Allergies - Symptoms, Causes and How to Treat Them
Allergy is a reaction of the immune system to something that is considered dangerous even though it is actually not dangerous. This can be in the form of substances that enter or come into contact with the body.
Skin prick allergy test
Allergens or substances that trigger allergies only affect people who have these allergies. In other people, these allergens will not trigger an immune reaction. Some types of substances that can cause allergic reactions to include insect bites, dust mites, animal hair, drugs, certain foods, and pollen.
When the body first encounters an allergen, the body produces antibodies because it considers it dangerous. If the body returns to contact with the same allergen, the body will increase the number of antibodies to the type of allergen. This is what triggers the release of chemical compounds in the body (histamine) and causes allergic symptoms.
Symptoms that appear when allergic
There are some common allergic symptoms, including:
- Sneeze.
- Coughs.
- Hard to breathe.
- Rash on the skin.
- Runny nose.
- Swelling occurs in parts of the body that meet allergens, such as the face, mouth and tongue.
- Itchy and red eyes.
- Red, watery eyes.
- Abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea
The severity of allergies also varies from person to person, some experience mild allergic reactions and some are severe to fatal, called anaphylaxis. If you have anaphylaxis, you need emergency medical treatment.
The most effective way to prevent allergies is to avoid the trigger substances or allergens. But if allergy symptoms already appear, there are several anti-allergic drugs that can help.
