Christina Mullins Latta, CRNP, is a Family Nurse Practitioner board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She is in collaborative practice with Dr. Thomas Scott.

The immune system plays a role in the control of cancer and other diseases, but also is the culprit in the phenomena of allergies, asthma, and recurrent infections such as sinus infections, pneumonia, ear infections, and bronchitis.

A milk protein allergy, or a cow milk protein allergy (CMPA), is a food allergy in which a person’s immune system has a histamine response to the protein in a cow’s milk, though it can also be triggered by the milk of other animals, including goats and sheep.

Angioedema is swelling that occurs just beneath the skin in the body. It can happen in many areas of the body and not just the external regions that we usually associate with ‘skin.’

Some disorders may produce symptoms that are similar to those of food allergies. However, some related digestive diseases are conditions that do not involve IgE (immunoglobulin E), the antibody that causes potentially life-threatening reactions in people with food allergies.

Also known as pollen fruit syndrome or pollen fruit allergy syndrome (PFAS), oral allergy syndrome is a cross-reactivity that occurs in patients with existing allergic rhinitis when they consume certain fruits and vegetables.

Allergic reactions can be caused by a variety of stinging and biting insects. Common insects that cause allergic reactions include wasps, hornets, yellowjackets, and honeybees, as well as red and black fire ants.

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the bronchial tubes in the lungs. As the bronchial tubes allow air to flow in and out of the lungs, asthma can make it difficult to breathe and cause additional symptoms, such as coughing and wheezing.

Sinusitis is an infection in the sinuses, resulting in congestion, cough, thick discharge, and pressure in the head and face. It typically occurs when something stops mucus from draining from the sinuses.

COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is a chronic inflammatory lung disorder. It is not a single disorder but a collection of lung diseases that obstruct the flow of air to the lungs and create breathing problems.

Eosinophilic esophagitis, or EoE, is an immune and allergy disorder of the esophagus. In EoE, the patient experiences inflammation in the esophagus that interferes with their ability to ingest and digest food.

Allergic rhinitis is the diagnosis given to a collection of respiratory symptoms that result from exposure to an allergen. Though most commonly triggered by triggers such as dander or pollen, allergic rhinitis can, in some cases, result from food allergies.

Latex allergies involve an immune response from the body that is triggered by exposure to materials and objects that include latex.

Hives, also known as Urticaria, occur as a sudden outbreak of bumps and welts on the skin. These bumps and welts are typically pale red in color and are often accompanied by swelling known as angioedema.

Adverse reactions to medications are common, yet everyone responds differently. One person may develop a rash or other reactions when taking a certain type of medication, while another person on the same drug may have no adverse reaction at all.

Non-allergic rhinitis (vasomotor rhinitis) is a condition that causes chronic sneezing, congestion, or runny nose. While these symptoms are similar to those of allergic rhinitis (hay fever), non-allergic rhinitis is different because, unlike an allergy, it doesn’t involve the immune system.

Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) is a very rare and potentially life-threatening genetic condition that occurs in about 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 50,000 people. HAE symptoms include episodes of edema (swelling) in various body parts including the hands, feet, face, and airway.

Allergies are the world’s most common chronic condition and can cause reactions that range widely from mildly uncomfortable to life-threatening.

A food allergy requires the help and intervention of an allergist. Those with a food allergy often must carry epipens with them so that they can self-administer the drug when needed.

Skin conditions are one of the most common forms of allergy treated and managed by an allergist, a physician with specialized training and expertise to accurately diagnose your condition and provide relief for your symptoms.