Written By: Shraddha Rupavate | Updated : April 15, 2015 3:35 PM IST
For centuries people suffered from some sort of undesirable reactions after coming in direct contact with specific substances. But the term 'allergy' was coined only in the year 1906, when scientists tried to figure out the reason behind a cascade of events leading to such reactions.
What is an allergy?
An allergy is a spontaneous response of the immune system towards substances that are usually harmless in nature. The immune cells of the body recognize these substances (called allergens) dangerous and try to get rid of them by releasing an antibody called IgE and other inflammatory chemicals that damage the neighbouring tissues and trigger allergic symptoms.
Types of allergies:
A person could be allergic to one or several allergens. There are different forms of allergies depending on the type of allergen triggering the response. Here are the most common forms of allergies that people suffer from.
1. Food allergy: Your immune system could trigger a response to proteins present in specific foods you consume. Allergies to nuts, egg, wheat, milk and chickpeas are more common, contributing to 90% of food allergies found in India.
2. Dust allergy: Dust particles can enter your nasal passage and cause blocked nose, cough, sneezing and irritation in the throat.
3. Seasonal allergy: Many people complain about allergic symptoms with a change in climate and season.
4. Pet allergy: You could develop an allergic reaction to skin flakes, dander or saliva of your pet. Moreover, the fur of animals attracts dust and pollen that can worsen allergy symptoms.
5. Drug allergy: Your system could evoke an immune response to either the drug or the chemical generated inside the body by the drug. This type of allergy could be severe and may be fatal
6. Cosmetic allergy: Chemicals used in cosmetics can trigger an immune response causing allergic skin reaction and swelling.
Symptoms of allergies:
Symptoms of allergies are triggered depending on the part of the system the allergen targets.
Certain allergies can become severe. If you develop any of the following symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately.
Diagnosis of allergies:
To determine whether you're suffering from an allergic reaction, your doctor may recommend a simple blood test. 'The general test for the diagnosis of allergies include a CBC (Complete Blood Count). If your results show an increased eosinophil level and IgE level, then you might be diagnosed with an allergy,' says Dr Abha Shroff, chief pathologist and director at Disha Pathology Labs, Mumbai. To determine the allergen causing the undesirable reaction, you may have to undergo the following tests:
Treatment and Prevention of allergies
Allergies cannot be cured. The best way to prevent them is to avoid the allergen. But for that you need to undergo proper tests to identify the causative allergen.
Medicines given for allergies help reduce the symptoms and the effect of substances released during an allergic reaction on the surrounding tissues. There are different groups of medications given for allergic reactions depending on the allergen triggering the reaction.
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