Question 1

is there a way to cure allergies ?

Accepted Answer

Control but no cure: Identification and avoidance are still the gold standard of allergy control but not always possible. 
There are multiple options regarding treatment to control symptoms and improve your quality of life.
I recommend a consultation with an allergist.

Question 2

what distinguishes a cold from allergies?

Accepted Answer

Good question: Some time it is hard to tell.   In general, when you have a cold, someone else in the family or office often has one.  A cold is often associated with a low-grade fever but allergy is not. You may also notice fatigue as well as  joint or muscle ache with a cold but not with allergy.  Hay fever may respond to antihistamine but a cold does not.

Question 3

what distinguishes allergies from a cold?

Accepted Answer

Time: A cold caused by a virus will last 5-7 days.  Allergies can last days, weeks, months or even year round.  With allergies there frequently is itching (nose, eyes, ears, mouth), repetitive sneezing and no fever.  Allergies should respond to taking an antihistamine but an antihistamine will do little for a cold.

Question 4

is it okay to touch seeds if you have a seed allergy?

Accepted Answer

Probably: Most significant food allergic reactions occur after ingestion of the particular food.  Also, a reaction may occur after touching the lips or tongue.  It would be unlikely for an allergic reaction to occur from simply touching it with your hands. However, always good to wash hands after touching the food.

Question 5

what is a nut allergy?

Accepted Answer

Allergy to nuts :  A nut allergy is an allergic, meaning IgE-based immunological response to foods commonly called nuts, which include peanuts (really legumes), tree nuts like almonds, pecans, walnuts, macadamias, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, pistachios, as well as sometimes seeds like sunflower "nuts". Symptoms include itching, hives, swelling, throat closing, flushing, asthma, shock and rarely, death.

Question 6

what is a food allergy?

Accepted Answer

Reaction to a food.: People can become allergic to many substances including certain foods.  Some foods are more likely, such as milk, egg, wheat, soybean, shellfish, peanut, or nuts.  Reactions can range from rash and itching to anaphylactic shock.

Question 7

what is a class 3 allergy?

Accepted Answer

Class 3 allergy: This is confusing. First, in doing prick tests for allergies on the skin we grade it from one to four. Secondly some use such a term for anaphylaxis wich is not neccessarily ige mediated
http://www.Ajronline.Org/content/190/3/666.Full
then there are gell-combs reactions which are type i to iv
is that what you mean?

Question 8

what's a drug allergy like?

Accepted Answer

Much more than U ask: There are 4 different types of medication allergy and also there are side effect reactions. Type 1- allergic type. Hives, itching, sneezing,  wheezing and shock are different forms of this allergy.Type 2-complement related angioedema, swelling type 3 is immune complexes. That is clumps of antibodies with the drug which clog small capilaries in kidneys, joints, skin 
type 4 is cell-contact dernatiti.

Question 9

can you die from a cat allergy?

Accepted Answer

Highly unusual: but one can never say never in medicine. The scenario I can think of is when one has severe asthma and is allergic to cat. In which case, the cat exposure can lead to a severe exacerbation resulting in death.   However I have not seen a person dying from cat allergy per se.

Question 10

how do you treat a cat allergy?

Accepted Answer

OTC: Cat allergies are treated the same as other environmental allergies. Use an antihistamine such as claritin, zyrtec, or allegra.  There is also zaditor (ketotifen) available for eye symptoms.

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