What is allergy
Treatment What is allergy – ETHOS HEALTH CARE
An allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. A substance that causes an allergic reaction is called an “allergen”. Allergens can be found in food, drinks or the environment. Examples of allergens include pollens, dust mites, molds, animal proteins, foods, and even medications. When an allergic individual comes in contact with an allergen, the immune system mounts a response through the IgE antibody. Therefore, people who are prone to allergies are said to be allergic or “atopic.”
When a person is exposed to an allergen by inhaling it, swallowing it, or getting it on their skin, a series of events create the allergic reaction:
- The body starts to produce a specific type of antibody, called IgE, to bind the allergen.
- The antibodies attach to a form of blood cell called a mast cell. Mast cells can be found in the airways, in the intestines, and elsewhere. The presence of mast cells in the airways and GI tract makes these areas more susceptible to allergen exposure.
- The allergens bind to the IgE, which is attached to the mast cell. This causes the mast cells to release a variety of chemicals into the blood. Histamine, the main chemical, causes most of the symptomsof an allergic reaction.
People with allergies blame the allergen for their symptoms – a friend’s pet, pollen or dust mites. However, the allergens are not harmful. The problem is not the allergen but the allergic person’s immune system which mistakes harmless substances for harmful ones.
The number of people worldwide with allergies is increasing. The steepest increase in allergies has been observed in children, particularly food allergies. The prevalence of allergic conditions has increased significantly over the last two decades and continues to rise.
