An allergen represents a substance (antigen) that the body views as harmful. This substance provokes different allergic reactions.
Widely spread allergens include dust, animal fur and pollen but people can have allergic reaction to anything. The organism uses IgE (immunoglobulin E) an antibody type) responses only for the reaction of defense against different infections. But it can happen that the body starts to apply an IgE response against ordinary antigens in the environment.
Generally for this phenomenon doctors use the term atopy which means a hereditary aptitude.
Antigens that are not dangerous in people with atopy cause inadequate IgE production. This results in getting type I hypersensitivity.
Allergen is an antigen but not dangerous or harmful for the body but it causes hypersensitivity of type 1 in people with atopy. Different people are not equally sensitive and that means that individuals can have allergic reactions to endless list of things and substances. All the above mentioned implies that individuals are allergic and can get allergy in future to any substance or chemical beginning from chlorine and moving to perfume.
Not so many individuals suffer from food allergies as have sensitivity to different kinds of food. Although nuts, peanuts, seafood, shellfish very often provoke serious allergic responses. 8 types of food are officially viewed as very likely to cause allergy in the majirity of humans. These products are the following: milk, peanuts, eggs, shellfish, tree nuts, fish, wheat, soy and the products alike, as well as sulphites. The list of allergen in different countries usually vary as population genetic heritage, aptitude to food differ in particular areas of the world.
Sometimes in some time people can develop the ability to combat allergens.
Types of contact with various allergens that provoke allergic reaction:
- Ingestion – when a person drinks and eats something to what he or she has allergy,
- Inhalation – when pollen, perfume or anything else gets into the body with the air while you breath it in
- Direct contact implies the cases when an individual touches for example a plant that evolves allergic response. As a result hives occur.
Allergy is also often provoked by bee, wasp, fire ant stings, as well as by latex and penicillin.
Some serious allergic responses can even kill. One of them is anaphylaxis.
Sterile epinephrine is extremely necessary if an individual is having anaphylaxis. It is supposed to make the reaction to the substance less strong. This will provide you with some time necessary to get an individual to hospital. But you should always keep in mind that this treatment is not able to cure allergy.