Information About Allergies
Many patients and quite a few doctors are confused about what is and what isn’t an allergy. The word is used indiscriminately and sometimes inaccurately to imply any illness caused by a reaction to something in the environment we live in.
True allergies are caused by an over-reaction in the immune system to a trigger agent in the environment. These triggers are usually natural substances such as foods, pollens, animal furs or insect stings. Reactions can less commonly occur to synthetic agents such as antibiotics and other drugs.
People with allergies often have a genetic make-up that makes them more likely to develop allergic illnesses. It is estimated that 30% of us will suffer an allergic reaction at some time. In developed countries more people than ever before are suffering from allergic conditions. The reasons for this are the subject of much research but no definite causation has yet been established.
There are 4 types of allergy recognised by doctors and type 1 allergy is the most common and the most dangerous. Examples of type 1 allergy are illnesses such as Asthma, Eczema, Urticaria, Seasonal Rhinitis, and the reactions caused by Food Allergies. Many patients experience combinations of these different conditions and allergy tests are often required to identify the many different triggers responsible for the allergy. Severe and sudden allergic reactions are called Anaphylaxis. Although this is only encountered by a minority of individuals with type 1 allergies, it can be life threatening and needs emergency treatment.
Allergy specialists like myself look after patients with type 1 allergies. We do not cover the other types of allergy that can cause various conditions such as dermatitis, rheumatism, bowel upsets, blood disorders, weakness in the immune system etc. If you are in doubt about your type of allergy, or the particular specialist you need, your family doctor can often provide guidance.
Further information about type 1 allergies can be obtained from these recommended websites: