Allergy - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Allergy is a disorder of the immune system often also referred to as atopy. Allergic reactions occur to environmental substances known as allergens; these reactions are acquired, predictable and rapid. Strictly, allergy is one of four forms of hypersensitivity and is called type I (or immediate) hypersensitivity. It is characterized by excessive activation of certain white blood cells called mast cells and basophils by a type of antibody known as IgE, resulting in an extreme inflammatory response. Common allergic reactions include eczema, hives, hay fever, asthma, food allergies, and reactions to the venom of stinging insects such as wasps and bees.

What Causes Allergies?

If you have allergies, you might blame the allergens -- the pollen in the air, your best friend's cat -- for your symptoms.

But actually, most allergens are themselves harmless innocents. What really causes allergicreactions is your own immune system. It mistakes these innocuous allergens for a serious threat and attacks them. The symptoms of an allergy are the result of your body's misguided assault.

You can get allergies if you ever get your skin in contact with poisonous plants, animal dander, pollen or latex. Even in case of injections like bee stings or certain medication injection, you are likely to be attacked with allergies. Often inhaling various things like pollen, dust, mold and mildew can cause severe cases of allergies. When you are inhaling any of these allergic products, the proteins enter your body through the cells lining the eyes, nose, sinuses and bronchial tubes.

What are the symptoms of allergies?

Mild reactions include symptoms affecting a specific area of the body such as a rash, hives and watery eyes.

Moderate reactions include symptoms that spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms include itchiness, hives and difficulty breathing.

Severe reactions, known as anaphylaxis, are life-threatening reactions in which the body's response to an allergen is sudden and affects the entire body, including swelling of the throat, cramps and confusion or dizziness.

Treatment of Allergy

ANTIHISTAMINES

Short-acting antihistamines are generally available over-the-counter. They help relieve mild to moderate symptoms but may cause drowsiness. In addition, the short-acting antihistamine diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can affect a child's learning abilities. Loratadine (Claritin) does not tend to cause drowsiness or affect learning in children.

Start by watching how you react to your food. If a meal makes you feel better, then those foods are okay for you. If you feel worse after a meal then something you ate is causing a reaction and you may need to go for testing. Vary your diet and bring in foods that you don't usually eat, since you are less likely to have become sensitised to them.

Another form of treatment for allergies is hyposensitisation, which is also sometimes known as immunotherapy. It can be used to help people who have a specific allergy to something like bee stings.

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