Allergy
hideAllergy is a disorder of the immune system often also referred to as atopy. Allergic reactions occur to normally harmless environmental substances known as allergens; these reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid. Strictly, allergy is one of four forms of hypersensitivity and is called type I (or immediate) hypersensitivity. It is characterized by excessive activation of certain white blood cells called mast cells and basophils by a type of antibody known as IgE, resulting in an extreme inflammatory response. Common allergic reactions include eczema, hives, hay fever, asthma, food allergies, and reactions to the venom of stinging insects such as wasps and bees.
Mild allergies like hay fever are highly prevalent in the human population and cause symptoms such as allergic conjunctivitis, itchiness, and runny nose. Allergies can play a major role in conditions such as asthma. In some people, severe allergies to environmental or dietary allergens or to medication may result in life-threatening anaphylactic reactions and potentially death.
A variety of tests now exist to diagnose allergic conditions; these include testing the skin for responses to known allergens or analyzing the blood for the presence and levels of allergen-specific IgE. Treatments for allergies include allergen avoidance, use of anti-histamines, steroids or other oral medications, immunotherapy to desensitize the response to allergen, and targeted therapy.
For more information about Allergy, read the full article at
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News tagged with allergy
The miseries of allergies just may help prevent some cancers, study finds
Nov 11, 2008 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- There may be a silver -- and healthy -- lining to the miserable cloud of allergy symptoms: Sneezing, coughing, tearing and itching just may help prevent cancer -- particularly colon, skin, bladder, mouth, ...
Drinking milk to ease milk allergy?
Oct 30, 2008 |
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Giving children with milk allergies increasingly higher doses of milk over time may ease, and even help them completely overcome, their allergic reactions, according to the results of a study led by the Johns Hopkins Children's ...
Scientists visualize how bacteria talk to one another
Nov 08, 2009 |
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Using imaging mass spectrometry, researchers at the University of California, San Diego have developed tools that will enable scientists to visualize how different cell populations of cells communicate. Their ...
Common fragrance ingredients in shampoos, conditioners are frequent causes of eczema
Mar 27, 2009 |
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Considerably more people than previously believed are allergic to the most common fragrance ingredient used in shampoos, conditioners and soap. A thesis presented at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden ...
Penicillin Allergy Not Always Accurate
Medicine & Health / Medications
Feb 26, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- If you think that you are allergic to penicillin, ask yourself this: How do you know?
Vitamin D levels linked to asthma severity
Apr 23, 2009 |
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New research provides evidence for a link between vitamin D insufficiency and asthma severity.
Genetic trigger for disease-fighting antibodies discoverd
Jul 16, 2009 |
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A research team led by the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology has identified the specific gene which triggers the body to produce disease-fighting antibodies -- a seminal finding that clarifies the exact molecular ...
Eczema in children is increasing, but diet is not the cause: Avoiding foods may do more harm than good
Mar 20, 2009 |
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One in five children are now affected by this skin condition, which is often associated with an allergy. Many people believe that certain foods are responsible, or at least make the symptoms worse. However, in information ...
Teens risk health with night texting, talking
Jul 17, 2009 |
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To many parents, text messaging is an enigma -- a practice their children engage in when they could just make a phone call or walk down the street to their friends' houses. It seems to be a strange but harmless means of communication.
Scientists unlock mystery of potentially fatal reaction to smallpox vaccine
May 25, 2009 |
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Researchers from the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology have pinpointed the cellular defect that increases the likelihood, among eczema sufferers, of developing eczema vaccinatum, a severe and potentially fatal reaction ...
Folic acid may help treat allergies, asthma
Medicine & Health / Medications
Apr 30, 2009 |
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Folic acid, or vitamin B9, essential for red blood cell health and long known to reduce the risk of spinal birth defects, may also suppress allergic reactions and lessen the severity of allergy and asthma symptoms, according ...
Some Eczema Sufferers More Prone to Smallpox and Other Viruses
Jun 30, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Since the World Health Organization proclaimed smallpox officially eradicated in late 1979 - thanks to vaccination programs that produced a protective “herd immunity” for most of the globe ...
Scientists developing food allergy treatment
Dec 01, 2008 |
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A team of scientists from across Europe are embarking on new research to develop a treatment for food allergy.
Spring into action against allergies
Apr 13, 2009 |
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It's spring allergy season, and many of you are ready to wave the white flag -- a wad of tissues, that is -- in surrender.
Munich researchers discover key allergy gene
Aug 22, 2008 |
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Together with colleagues from the Department of Dermatology and Allergy and the Center for Allergy and Environment of the Technische Universität München, scientists at the Helmholtz Zentrum München have pinpointed a major ...
