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Created: February 28, 1999
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by: Jill Osborne
HTML Rev: September 22, 1999
An Introduction to Allergies
Sneezing is not always the symptom of a cold. Sometimes, it is an allergic reaction to something in the air. Experts estimate that 35 million Americans suffer from upper respiratory symptoms that are allergic reactions to airborne pollen. Pollen allergy, commonly called hay fever, is one of the most common chronic diseases in the United States. Worldwide, airborne dust causes the most problems for people with allergies. The respiratory symptoms of asthma, which affects approximately 15 million Americans, are often provoked by airborne allergens (substances that cause an allergic reaction).
What is an allergy?
An allergy is a specific immunologic reaction to a normally harmless substance, one that does not bother most people. People who have allergies often are sensitive to more than one substance. Types of allergens that cause allergic reactions include pollens, dust particles, mold spores, food, latex rubber, insect venom, or medicines.
Why are some people allergic to these substances while others are not?
Scientists think that people inherit a tendency to be allergic, meaning an increased likelihood of being allergic to one or more allergens, although they probably do not have an inherited tendency to be allergic to any specific allergens. Children are much more likely to develop allergies if their parents have allergies, even if only one parent is allergic. Exposure to allergens at certain times when the body's defenses are lowered or weakened, such as after a viral infection or during pregnancy, seems to contribute to the development of allergies.
What are the symptoms?
Some people with allergy develop asthma. The symptoms of asthma include coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath due to a narrowing of the bronchial passages (airways) in the lungs, and to excess mucus production and inflammation. Asthma can be disabling and sometimes can be fatal. If wheezing and shortness of breath accompany allergy symptoms, it is a signal that the bronchial tubes also have become involved, indicating the need for medical attention.
Related Information
Something in the Air: Airborne Allergenshttp://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/allergens/full.htm
Related Resources:
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology611 East Wells Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
1-800-822-ASMA
URL: http://www.aaaai.org
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
1125 15th Street, N.W., Suite 502
Washington, DC 20005
1-800-7-ASTHMA
URL: http://www.aafa.org