Allergy

An allergy is a reaction of your immune system to something that does not bother most other people. People who have allergies often are sensitive to more than one thing. Substances that often cause reactions are

Pollen
Dust mites
Mold spores
Pet dander
Food
Insect stings
Medicines

How do you get allergies? Scientists think both genes and the environment have something to do with it. Normally, your immune system fights germs. It is your body's defense system. In most allergic reactions, however, it is responding to a false alarm.

Allergies can cause a runny nose, sneezing, itching, rashes, swelling or asthma. Symptoms vary. Although allergies can make you feel bad, they usually won't kill you. However, a severe reaction called anaphylaxis is life-threatening.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Allergy on Wikipedia

An '''allergy''' or '''Type I hypersensitivity''' is a immune malfunction whereby a person's body is hypersensitised to react immunologically to typically nonimmunogenic substances. When a person is hypersensitised these substances are known as allergens. The word allergy derives from the Greek language words ''allos'' meaning "other" and ''ergon'' meaning "reaction" or "reactivity". Type I hypersensitivity is characterised by excessive activation of mast cells by immunoglobulin E resulting in a systemic inflammatory response that can result in symptoms as benign as a rhinorrhea, to life-threatening anaphylaxis and death.

History

The term and concept of ''"allergy"'' were coined by a Vienna pediatrician named Baron Clemens von Pirquet in 1906. He observed that the symptoms of some of his patients might have been a response to outside allergens such as dust, pollen, or certain foods. For a long time all hypersensitivities were thought to stem from the improper action of inflammatory immunoglobulin class IgE, however it soon became clear that several different mechanisms utilizing different effector molecules were responsible for the myriad of disorders previously classified as "allergies". A new four-class (now five) classification scheme was designed by P. G. H. Gell and R. R. A. Coombs. Allergy has since been kept as the name for Type I Hypersensitivity, characterised by classical IgE mediation of effects.

Signs and symptoms

Allergy is characterised by a local or systemic inflammation response to allergens. Local symptoms are: * Nose: swelling of the nasal mucosa (allergic rhinitis) * Eyes: redness and itching of the conjunctiva (allergic conjunctivitis) * Airways: bronchoconstriction, wheezing and dyspnoea, sometimes outright attacks of asthma * Skin: various rashes, such as eczema, ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

GentleSoapers - Yahoo Group - Large membership; topics include handmade soaps and skin care products for people with allergies to chemicals or fragrances.

KVUE.com - Austin's Channel 24. Includes news, weather, sports, allergy reports, programming schedule, and station profile. [Weather requires registration.]

WBRE-TV 28 Wilkes-Barre - Broadcast schedule, news, weather, sports, community events, allergy alerts, and staff profiles.

Allergy Risk of Body Piercing - Discusses European safety rules regarding the nickel content of jewelry and how it may account for a sharp increase in allergies to the metal. [BBC News Health section]

Amazing Faces Entertainment - Offers professional face painting for parties or other events, as well as All Girl Make Over parties and arts and crafts activities. Allergy tested products, FDA approved.[Israel]

Inkhouse - Features international artists; their portfolios and background information. Sections on body piercing, tattooing, allergies, and aftercare. Also contains an on-line store. Appointment and contact information.[Newcomerstown, Ohio and Leicester, England]

Healthy Environments - Healthy living products including HEPA air cleaners, nontoxic household and personal care items, allergy encasements, and natural lighting, including light therapy boxes.

Suite Sleep - Providing sleep systems made with organic and natural materials which are toxin, chemical and allergy free.

Comfort 1st - Offers babies, kids, bedding, appliances, pet, outdoor, sports, fitness, games, hobbies, pain, and allergy items.

E.L. Foust Co. - Manufactures and markets a line of air purifiers for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and allergies.

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