allergy
Sign in to saveAn allergy is an exaggerated immune response where the body mistakenly identifies an ordinarily harmless allergen as a threat. Allergic reactions give rise to allergic diseases such as hay fever, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic asthma, atopic dermatitis, food allergies, and anaphylaxis. Symptoms of allergic diseases may include red eyes, an itchy rash, sneezing, coughing, a runny nose, shortness of breath, or swelling.
AI overview
An allergy is an exaggerated immune response in which your body mistakenly treats a harmless substance as a threat. Allergies matter because they can trigger various conditions—ranging from hay fever and itchy rashes to more serious reactions like asthma and anaphylaxis—that produce symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, breathing difficulty, and swelling.
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Key facts
- Medical condition.name
- Allergy
- Medical condition.image
- Hives2010.JPG
- Medical condition.caption
- Hives are a common allergic symptom.
- Medical condition.field
- Immunology
- Medical condition.symptoms
- Red eyes, itchy rash, vomiting, runny nose, shortness of breath, swelling, sneezing, and cough
- Medical condition.types
- Hay fever, food allergies, atopic dermatitis, allergic asthma, anaphylaxis
- Medical condition.causes
- Genetic and environmental factors
- Medical condition.diagnosis
- Based on symptoms, skin prick test, blood test
- Medical condition.differential
- Food intolerances, food poisoning
- Medical condition.prevention
- Early exposure to potential allergens
- Medical condition.treatment
- Avoiding known allergens, medications, allergen immunotherapy
Article
37 sectionsContents
- Signs and symptoms
- Skin
- Cause
- Dust mites
- Foods
- Latex
- Medications
- Insect stings
- Toxins interacting with proteins
- Genetics
- Hygiene hypothesis
- Stress
- Other environmental factors
- Pathophysiology
- Acute response
- Late-phase response
- Allergic contact dermatitis
- Diagnosis
- Skin prick testing
- Patch testing
- Blood testing
- Other testing
- Differential diagnosis
- Prevention
- Management
- Medication
- Immunotherapy
- Alternative medicine
- Epidemiology
- Changing frequency
- History
- Diagnosis
- Medical specialty
- Research
- See also
- References
- External links
An allergy is an exaggerated immune response where the body mistakenly identifies an ordinarily harmless allergen as a threat. Allergic reactions give rise to allergic diseases such as hay fever, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic asthma, atopic dermatitis, food allergies, and anaphylaxis. Symptoms of allergic diseases may include red eyes, an itchy rash, sneezing, coughing, a runny nose, shortness of breath, or swelling.
Common allergens include pollen, certain foods, metals, insect stings, medications, and materials, such as latex. The development of allergies is due to genetic and environmental factors. The mechanism of allergic reactions involves immunoglobulin E antibodies (IgE) binding to an allergen and then to a receptor on mast cells or basophils, where they trigger the release of inflammatory chemicals such as histamine. Diagnosis is typically based on a person's medical history. Further testing of the skin or blood may be useful in certain cases. Positive tests, however, may not necessarily mean there is a significant allergy to the substance in question.