South Africa’s unusual allergies

FOR some people, the heat and humidity of the Zululand summer are unbearable.

But for those who are allergic to air conditioners, it is even worse.

For 17% of the South African population, an air conditioner allergy is a real problem, and it forms part of the list of unusual allergies suffered by people.

Sun rash affects 21% of the population, pressure urticaria (the inability to wear tight-fitting clothing) affects 17%, fruit allergies affect a quarter of the population, 13% suffer from cold weather, while 9% are allergic to hair dye.

These statistics were compiled by Pharma Dynamics during a national poll in which 1 772 allergy sufferers were surveyed.

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The aim was to ascertain what portion of South Africa’s population suffers from unusual allergies.

Nicole Jennings, spokesperson at Pharma Dynamics, said even though many of these allergies affect only a small percentage of the population, it can cause a lot of discomfort and agony to sufferers.

‘The fact that almost 20% of the allergy sufferers polled had to either be hospitalised or treated in ER for their allergies, illustrates the severity of their symptoms and how it impacts the quality of their lives.’

An allergic reaction typically occurs when the body mistakenly misreads something harmless as a threat.

‘This overreaction by the immune system leads to an allergic reaction, which can manifest as a rash, fever, headache, swelling of the mouth or affected area, wheezing, runny or stuffy nose, nausea and the like,’ said Jennings.

‘You should never ignore the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

‘If left an untreated, it can quickly worsen, especially in the case of anaphylaxis, for which emergency treatment is required.’

Jennings advises people to know the status of their allergies.

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