Watery eyes, a runny nose, headaches-these are symptoms commonly associated with allergies. But what are allergies? To a vast majority of pediatricians, allergists, family physicians and internists, the term "allergy" is limited to hay fever, asthma, eczema, and conjunctivitis. This definition focuses on the roles of pollens, cats and dogs, dust mites, and molds which provoke symptoms in children and adults involving only the eyes, nose, skin and lungs. This classification, however, is limited and does not consider the food, chemical, and additive allergies that many patients experience. In fact, an allergy is a malfunction of the immune system resulting in a wide variety of medical conditions in children and adults. Allergies can cause a multitude of symptoms including:

Nose:

Itching Sneezing Stuffiness Postnasal drip

Throat:

Sore throat Hoarseness Throat clearing

Eyes:

Itching Redness Increased Tearing

Respiratory System:

Coughing Wheezing

Gastrointestinal:

Bloating Diarrhea Constipation Increased gas

Skin:

Hives Eczema

Neurologic:

Headaches – sinus, migraine Attention span Moodiness Hyperactivity

Urinary Tract:

Frequent Urination Itching Bedwetting

Musculo/Skeletal System:

Muscle & Joint Pain