I am allergic to grass and tree pollen.
In the UK its called Hay Fever.
It sucks.
I end up with swollen eyes, a runny nose and an itch in my throat where I have to do this
to scratch it …….. But that is nothing compared to the some allergies out there.
Youre not gonna believe some of these - my name is Danny Burke and this is the Top 10
Insane Allergies That ACTUALLY Exist.
Starting off at number 10 we have All Food.
In 2009, a story emerged about 5 year Australian boy called Kaleb who was allergic to all food.
You think Im exaggerating?
Im really not.
Even a single particle of food will cause paiful ulcers to appear all over his stomach.
So how does he survive?
Well, he is fed 20 hours a day through a machine that pumps nutrients directly into his stomach.
Its so bad that he cant even share pencils with his classmates incase he accidentally
injects some food left on them.
Hes fine with water and, strangely, one specific brand of lemonade.
Doctors don't know why this particular type of lemonade is OK for Kaleb but hope that
it may contain the key to curing his debilitating allergy.
Coming in at number 9 we have Apples Grown Near Birch Trees.
You heard me right - Grace Morley is a girl from Ireland who will die if she eats an apple
near a birch tree.
The allergy developed after playing outside with friends.
Grace is not allergic to apples or birch trees but together, they cause her head to swell
and hives break out all over her body.
Doctors best theory is that the birch tree pollen has a subtle effect on Graces immune
system that causes it to go into overdrive when it comes into contact with apple juice.
Very strange.
Makes you wonder what other strange combinations can cause an allergic reaction ...
Next up at number 8 we have Sunlight.
There are a number of different types of Sun allergies but the most common one is called
Polymorphous Light Eruption.
It affects about 10-15% of the US population and I know what youre thinking - thats a pretty
high percentage.
It is, and many people have it, but to varying degrees.
For most people, exposure to the sun causes an itchy rash.
Most people mistake this for sunburn but really its a real allergic reaction.
Its more common for people in colder climates than tropical ones but can affect absolutely
anyone.
Coming in at number 7 we have Wood.
Some people are allergic to wood, a material that is used everywhere for a million different
reasons.
Different types of wood contain different chemicals inside the cells that cause the
allergic reactions.
People who are allergic to one type of wood might not be allergic to the next one - it
varies.
There was a story from 2008 about a man who quit his job to become a carpenter only to
find he was allergic to wood.
He almost gave up until he found out that he was not allergic to just one type of tree
- the Welsh Oak.
He made sure to only ever use that type of wood.
Coming in at number 6 we have Water.
You heard me - water.
The official name for this is Aquagenic urticaria and involves a person developing hives on
their skin after it comes into contact with water.
You might think this has something to do with temperature but it really doesnt - in fact,
scientists arent 100% sure what causes this.
Sometimes people can even have a reaction to the water in their own tears!
I even heard some cases of people struggling to breath after drinking water.
Considering you need water to live, this has to be one of the worst allergies imaginable
… Coming in at number 5 we have The Cold.
None of us like to be cold but there are some people who are allergic to cold temperatures.
Its known as Cold Urticaria and is caused by a sudden drop in temperature.
This could be coming into contact with cold water or stepping outside into the cold from
a warm building.
There have even been cases of people having allergic reactions from cold drinks.
Whatever the cause, the symptoms are usually the same - redness, itching, swelling and
hives.
Now that you know this, I don't want any of you using this as an excuse to not go outside
… Next up at number 4 we have The Smell of Fish.
We all know you can be allergic to types of food, but some people are allergic to even
the smell of it.
The proteins in shellfish and other seafood can trigger an allergic reaction - even a
severe one if the allergy is bad enough.
There have been stories of people having bad reactions simply by sitting in a restaurant
where shellfish is being cooked in the kitchen.
Thats actually pretty crazy if you think about it, shellfish are scary …
Next up at number 3 we have Vibrations.
The proper term for this is Vibratory Urticaria.
People who have it break out in rashes and hives whenever their skin is touched by a
vibration.
This can be anything, the sound of a passing motorbike or even music from a loudspeaker
can cause the reaction.
Scientists found that people with this allergy have cells that break apart when face with
vibration, causing a chain reaction that results in the release of inflammatory molecules.
Apparently, its really painful.
Just imagine breaking out in a rash every time a bus drove past you or someone played
loud music.
Its sad but also fascinating.
Next up at number 2 we have Humans.
Alright for this one were actually gonna talk about dogs and one dog specifically - Adam.
He was a black labrador mix who was rescued from a local pound in Indianapolis.
He was covered in rashes, his skin was seeping fluid and he was losing patches of fur.
It looked like an allergic reaction but they couldnt find what was causing it.
After months of blood tests - they finally found the answer - Adam was allergic to humans.
In the same way that people can be allergic to cats and dogs.
Once this was understood, they could treat him with the proper medication and Adam made
a full recovery.
What a crazy story … And finally at number 1 we have Touch.
About 5% of people are allergic to tough.
The proper name for this condition is Dermatographia but its also known as skin writing - this
is why: putting enough pressure on the persons skin will cause swollen bumps and and itchy
rashes.
As you can see from the pictures, some people get creative with this and shape their bumps
into all kinds of creative patterns.
Although it looks quite scary, the reaction usually only last for about 30 minutes.
As with many of the others on our list, scientists are still trying to figure out what exactly
causes this!