Advising on allergy in the pharmacy

5 Min

In Sponsored Education

This module aims to increase your knowledge about the different causes of allergy throughout the year, as well as giving you the confidence to recommend an effective product to manage your customers’ symptoms.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Recognise that some allergens are present throughout the year, not just during hay fever season
Differentiate between the symptoms of an allergy and those of a common cold
Provide appropriate self-care advice to those suffering from allergies
Understand how loratadine works to relieve allergy symptoms.

Allergies occur when the body’s immune system reacts to a foreign substance, known as an allergen, such as pollen, mould, dust or pet dander. ¹

When a person has an allergy, the immune system makes substances known as antibodies that identify a particular allergen as harmful. When a person comes into contact with the allergen the immune system’s reaction triggers the release of histamine, which may cause allergy symptoms. ¹

The severity of allergies varies from person to person and can range from minor irritation to anaphylaxis, which is a potentially life-threatening emergency. ¹

People are more likely to have an allergy if members of their family also have allergies, or if they have conditions such as eczema and asthma. ²