The immune system can malfunction by over reacting towards non-threatening agents. When this happens, we get an allergic reaction.
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology sys that allergies can strike at any time. It has been reported that one in four people in the US and one in six people in the UK have some from of allergy.
Allergic reactions can be classified into 3 main types – respiratory, food and skin.
Sneezing, coughing, running nose and tearing eyes are some of the respiratory allergies caused by factors like dust, plant pollen, animal fur and cigarette smoke. Vomiting, nausea, cramps and diarrhea can be due to food allergens like milk, nuts, eggs and shellfish. Skin allergies like rashes, dermatitis, boils and blisters could stem from medicines, cosmetics, chemicals and some types of cloth, metals and insect bites.
Allergies can lead to serious complications, even death. Respiratory allergies can lead to asthma, a chronic lung complication that kills 1500 people a year in the UK. Sinusitis, an inflammation of nasal sinuses, is a complication that affects 30 million Americans. Certain food and insect bites can trigger anyphylactic shock, which can kill if not promptly treated.
Recent Comments