Causes &
Risk Factors
Problems with normal immune responses are believed
to be the result of both genetic and environmental factors.
Children of allergic parents are more likely to have similar
allergies though the allergens may differ. [Allergies, 2006]
Genetic research is leading scientists to believe that skin
and tissue specific genes may be responsible for causing allergy
symptoms [NIH, 2000]. Stress and anxiety are acknowledged a
common cause of allergic reaction. [Lenzoff, 1997] subjected
patients suspected of multiple chemical sensitivities concluded
that in some sufferers allergy symptoms might be triggered by
their perception of an environmental insult.
Increasing use of chemicals has resulted in introduction
of new toxins into the atmosphere. The increase in number of
allergy cases during the last decades is often attributed to
atmospheric pollution [Bornehag et al, 2004]. Better identification
of problem as allergy and not other minor condition such as
cold is perhaps also responsible for increased numbers.
Allergy or Cold
A number of symptoms of common cold are also the symptoms of
allergy. It is not unusual to mistake one for the other. The
major difference between the cold and flu are [Allergy, 2006b]:
- Both cold and allergy show the common symptoms of allergy
but the cold is also accompanied by fever and pain.
- Allergy begins immediately after exposure to the allergen
while cold takes a day or more to develop to full strength.
- Cold is a self terminating diseases and the symptoms disappear
in 3 to 7 days while allergies continue till the person remains
exposed to the allergen
Allergens
The body’s immune system has the capability to attack
a foreign organism. If it identifies a substance such as pollen
as foreign, even mistakenly, the defense mechanism comes into
action and IgE is produced to fight off that particular substance.
Thus, there will be separate IgE for pollen and for dust allergies.
There are many allergens as any person could be allergic to
a common substance, which is not an allergen to others, but
the common allergens include pollen and fungus from weeds, grasses.
Trees and outdoor mold, dog and cat dander, dust particles,
noxious vapors and smog, foods such as fish, eggs, nuts and
insect bites.
Signs & Symptoms
In addition to the usual sneezing, runny nose, rashes allergy
and red or itchy eyes symptoms include atopic dermatitis, contact
dermatitis, headache, earache, hives, coughing, sinusitis, and
other discussed above.
See Also:
Allergy: Introduction &
Overview
Allergy: Types
Allergy: Causes &
Risk Factors
Allergy: Tests and Diagnosis
Methods
Allergy: Treatment
Options & Prevention
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