Sunday, 9 January 2011

Organising Allergy research - 2

PRIMARY - QUANTITATIVE
Sacha. 18. Male.
What allergies do you have?
Hayfever.

What are the symptoms?
Sneezing, itchy eyes.

How long does the reaction/s last?
As long as I'm exposed to it.

Is the allergy/s permanent or temporary?
Permanent.

What helps?
Medication

What medication do/can you take?
Hay fever relief tablets.

How long have you had the allergy/s?
All my life.

Is it genetic?
Yes.

If yes, which family relation suffers the same allergy?
Father.

What do you have to do to avoid the allergic reaction?
Preparation, take tablets before exposing self to pollen.

_________________

Denise. 47. Female.

What allergies do you have?
Allergic to daylight.

What are the symptoms?
Rash, itchyness

How long does the reaction/s last?
4-5 days, Have to keep out of daylight.

Is the allergy/s permanent or temporary?
Permanent.

What helps?
Keeping out of daylight
What medication do/can you take?
Tablets and creams

How long have you had the allergy/s?
A few years.

Is it genetic?
Yes.

If yes, which family relation suffers the same allergy?
Grandparents.
What do you have to do to avoid the allergic reaction?
Avoid daylight.
_________________
James. 16. Male

What allergies do you have?
Hayfever. 

What are the symptoms?
Watery eyes, watery nose, sweaty palms.

How long does the reaction/s last?
About an hour after being exposed to pollen.

Is the allergy/s permanent or temporary?
Permanent.

What helps?
Well ventilated place.
What medication do/can you take?
Hayer fever related medication.

How long have you had the allergy/s?
3 years

Is it genetic?
No.

If yes, which family relation suffers the same allergy?
What do you have to do to avoid the allergic reaction?
Stay in a well ventilated place.
___________________
Kayleigh. 19. Female.

What allergies do you have?
None.
__________________

Kirsty.19. Female.

What allergies do you have?
amoxicillin.

What are the symptoms?
Nettle rash. High temperature.

How long does the reaction/s last?
Couple of days.

Is the allergy/s permanent or temporary?
Permanent.

What helps?
Cold bath.
What medication do/can you take?
Antibiotics, cream.

How long have you had the allergy/s?
13 years

Is it genetic?
No.

If yes, which family relation suffers the same allergy?
What do you have to do to avoid the allergic reaction?
Don't have amoxicillin. 
________________

Stephanie. 18. Female.

What allergies do you have?
Wheat. Gluten. Lactose. Hay fever. Asthma. Eczema. Furry animals.

What are the symptoms?
Bloating. Increase of appetite. Rash. Itchyness. shortness of breath. Wheezing. Dry irritable skin. Heat rash.

How long does the reaction/s last?
Food related allergies about 24 hours. Eczema lasts weeks at a time. Asthma, half an hour.

Is the allergy/s permanent or temporary?
All are Permanent.

What helps?
Cold bath. Restricted diet. Avoiding contact with fluffy animals. Keep moisturising skin. Avoid freshly cut grass.
What medication do/can you take?
Antibiotics, medicated cream, inhaler, hay fever tablets.

How long have you had the allergy/s?
All my life.

Is it genetic?
Yes.

If yes, which family relation suffers the same allergy?
Asthma and eczema - Father, Grandparents, cousins, entirety of fathers side of family. Food allergies unknown.
What do you have to do to avoid the allergic reaction?
Keep on top of medication. Keep skin moisturised. Avoid excessive exercise in cold weather or when not warmed up. Take hay fever tablets before going outside.
___________________

Richard. 19. Male

What allergies do you have?
Dairy products,  Hayfever.

What are the symptoms?

Egg - would have caused death if eaten. Milk - vomiting, nausea, sleep deprivation. Hayfever - Sneezing, sore eyes, runny nose.

How long does the reaction/s last?
Milk - Until vommiting  subsides. Hayfever - all day.

Is the allergy/s permanent or temporary?
Permanent.

What helps?
Restricted diet, hay fever related drugs, calcium tablets.

What medication do/can you take?
Hay fever relief tablets. Antihistamine 

How long have you had the allergy/s?
7 years

Is it genetic?
Yes.

If yes, which family relation suffers the same allergy?
Mother

What do you have to do to avoid the allergic reaction?
Preparation, take tablets before exposing self to pollen. Avoid dairy products.
_________________

Karen. 49. Female.

What allergies do you have?
Air conditioning

What are the symptoms?

Heavy cold. Streaming eyes and nose.

How long does the reaction/s last?
Up to a week.

Is the allergy/s permanent or temporary?
Temporary 

What helps?
Tissues

What medication do/can you take?
Lemsip

How long have you had the allergy/s?
6 years

Is it genetic?
No

If yes, which family relation suffers the same allergy?
-
What do you have to do to avoid the allergic reaction?
Nothing
________________
Adrian. 44. Male

What allergies do you have?
Mars bar ice cream

What are the symptoms?

Rash on entire body, disappears and re-appears

How long does the reaction/s last?
3/4 hours

Is the allergy/s permanent or temporary?
Temporary 

What helps?
Nothing

What medication do/can you take?
Nothing

How long have you had the allergy/s?
20 years

Is it genetic?
Unsure

If yes, which family relation suffers the same allergy?
-
What do you have to do to avoid the allergic reaction?
Avoid mars bar ice cream

RESULTS 
Out of the 9 people who answered my questionnaire, 8/9 people had an allergic reaction. Although this isn't a big enough statistic to be accurate, it just shows how common allergies are.

DEFINITION OF ALLERGY As found on wikipedia...
'Allergy is a hypersensitive disorder of the immune system. '

'Allergic reactions occur to normally harmless environmental substances known as allergens...'

'Common allergic reactions include eczema, hives, hay fever, asthma attacks, food allergies, and reaction to venom of stinging insects such as wasps and bee's.'

From my research I have found, I have figured out that there are 3 main contributors to allergies. Environmental, food and chemical. 

The relation between allergies and genetics - Primary Information
Due to my own experience I have come to learn that genetics is a main contributor to me having the allergies I do. Half of my family have asthma and eczema, so its no surprise I have them to. I have also been told, and heard through word of mouth that the two allergies and some what related. A lot of people I know with the allergy seem to have both. 

What I've found from my research
I found that the people questioned who had food allergies, generally a family member suffered the same. I also found interesting that 'Richard' had an allergic parent, he had the same allergy as his mother, but had worse symptoms than her. This proves the secondary research correct.

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