Editing Allergy (section)

==Management==
Management of allergies typically involves avoiding the allergy trigger and taking medications to improve the symptoms.<ref name=NIH2015Imm/> [[Allergen immunotherapy]] may be useful for some types of allergies.<ref name=NIH2015Imm/>

===Medication===
Several medications may be used to block the action of allergic mediators, or to prevent activation of cells and [[degranulation]] processes. These include [[antihistamine]]s, [[glucocorticoid]]s, [[epinephrine (medication)|epinephrine]] (adrenaline), [[mast cell stabilizer]]s, and [[antileukotriene agent]]s are common treatments of allergic diseases.<ref name="MCAS">{{cite journal | vauthors = Frieri M | title = Mast Cell Activation Syndrome | journal = Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology | volume = 54 | issue = 3 | pages = 353–65 | date = June 2018 | pmid = 25944644 | doi = 10.1007/s12016-015-8487-6 | s2cid = 5723622 }}</ref> [[Anticholinergic]]s, [[decongestant]]s, and other compounds thought to impair [[eosinophil]] [[chemotaxis]] are also commonly used. Although rare, the severity of anaphylaxis often requires [[epinephrine (medication)|epinephrine]] injection, and where medical care is unavailable, a device known as an [[epinephrine autoinjector]] may be used.<ref name=tang03/>

===Immunotherapy===
{{main|Allergen immunotherapy}}
[[File:Anti-Allergy Immunotherapy.jpg|thumb|Anti-allergy immunotherapy]]
Allergen [[immunotherapy]] is useful for environmental allergies, allergies to insect bites, and asthma.<ref name=NIH2015Imm/><ref name=Abra2010/> Its benefit for food allergies is unclear and thus not recommended.<ref name=NIH2015Imm/> Immunotherapy involves exposing people to larger and larger amounts of allergen in an effort to change the immune system's response.<ref name=NIH2015Imm/>

Meta-analyses have found that injections of allergens under the skin is effective in the treatment in allergic rhinitis in children<ref name="Penagos06">{{cite journal | vauthors = Penagos M, Compalati E, Tarantini F, Baena-Cagnani R, Huerta J, Passalacqua G, Canonica GW | title = Efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis in pediatric patients 3 to 18 years of age: a meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials | journal = Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology | volume = 97 | issue = 2 | pages = 141–48 | date = August 2006 | pmid = 16937742 | doi = 10.1016/S1081-1206(10)60004-X }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Calderon MA, Alves B, Jacobson M, Hurwitz B, Sheikh A, Durham S | title = Allergen injection immunotherapy for seasonal allergic rhinitis | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | issue = 1 | pages = CD001936 | date = January 2007 | volume = 2007 | pmid = 17253469 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD001936.pub2 | pmc = 7017974 }}</ref> and in asthma.<ref name=Abra2010>{{cite journal | vauthors = Abramson MJ, Puy RM, Weiner JM | title = Injection allergen immunotherapy for asthma | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | issue = 8 | pages = CD001186 | date = August 2010 | pmid = 20687065 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD001186.pub2 }}</ref> The benefits may last for years after treatment is stopped.<ref name=Canonica09/> It is generally safe and effective for allergic rhinitis and [[Allergic conjunctivitis|conjunctivitis]], allergic forms of asthma, and stinging insects.<ref name="pmid17803880"/>

To a lesser extent, the evidence also supports the use of [[sublingual immunotherapy]] for rhinitis and asthma.<ref name=Canonica09>{{cite journal | vauthors = Canonica GW, Bousquet J, Casale T, Lockey RF, Baena-Cagnani CE, Pawankar R, Potter PC, Bousquet PJ, Cox LS, Durham SR, Nelson HS, Passalacqua G, Ryan DP, Brozek JL, Compalati E, Dahl R, Delgado L, van Wijk RG, Gower RG, Ledford DK, Filho NR, Valovirta EJ, Yusuf OM, Zuberbier T, Akhanda W, Almarales RC, Ansotegui I, Bonifazi F, Ceuppens J, Chivato T, Dimova D, Dumitrascu D, Fontana L, Katelaris CH, Kaulsay R, Kuna P, Larenas-Linnemann D, Manoussakis M, Nekam K, Nunes C, O'Hehir R, Olaguibel JM, Onder NB, Park JW, Priftanji A, Puy R, Sarmiento L, Scadding G, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Seberova E, Sepiashvili R, Solé D, Togias A, Tomino C, Toskala E, Van Beever H, Vieths S | display-authors = 6 | title = Sub-lingual immunotherapy: World Allergy Organization Position Paper 2009 | journal = Allergy | volume = 64 | issue = Suppl 91 | pages = 1–59 | date = December 2009 | pmid = 20041860 | doi = 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2009.02309.x | s2cid = 10420738 | url = http://www.worldallergy.org/publications/slit-wao-pp_final.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111112132041/http://www.worldallergy.org/publications/slit-wao-pp_final.pdf | archive-date = 12 November 2011 }}</ref> For seasonal allergies the benefit is small.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Di Bona D, Plaia A, Leto-Barone MS, La Piana S, Di Lorenzo G | title = Efficacy of Grass Pollen Allergen Sublingual Immunotherapy Tablets for Seasonal Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis | journal = JAMA Internal Medicine | volume = 175 | issue = 8 | pages = 1301–09 | date = August 2015 | pmid = 26120825 | doi = 10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.2840 | doi-access = free }}</ref> In this form the allergen is given under the tongue and people often prefer it to injections.<ref name=Canonica09/> Immunotherapy is not recommended as a stand-alone treatment for asthma.<ref name=Canonica09/>

===Alternative medicine===
An experimental treatment, [[enzyme potentiated desensitization]] (EPD), has been tried for decades but is not generally accepted as effective.<ref name="pmid15042943"/> EPD uses dilutions of allergen and an enzyme, [[beta-glucuronidase]], to which [[T-lymphocytes, regulatory|T-regulatory lymphocytes]] are supposed to respond by favoring desensitization, or down-regulation, rather than sensitization. EPD has also been tried for the treatment of [[autoimmune diseases]], but evidence does not show effectiveness.<ref name="pmid15042943" />

A review found no effectiveness of [[homeopathic treatment]]s and no difference compared with [[placebo]]. The authors concluded that based on rigorous clinical trials of all types of homeopathy for childhood and adolescence ailments, there is no convincing evidence that supports the use of homeopathic treatments.<ref name="pmid17285788"/>

According to the [[National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health]], U.S., the evidence is relatively strong that [[saline nasal irrigation]] and [[butterbur]] are effective, when compared to other [[alternative medicine]] treatments, for which the scientific evidence is weak, negative, or nonexistent, such as honey, acupuncture, omega 3's, probiotics, astragalus, capsaicin, grape seed extract, Pycnogenol, quercetin, spirulina, stinging nettle, tinospora, or guduchi.
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.webmd.com/allergies/ss/slideshow-natural-relief |title=12 Natural Ways to Defeat Allergies |access-date=3 July 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702011133/http://www.webmd.com/allergies/ss/slideshow-natural-relief |archive-date=2 July 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/allergies-science |title=Seasonal Allergies and Complementary Health Approaches: What the Science Says |access-date=3 July 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705152320/https://nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/allergies-science |archive-date=5 July 2016 |date=11 April 2013 }}</ref>