Allergy story

Nita Shah's family

Nita Shah copes well with her large family, despite all but one of her children suffering from allergies. The coping strategies she employs for the management of so many conditions may be effective, but have had a tremendously stressful impact on her daily life.

Being vigilant about the condition

Seven year-old Rahul Shah suffers from asthma, and allergic rhinitis. Rahul has to have his medications accessible to him at all times, in case he has an attack, and has had to learn to be especially vigilant about his own condition. Asthma can be triggered by a variety of events and circumstances; anything that irritates the airways and brings on symptoms. A very important aspect of controlling symptoms is avoiding your triggers, but in everyday life this can be extremely difficult. As well as her nasal allergy, little Rahul suffers from hay fever, and has to cope with a runny, stuffy and itchy nose, sneezing, and irritated ears and throat. With allergic rhinitis triggers becoming ever more diverse and aggressive, Rahul and Nita have to monitor the environment constantly, recognising and acknowledging anything that provokes an attack of allergic rhinitis, or asthma. A large burden for a little boy, and a big worry for Nita.

Luckily the eldest Shah child, sixteen year-old Ishita, appears to be allergy free. But the family are not ruling out the possibility that Ishita could yet develop a condition, as they are all atopic and certainly don’t take anything for granted.