Signs and Symptoms of Allergies

It’s reported that allergies affect over 50 million adults in the United States. Whether it be a result of seasonal “hay fever” caused by allergens like pollen or mold, or adverse reactions to food or drugs, allergies are a widespread condition.

Many believe that allergies are only an issue that children and younger adults face, however, this is far from the truth. As the elderly population continues to grow, it’s projected that 20% of the population will consist of people over 65.

Considering that around 5-10% of the senior citizen population is currently affected by allergic diseases, learning how to approach allergies in old age is as important as ever.

Differences in Allergies By Age

Of course, there are many similarities to the expression of allergies in younger people, seniors face their own unique symptoms when dealing with these conditions, ranging from mere annoyances to medical emergencies.

As a result of immunosenescence, or the aging of one’s immune system, seniors are likely to experience a change in the way their bodies handle offending allergens, as well as certain foods and drugs.

Generally, elderly immune systems mean an increased susceptibility to infection difficulties with autoimmunity, and a decreased response to vaccinations as well as wound healing. When it comes to the common allergic exacerbations of pollen, mold, or pet dander, the elderly body is at a disadvantage in protecting itself against these substances.

Symptoms of Allergies in Elderly Adults

Rhinitis

The inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose. Common symptoms include:

Itchy nose, throat, eyes, ears, and roof of the mouth
Sneezing
Congestion
Runny nose
Watery eyes

Sinusitis

The long-lasting inflammation of the sinuses behind the cheek bones, around the eyes and behind the nose. Symptoms include:

Postnasal drip
Pressure in the face
Headache
Fever
Persistent cough
Congestion
Yellow, green, or gray nasal discharge

Cutaneous (Skin) Allergies

Most commonly expressed as itching, the development of rashes, and similar types of discomfort. The main skin conditions that arise from allergies include eczema, angioedema, and other forms of allergic contact dermatitis. Symptoms of these conditions can appear as:

Rashes
Inflamed, scaly, and itchy skin
Swelling in sensitive areas below the skin
Dry skin
Blisters

Food Allergies

Due to changing immune system responses, elderly people can still develop late-onset food allergies. Most of the time, older adults will be affected by these common foods:

Milk
Eggs
Peanuts
Wheat
Soy
Fish and Shellfish
Tree Nuts

Common symptoms of a food allergy include:

Red, itchy rashes
Congested and/or itchy noses
Watery eyes
Vomiting and intestinal discomfort
Angioedema
Swelling

Anaphylaxis

This is another symptom of food allergies that can be dangerous given the severity and the level of exposure to the allergen. Signs that someone might be experiencing anaphylaxis include:

Wheezing, trouble breathing and tightness in the chest
Tingling sensations in limbs or face
Hoarseness or tightness in the throat

Anaphylaxis can also be caused by insect bites as the body’s immune system overreacts to the venom. People can experience these symptoms due to bites or stings from yellow jackets, honeybees, paper wasps, hornets, and even fire ants.

For people who have extreme and life-threatening reactions to certain foods or insect bites, it is generally advised that auto-injectable epinephrine should be carried at all times.

The same factors can also cause a development of drug allergies, which are observed 2 to 3 times more frequently in seniors than adult patients 30 years and younger. Unfortunately, it is estimated that adverse drug reactions are responsible for up to 10% of hospital admissions in older patients. The most common drugs that cause adverse reactions in the senior population include:

Betalactam
Non-steroidal antihistamines
Quinolone
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
Nitrofurantoin
Heparin
Neuromuscular blocking agents
Anti-epileptics
Chemotherapeutic agents
Monoclonal antibodies
Immunosuppressive drugs

When dealing with allergies in older adults, it’s important to isolate the symptoms of other pre-existing conditions and others than may be brought on by offending allergens. Considering allergies can arise simply from combining the wrong medications, always check with your doctor before adding a new pill or supplement to your regimen.

Just because you’ve never had allergies in the past, doesn’t mean they can’t develop in retirement. Getting routine checkup can reveal the changes in your immune system or other factors in order to help you plan your treatments against all of those pesky allergens!