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What are Allergies?

You must seek medical help if you think that you have a classical allergy. The editorial board feels that because allergies are potentially very serious they are initially best dealt with by mainstream medicine, if possible. This is because the reactions may become more severe each time you are exposed to the offending protein and have the potential to lead to a fatal anaphylaxis. This is a sudden severe reaction involving most of the organ systems of the body which fail. Prompt action is lifesaving and usually involves injection with adrenaline (epinephrine).

Allergy Symptoms and Causes

A classical allergy is caused by a foreign protein getting into the body and not being recognised by that body as part of itself. The body therefore makes vigorous attempts to rid itself of the offending protein. This reaction may be very severe and excessive.

There are many things that can cause allergy symptoms:-

Injected Allergens

Stings and bites such as those from bees, wasps, mosquitoes and snakes, which may be mild the first time the victim is stung, but subsequently can lead to anaphylaxis

Inhaled Allergens

inhaled allergens like tree or grass pollens which affect the whole respiratory tract causing asthma when the lungs are affected or perennial rhinitis (which is like all year round hayfever) when the nose is affected.

Ingested Allergens

Ingested allergens such as eaten peanuts which cause peanut allergy or a combination of foods which cause more generic food allergies. Gluten found in bread and cakes is a potent allergen causing the a range of gluten allergy symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea and abdominal pain. True food allergies differ from food intolerance although people may have both conditions at the same time.

Touched Allergens

Contact with skin can cause allergies in susceptible people for example:- latex found in surgical gloves which can cause Latex Allergy.

Also helpful may be other allergy linked diseases eczema, irritable bowel syndrome, hayfever and migraine.

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