Allergy is a malfunctioning of the human immune system which causes a violent reaction against substances in our natural environment, which are normally not harmful.  The substances which causes allergy are called ‘allergens’. This allergic reaction causes an inflammation which can lead to a variety of symptoms such as asthma, hay fever, eczema, and other conditions. All symptoms which arise from these reactions are referred as allergies. Majority of population have some or the other types of allergic reaction during his or her life, starting from minor problem to a life threatening emergencies.

The main task of our body’s immune system is to detect irritants, toxins and other infectious agents and to protect our body from them. The treatment of allergies is basically targeted towards the management of these symptoms. The problem can be resolved by the inflammatory responses which are triggered by the exposure to allergens. There are several researches performed on the immune system and the inflammatory responses. These researches have helped drug agencies to bring down many new drugs in the market as a result bringing relief to millions of people around the world.

Our body develops sensitivity to allergen, and every time it is exposed to such allergens, an allergic response is initiated. The most common type of allergens is the air borne allergens. Pollens, molds, Dust mites, pet dander, and chemicals are few types of allergens in this category. Pollens are responsible for the symptoms such as hay fever and seasonal allergies. Other air borne allergens like molds, dust and pet dander are responsible mainly for sneezing accompanied by runny or clogged nose, coughing, itching eyes, throat, and watery eyes, conjunctivitis, etc. It can also trigger asthma attacks later on. Irritants like chemical or poison ivy results in the skin allergies. However, the most common allergy symptoms affects mainly nose, lungs, sinuses, skin and eyes. But it has also been sometimes found in digestive system and blood vessels too.

Food allergies are yet another type of allergic reactions in which the allergens are the food itself or the constituents of the particular food.  The allergens which cause allergies of food is one type of protein or an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). These Proteins generally survive the acidic stomach and the intestinal digestive enzymes. Hence the allergens i.e proteins enter into the gastrointestinal lining and enter the blood stream and start attacking the targeted organs. As a result of it allergic reactions take place through out the body. The other causes for the food allergies are the mast cells which are present in every tissues of our body. It is very important for the people who have food allergies that they must identify them and try to avoid those food items as far as possible. However, food allergies mostly considered being mild but these reactions sometimes can be life threatening also. Food allergies can be hereditary; therefore most people with allergies symptoms come from the families in which allergies are common. However, the severity of the allergy symptoms also depends upon the type and amount of allergens involved.

There are two types of allergy on the basis of its source. The allergies which are hereditary in nature are known as atopic allergy. It runs in families and mainly cause digestive system and food allergies. It might also appear as skin allergies in some cases like hives or eczema. Another type of allergy is called non atopic or acquired allergies. These types of allergies basically happen due to the reaction of serum or vaccines, or chemicals such as antibiotics, and due to other air borne allergens like hair, pollen, and cosmetics.

There are two types of allergic reactions on the basis of time allergens take to react with the body’s main organs. They are immediate allergic reactions and delayed or late-phase allergic reactions.

In an immediate allergic reaction, allergens react immediately with a minute time after being exposed to them. It is again depends upon one’s genetics and also on the body it affected.

In delayed allergic reactions, reaction occurs after two to six hours of exposure to the allergens or even longer. The allergic symptoms are same as in case of immediate allergic reaction.

The best way to get rid of the allergic reaction is prevention. Make lists of substances that are causing allergies, and try to avoid self from those allergens.

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