Final answer:
An allergic reaction may cause symptoms like itchy, red, watery eyes, chest tightness, shortness of breath, or anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a severe reaction that requires immediate treatment with an epinephrine autoinjector. Allergy management includes avoiding allergens, medicating with antihistamines or corticosteroids, and keeping epinephrine on hand for emergencies.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient is allergic to a certain substance, they could experience a range of symptoms associated with an allergic reaction. Some of these reactions may include itchy, red, watery eyes, characteristic of an allergic condition called allergic rhinitis or hay fever, a common response to pollen from plants. Other symptoms can include chest tightness, shortness of breath, and in severe cases, a potentially life-threatening condition known as anaphylaxis which manifests with a sudden drop in blood pressure, difficulties in breathing due to swelling of the tongue and throat, and shock. Anaphylaxis requires immediate treatment with epinephrine to relieve the symptoms and prevent complications. Allergies resulting from exposure to various allergens like dust mites, mold, animal dander, insect stings, latex, and certain foods and medications can induce such severe reactions in hypersensitive individuals.
Treating allergies typically involves avoiding known allergens and the use of medications like antihistamines. In the case of anaphylaxis, an individual is advised to carry an epinephrine autoinjector for emergency use. For chronic allergic conditions such as eczema, management may include consistent moisturizing, corticosteroid creams, and, in some cases, immunosuppressants.