allergen
Sign in to saveAn allergen is an otherwise harmless substance that triggers an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals by stimulating an immune response.
AI overview
An allergen is a substance that is harmless to most people but causes an allergic reaction in some individuals because their immune system overreacts to it. Understanding allergens matters because they can trigger anything from mild symptoms like sneezing to serious health effects, making it important for people with allergies to identify and avoid their personal triggers.
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Article
10 sectionsContents
- Examples
- Non-IgE
- Common
- Seasonal
- Diagnosis
- Fungal
- Treatment
- See also
- References
- External links
An allergen is an otherwise harmless substance that triggers an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals by stimulating an immune response.
In technical terms, an allergen is an antigen that is capable of stimulating a type-I hypersensitivity reaction in atopic individuals through immunoglobulin E (IgE) responses. Most humans mount significant immunoglobulin E responses only as a defense against parasitic infections. However, some individuals may respond to many common environmental antigens. In atopic individuals, non-parasitic antigens stimulate inappropriate IgE production, leading to type I hypersensitivity.