The term allergy is used to describe the body's response to a substance, which is not necessarily harmful in itself, but results in an immune response and the reaction that causes symptoms and disease in a predisposed person, which in turn can cause discomfort, or a lot of misery.
An allergy is a runny nose, itchy eyes and palate to skin rash. It aggravates the sense of smell, sight, taste and touch causing irritation, extreme disability and sometimes death. Occurs when the body's immune system overreacts to normally harmless substances.
Allergy is widespread and affects approximately one in four people in the UK at some point in their lives. Each year, the numbers are 5% less than half of all children are affected.
What causes allergies?
Allergic reactions are caused by substances called allergens in the environment. Almost anything can be an allergen for someone. Allergens contain protein, which is often considered as a component of the food we eat. In fact, it is an organic compound containing hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, which are an important part of living organisms.
The most common allergens are:
Pollen from trees and grasses, dust mites, mold, pets like dogs and cats, insects such as wasps and bees, industrial and household chemicals, medicines and foods such as milk and eggs.
Less common allergens include nuts, fruit and latex.
There are some non-protein allergens which include drugs such as penicillin. For these to cause an allergic reaction, they need to be bound to a protein in the body.
Immune system of a person allergic to allergens believed to be damaging and so produces a special type of antibody (IgE) to attack the material of the invasion. This leads other blood cells to release further chemicals (including histamine) which together cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction.
The most common symptoms are:
sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and ears, severe wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, sinus problems, sore mouth and nettle like rash.
It should be clear that all these symptoms may be caused by factors other than allergy. In fact some of the diseases in terms of itself.
When asthma, eczema, headache, drowsiness, lack of concentration and sensitivity to everyday foods such as cheese, fish, fruit, and taking into account that the allergy may fully appreciate.
See also :All You Need To Know About Allergies To Strawberries