An allergy is an undesired reaction to a substance which under normal circumstances do not cause any reaction in healthy people. Many substances can cause an allergy, e.g. pollen from trees and grasses, animal hair, dust mites, food, medications, and certain skin products.
Allergies occur when the body’s defense system, known as the immune system, triggers an undesirable, inflammatory reaction to a substance (i.e. harmless materials in the environment, known as allergens), which would generally cause no reaction when in contact with people without allergies. Having an allergy can affect a person's daily activities and be a nuisance. However, most allergic reactions are mild and can be largely kept under control.
Allergies against pollen from trees and grasses are commonly known as hay fever. It can manifest in the form of an inflammation of the mucus membrane under the eyelid (conjunctivitis), hay fever (rhinitis) or asthma and usually occurs in spring and summer. Dust mites and animal hair can also trigger allergies, which can also be identified through inflammation of the mucus membrane under the eyelid (conjunctivitis), chronic nasal discomfort (rhinitis) or asthma. These often manifest themselves throughout the year. Certain foods can also trigger allergic reactions, which can lead to either very mild symptoms (for example, a prickling sensation in the mouth and throat areas after enjoying certain fruits) or to life threatening reactions throughout the body. These need to be distinguished from intolerance reactions. Medications are yet another group of substances which can trigger allergies, usually involving the skin, but which can also affect internal organs. So called contact allergies are a group of skin diseases that result from skin contact with a substance and trigger an inflammatory reaction called eczema. People with a higher inherited (genetic) predisposition to developing allergies against pollen, animal hair, or food are called atopic. Most of these allergens are generally harmless to people who are not allergic to them. Allergens can cause an itchy, red rash, sneezing, watery and itchy red eyes and a blocked or runny nose, which can worsen towards an eczema or asthma symptoms.
In rare cases, an allergic reaction can become life threatening, a severe reaction named anaphylactic shock or anaphylaxis can occur. In such a case, the patient must have an emergency kit at his disposal so that he can use it himself (see the article on food allergies). The treatment of an allergy consists, when possible, of the avoidance of the substance that causes it. When the substance cannot be avoided, medical alleviation of the ailments becomes necessary, for example, with antihistamines. In certain cases, a specific kind of immunotherapy, also called desensitization, is indicated.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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