Broadcast: Thursday 06 April 2006 09:00 PM |
Allergies are a reaction by the immune system to usually harmless substances.
What are allergies?
Allergies are a reaction by the immune system to usually harmless substances.
The immune system is the body's defence system. It is designed to protect us from invaders such as bacteria, viruses and parasites by making antibodies against them. When the body reacts to an allergen, it makes a specific antibody to it, causing an allergic reaction. Most allergies are linked to an antibody immunoglobulinE (IgE).
Allergens
Common allergens are:
- house dust mite allergen
- animal allergens
- grass pollen
- mould spores
- tree pollen
- drugs
- latex
- foods
Symptoms
Symptoms of an allergic reaction can be any of:
- Eyes - irritation, watering, reddening
- Nose - sneezing, runny nose, congestion
- Mouth - swollen lips, tingly or swollen tongue
- Chest - wheeze, cough, difficulty in breathing
- Skin - rash, redness, swellings, especially of the face
Allergic diseases
People often have more than one allergic disease, such as asthma, rhinitis or hayfever, eczema and food allergies. Infants who have eczema and allergies to milk or egg may grow out of those and later develop asthma and rhinitis.
Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening reaction to food, drugs, bees, wasps or latex. Those with anaphylaxis must be assessed by an allergy consultant and normally carry an adrenaline auto-injector at all times.
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