheeze their way through the year, read on.

According to the World Allergy Organization (WAO) there has been a steady increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases over the past fifty years with as much as 30 to 40% of the world population now being affected by one or more allergic conditions.

"Summer, autumn, winter or spring -- no matter what the season, some hapless souls suffer from allergies throughout the year. These year-round sufferers are allergic to something with which they are almost always in contact. This can range from dust, to mould, to smoke, pollution and even flowers," asserts Dr Jacques Snyman, managing director of Integrated Care Solutions at Agility Global Health Solutions (Agility).
 
"Ongoing studies confirm that pollution impacts respiratory health which increases the prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases; this can negatively affect quality of life. Pollutants are associated with the onset of asthma, sinusitis, rhinitis, as well as acute respiratory infections which result in the increased use of anti-allergy medication and hospital admissions for respiratory conditions," explains Dr Snyman.
 
"If left untreated, allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, which results from inflammation of the mucous lining of the nose, can lead to rhinosinusitis, conjunctivitis, otitis media (a type of middle ear infection), upper respiratory infections and at worst, asthma. Rhinosinusitis is one of the most common and costly medical conditions. Along with other allergy-related illnesses, it is responsible for a sizeable portion of claims that can result in an unnecessary financial burden on medical scheme members who are not on options that include these illnesses as additional chronic conditions," continues Dr Snyman.
 
"It is imperative that users of chronic allergy medication carefully select their medical scheme cover option to ensure that this healthcare need is adequately covered. While certain conditions such as asthma qualify as a prescribed minimum benefit (PMB), and subsequently must be funded by the medical scheme, others are not regarded as a PMB and will typically be funded either from your savings or day-to-day benefit. With both of these benefits subject to availability, members could be left out of pocket and unable to adequately take care of their conditions,' warns Mark Arnold, Principal Officer for Resolution Health Medical Scheme.
 
Arnold advises that members with chronic allergic diseases carefully scrutinise the list of chronic conditions included in their selected medical scheme option. "While most options cover the standard chronic disease list (CDL), others include additional chronic diseases as part of an enhanced benefit structure. Resolution Health's Classic, Millennium and Supreme options for example, include an additional chronic benefit for allergic rhinitis," Arnold explains.
 
Another tip is to notify your scheme that you suffer from a chronic allergy condition as opposed to receiving treatment for occasional allergic symptoms. "If the condition is not registered as chronic, your acute benefit will be used and could quickly deplete available funds. However if the condition is registered as a chronic one, the related medication will be funded from your chronic disease benefit and will leave your day-to-day cover untouched."
 
Just how do you know that you are a chronic allergy sufferer?

Dr Snyman notes that seasonal and year-round chronic sufferers experience the same symptoms, which can include sneezing, itchy eyes, and a runny and stuffy nose. Post-nasal drip, headaches, general irritability and an intense itchy feeling in the soft palate of the mouth are not unusual either, nor is sensitivity to light.
 
"A respiratory allergy is an unpredictable, uncomfortable, chemical reaction by the body to something very specific which affects the eyes, nose, throat and respiratory tract. Particles to which we are allergic can be present in the very air that we breathe, and cannot necessarily be seen by the naked eye, like pollen for example," explains Dr Snyman.
 
How do allergies first make their presence felt?
 
According to Dr Snyman, allergies tend to start in the first two decades of life and will then continue into adulthood but can develop at any stage. There are certain warning signs in infancy and early childhood that can alert parents to the presence of allergies in a child.
 
The following symptoms should be noted, particularly in a family with a history of allergies:
• A stuffy nose, which interferes with breast or bottle-feeding.
• Colds which tend to settle on the chest.
• The tendency in a baby to wheeze during attacks of bronchitis.
• Babies who are more susceptible to coughs, colds and ear infections.
 
When it comes to preventing allergies, avoidance is often the best course of action, suggests Dr Snyman. He recommends a few small lifestyle changes, which will go a long way towards improving the quality of life of allergy sufferers:
• Keep your bedroom and car windows closed during seasons when you experience symptoms of allergy.
• Stay away from areas that have high pollen counts during the season in which the pollens that you are allergic to are in the air.
• If animal fur, hair or feathers (usually dander and not physically the hair itself) are a problem for you, be sure to avoid the animals associated with your allergy.
• Polyester-filled pillows should be used rather than feather-stuffed ones.
• Irritants such as cigarette smoke should be avoided.
• Keep your home as dust free as possible.
• Be mindful of sudden changes in temperature as these may trigger allergies.
• Avoid using irritating chemicals and inhaling strong fumes.
 
Dr Snyman warns that allergies are not to be trivialised as allergic diseases are chronic conditions that can impact the entire body throughout the lifespan of an allergy sufferer, thereby diminishing quality of life. "It is important to manage allergies appropriately as incorrect management can be harmful in that it may lead to over-prescription of medication and conversely to the severity of the allergy being underestimated. Therapy should be tailored to the needs of the individual patient and treatment dosages should be adjusted in more severe or complex cases," he concludes.
 
• Snap survey to measure at what time of year South Africans experience the worst allergies
 
Visit https://www.facebook.com/Resomed?ref=br_tf or https://www.facebook.com/Zurreal?ref=br_tf to
let us know if you suffer with allergies and what time year is worse for you -- autumn or spring? We will share the results of this snap survey with you.

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