An allergy is an abnormal reaction by a person’s immune system against a normally harmless substance. A person without allergies would have no response to this substance. Still, when a person who is allergic encounters the trigger, the body reacts by releasing chemicals that cause allergy symptoms. However, just because there is a cause and effect between exposure to a substance and the development of symptoms does not always mean a person is allergic to that substance. For example, medications have known and expected side effects; a person experiencing one of these side effects is not necessarily allergic to that medication. Sensitive but not allergic.
What Is Happening During An Allergic Reaction?
During an allergic process, the substance responsible for causing the allergy, or allergen, binds to allergic antibodies present on allergic cells in a person’s body, including mast cells and basophils. These cells then release chemicals such as histamine and leukotrienes, resulting in allergic symptoms.
How Do Allergies Start?
The allergic person can make allergic antibodies, or IgE, against various allergens, including pollens, molds, animal danders, dust mites, foods, venoms, and medications. This occurs through a process called sensitization, where a person’s immune system is exposed to enough of the allergen to make the body produce allergic antibodies to that substance. With later exposures, that same allergen binds to its corresponding IgE on allergic cells, and the body reacts with symptoms of allergies. Allergic symptoms can vary somewhat depending on the type of allergen and route of exposure (airborne pollen exposure may cause symptoms different from eating a food to which you are allergic).
When And Why Do People Develop Allergies?
It is unknown why some people develop allergies and some don’t. Allergies seem to run in families; in some cases, family members can share allergies to specific foods or medications. It appears that the allergic response was once meant to protect the body against parasitic infections, although it now seems to be an abnormal response to non-infectious triggers. Allergies can occur at any time during our lives but are more likely to occur during childhood or young adulthood.