The ten most common allergies: from hay fever and gluten intolerance to fragrance and sun allergies
Created: 06/15/2022Updated: 06/15/2022 15:56
By: Natalie Hull Drawbar
More than five million people in Germany suffer from hay fever.
There are other allergies, such as peanuts and gluten.
1 / 10Hay fever or pollen allergy in general is one of the most common allergies.
The symptoms of hay fever are caused by pollen from various plants, cereals and grasses such as birch, alder, mugwort, plantain, acacia, sorrel and rye.
(Iconic image) © North Rhine Westphalia/Imago
2 / 10Intense cuddling with cats, for example, is not possible for people with a sensitive immune system without symptoms.
Even if cats are not present or in a room, but have left their hair or allergens behind, people with animal dander allergies can have severe symptoms such as sneezing and coughing.
The overreaction to animal allergens is one of the most common allergies after house cold.
(Iconic image) © Evgenia Sunegina/Imago
3 / 10Watery eyes and sneezing in bed in the morning - if it's not an infection, you could possibly have an allergic reaction to house dust mites or their faeces.
Mites prefer to live in beds as they mainly feed on human dander.
The reason for the allergic reaction in humans are proteins that are in the body of house dust mites and their excretions.
If these get into the human mucous membranes via the air, typical symptoms such as a runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing can occur.
Along with pollen and food, house dust mites are among the most common allergy triggers.
(Iconic image) © leungchopan/Imago
4 / 10More than ten percent of Central Europeans suffer from a sun allergy – the so-called “polymorphic light eruption” is the most common.
The symptoms can express themselves very differently, that is, are polymorphic.
Redness, itching, swelling, pustules, wheals and blisters are typical of an allergic reaction after sun exposure.
The shoulders, arms and legs, the décolleté, the neck and the face are particularly affected.
However, skin areas that are not directly exposed to the sun's rays due to clothing can also show skin reactions.
(Iconic image) © Christine Langer-Püschel/Imago
5 / 10Put on your favorite scent - and you'll feel better straight away.
But what do people do who suddenly react to perfume and fragrances with severe itching, a rash and eczemas?
There may then be a fragrance allergy that many of those affected are unaware of - even though fragrance and cosmetic allergies are among the most widespread contact allergies.
The extent of the allergy often depends on specific fragrances, their formulation and dosage.
(Iconic image) © Arne Trautmann/Imago
6 / 10People who react to lactose with symptoms prefer to drink their coffee black or with the now universally popular oat milk.
Symptoms after drinking cow's milk are often abdominal pain, flatulence, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting and cold sweat.
About 15 percent of people in Germany are affected by lactose intolerance.
A true lactose allergy is very rare.
(Iconic image) © Thomas Trutschel/photothek.de/Imago
7 / 10Fresh smelling bread from the baker, how wonderful.
But people with gluten intolerance or gluten allergy (celiac disease) must avoid it.
The gluten contained in grains such as wheat triggers an inflammatory reaction in them because the antibodies are directed against their own body.
As a result, the intestinal villi recede.
Due to the reduced surface, nutrients can no longer be absorbed as well and there is a risk of malnutrition.
Symptoms are diarrhoea, constipation, flatulence, abdominal cramps and intestinal bleeding with sometimes blood in the stool.
(Iconic image) © Fleig / Eibner-Pressefoto/Imago
8 / 10"May contain traces of nuts." - A note that can often be read on the label of desserts and spreads.
It is particularly important for people with a peanut allergy, as eating peanuts can be life-threatening in acute cases due to swelling of the airways.
In western countries, peanut allergy is not only one of the most common food allergies – peanuts are the cause of most food allergy-related deaths.
(Iconic image) © Gottfried Czepluch/Imago
9 / 10Bite into a juicy apple, delicious!
Less tempting for people with an apple allergy.
Because they react when eaten with a so-called oral allergy syndrome (OAS).
A person affected by an apple allergy may develop symptoms such as a burning sensation in the mouth and throat, a furry tongue and swollen lips just from eating the fruit.
In Germany, around two to four million people are affected by an apple allergy.
(Iconic image) © Sunsi Albets/Imago
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10 / 10As nice as the sight of a bee on the flower may be, people with an insect sting allergy prefer to keep their distance here.
If you get bitten, you often not only react with an allergic reaction such as itching, burning, reddening and swelling of the skin around the bite site – in the worst case, an allergic shock can occur and there is a risk of death.
(Iconic image) © fotogroupmedia/Imago
Munich – If a person has an allergy, then their body reacts overly sensitively to supposedly harmless substances with symptoms such as a runny nose, itching and a rash.
Around 30 million people in Germany live with an allergy.
Hay fever is one of the pollen allergies and is the most widespread.
The ten most common allergies: from hay fever and gluten intolerance to fragrance and sun allergies
In total there are more than 20,000 different allergy triggers or allergens.
In addition to pollen, the most common allergies include animal hair allergies, house dust mite allergies, sun allergies, insect venom allergies, fragrance allergies and food allergies/intolerances such as gluten intolerance, celiac disease and peanut allergies.
If you suspect an allergy, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.
