ALERGY & IMMUNOLOGY – Axis Medical Center- Minneapolis, Minnesota

Allergies and Immunology

Allergy symptoms can include headaches, red and itchy eyes, rashes and itchy skin, flu-like symptoms, wheezing, vomiting, and hives. In severe cases an allergic reaction can include a life-threatening anaphylactic shock.

Respiratory Allergies

Pollen: More than 25 million Americans are allergic to pollen from trees, grass, or weeds, and symptoms are most common in the Spring and Summer.
The biggest Fall allergies are ragweed, mold and dust mites.
Hay fever: Also known as allergic rhinitis, hay fever is an immune disorder and is characterized by an allergic response to pollen grains.
Mold: People are exposed to different molds every day, and can have a bad reaction if we’re around too much of it like trouble breathing and skin irritation.
Dust mites: Dust mites are very small pests that people can’t even see, but they can still stir up a lot of trouble. People who are allergic to dust or dust mites are reacting to inhaling proteins in dust that comes from dust mites.
Pets: About 10% of people have an allergy to pets like cats, dogs, rabbits, and other animals with fur. Symptoms include itchy watery eyes, sneezing, and trouble breathing.

Food Allergies

Milk: Strictly avoiding cow’s milk and food containing cow’s milk products is the only way to prevent a reaction if you are allergic. Allergic reaction symptoms can include immediate wheezing, vomiting, and hives.
Casein: If a glass of cow’s milk or slice of pizza causes swollen lips, hives, or other symptoms, you may have an allergy to casein. Another milk protein associated with allergies is whey. Some people are allergic to both.
Eggs: Egg allergies are more common in children than in adults.
Wheat: People allergic to wheat are having a reaction to the proteins in wheat. Symptoms can include stomach ache, trouble breathing, and itchy skin minutes to hours after eating wheat. This allergy is particularly difficult, because wheat is in so many common foods.
Nuts: Peanut allergies are one of the most common food allergies. Tree nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts, etc.) are also a common allergy. The only way to prevent a reaction is to completely avoid foods with nuts.
Fish and Shellfish: This allergy is to foods like shrimp, crab, oysters, lobster, tuna, walleye, and other shellfish and fish. The most common symptom is hives or red bumps on the skin after eating fish or shellfish. If you’re allergic to one kind of fish or shellfish, you likely will have problems with others.
Sulfite: This is a group of sulfur-based compounds that may occur naturally or may be added to food as an enhancer and preservative. The FDA estimates that one out of 100 people is sensitive to sulfite compounds. Symptoms of this allergy are trouble breathing, hives, and others.
Soy: Soy is in a lot more than just soy sauce and tofu, and is a common ingredient in processed foods. Symptoms of a soy allergy include digestive upset and skin reactions.

Skin and Eye Allergies

Contact Dermatitis: This happens with something touches your skin, and your immune system thinks it’s under attack. Your skin overreacts and sends antibodies to help fight the invader, resulting in a red, itchy rash. Common causes are cosmetics, fragrances, jewelry and plants.
Hives (Urticaria) and Angioedema: Hives, also known as urticaria, are an outbreak of swollen, pale red bumps, patches, or welts on the skin that appear suddenly. In angioedema, the swelling happens under the skin, not on the surface.
Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac: These are plants that contain an irritating, oily sap called urushiol that triggers an allergic reaction when it comes into contact with skin. A reaction can appear within hours of exposure or up to several days later.
Insect Stings: Bee, wasp, yellow jacket, hornet, or fire ant stings often trigger allergies. Some people are very allergic to stings and need to carry an EpiPen with them to save their life in event of a sting. Sometimes we mistake a normal sting reaction for an allergic reaction.
Sun: Some people develop exaggerated skin reactions to sunlight including redness, irritation, and an itchy rash.
Cosmetics: Some beauty products can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions from ingredients or fragrance.
Nickel: A nickel allergy is an irritated skin reaction that develops after exposure or contact to nickel or items containing the metal.
Eyes: Millions of people have allergy symptoms involving their eyes. Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) is one of the most common and treatable.

Drug and Other Allergies

Aspirin (Salicylate): If you’re allergic to chemicals called salicylates, you may need to avoid certain foods and medicines that contain salicylates like aspirin and other common pain killers.
Penicillin: Penicillin is a popular antibiotic discovered in the 1940’s. For some it can cause allergic reactions including hives, itching, and rash. Having an allergy to penicillin can make treating bacterial infections much harder.

Axis Medical center

Our Locations

Axis Medical Ceneter

1801 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis 55403

Axis Family Clinic

3638 Central Ave NE Minneapolis, Mn 55418I

Axis Lake Street

1 West Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55408.