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WHAT IS AN ALLERGY?
An allergy is the overreaction of the body's immune
system to otherwise harmless substances in the environment. Any
substance that triggers an allergic reaction is known as an allergen.
WHAT CAUSES ALLERGIES?
Allergic reactions occur in certain individuals
because their bodies produce too much of the antibody E (IgE)
when exposed to an allergen to which they are sensitive. Some
common allergens that trigger allergic responses are pollen, molds,
house dust and mites, animal dander, foods and medicines, chemicals,
and venom from insect stings. When an allergen enters the body
of someone predisposed to allergies, IgE antibodies react with
the allergen. This action can cause inflammation and irritation
in the nose, eyes, lungs, skin, and digestive tract. As the reaction
continues, it produces symptoms such as swelling, sneezing, wheezing,
and coughing.
WHO IS LIKELY TO DEVELOP AN ALLERGY?
Approximately 50 million people in the
United States suffer from allergies; of these, at least 9 million
have asthma. The single most influential factor that predisposes
a person to develop an allergy is heredity. If one parent has
an allergy, the likelihood of a child developing allergies is
48%; this increases to 70% if both parents have allergies. Although
children are more likely than adults to develop allergies, anyone
may develop an allergy at any age.
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