Allergies

Allergies: Introduction

A respiratory allergy or allergic reaction is an over-reaction by the immune system to a particular substance, or allergen. The immune system is made up of special cells that circulate throughout the body to defend the body against foreign substances, such as viruses and bacteria. This is a normal protective response, but for people with allergies, the immune system gets overzealous in its job and reacts when they inhale, swallow or touch harmless substances, such as pollen or dust. Almost any substance can become an allergen and cause an allergic reaction in a person who is sensitive to that particular substance. People with allergies are often allergic to more than one substance.

A severe reaction, also called an anaphylactic reaction, can become life threatening and requires immediate medical intervention. Respiratory allergies can also become serious for people with asthma. Allergens can trigger an asthma attack which results in constriction of the airways in the lungs, inflammation, and build up and blockage by mucus. This results in wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, which can become severe and life threatening.

Symptoms of Allergies

• General symptoms possible from allergies:
  • Allergic dermatitis
  • Itchy rash
  • Eczema
  • Hay fever
• more symptoms...»

See full list of 33 symptoms of Allergies

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Allergies:

• Allergies -- Related Home Tests
  • Home Allergy Testing
  • Home Mold Tests
  • Home Food Intolerance Tests
  • Home Radon Tests
  • Home Water Tests
  • Home Lung Function Testing
• Food Allergies & Intolerances: Home Testing:
  • Home Food Allergy Tests
  • Home Food Intolerance Testing
  • Home Water Testing
  • Home Lead Poisoning Tests
  • Home Heavy Metal Poisoning Tests
• more tests...»

Allergies: Complications

Review possible medical complications related to Allergies:

• Anaphylaxis
• more complications...»

Medical Textbooks Online about Allergies

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with Allergies?

• Misdiagnosis of Allergies
• Failure to diagnose Allergies
• Hidden causes of Allergies (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Undiagnosed: Allergies

Allergies: Medical Mistakes

• Allergies -- Health Mistakes
• Asthma-- Health Mistakes
• more mistakes...»

Allergies: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers

Products, offers and promotion categories available for Allergies:

• Skin Health
• Asthma
• Allergies
• more product offers...»

Allergies: Undiagnosed Conditions

Commonly undiagnosed diseases in related medical categories:

• Chronic Respiratory Disorders that may be Undiagnosed:
  • Asthma -- Undiagnosed
  • Allergies -- Undiagnosed
  • COPD -- Undiagnosed
  • Emphysema -- Undiagnosed
  • Chronic Bronchitis -- Undiagnosed
  • Lung Cancer -- Undiagnosed
  • Sinusitis -- Undiagnosed
  • Cystic Fibrosis -- Undiagnosed
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea -- Undiagnosed
• more undiagnosed conditions...»

Misdiagnosis and Allergies

Psoriasis often undiagnosed cause of skin symptoms in children: Children who suffer from the skin disorder called psoriasis can often go undiagnosed. The main problem is that psoriasis is rare in children, and not often seen by physicians...read more »

Chronic lung diseases hard to diagnose: Some of the chronic lung diseases are difficult to diagnose. Even the well-knowns conditions such as asthma or lung cancer often fail to be diagnosed early. Some of...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Allergies

Allergies: Research Doctors & Specialists

Research related physicians and medical specialists:

• Allergy Specialists:
  • Allergy & Immunology (Allergies & Immune Diseases)
  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (Child Allergies & Immune Diseases)
• Immune-Related Disease Specialists (Immunology):
  • Immunopathology
  • Dermatological Immunology / Diagnostic Laboratory
  • Clinical & Laboratory Immunology
• Skin Health Specialists (Dermatology):
  • Dermatology (Skin Health Specialists)
  • Dermatopathology
  • Pediatric Dermatology (Child Skin Health)
  • Dermatological Immunology / Diagnostic Laboratory (Skin Allergies)
• Lung Health Specialists (Pulmonologist):
  • Pulmonology (Lung Health Specialists)
  • Pediatric Pulmonology (Child Lung Health)
• more specialists...»

Other doctor, physician and specialist research services:

• Rate Your Doctor Online
• Research Your Doctor Online
• Review Patient Surveys About Your Doctor
• Research local specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.

Allergies: Rare Types

Rare types of diseases and disorders in related medical categories:

• Chronic Respiratory Disorders -- Rare Types:
  • Asthma -- Rare Types
  • Allergies -- Rare Types
  • COPD -- Rare Types
  • Emphysema -- Rare Types
  • Chronic Bronchitis -- Rare Types
  • Lung Cancer -- Rare Types
  • Sinusitis -- Rare Types
  • Cystic Fibrosis -- Rare Types
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea -- Rare Types
• more rare diseases...»

Causes of Allergies

Read more about causes of Allergies.

More information about causes of Allergies:

• Medications, drugs, or substances causing Allergies (94 listings)
• Allergies as a complication caused by other conditions
• Allergies as a symptom
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Allergies

Treatments for Allergies

• Antihistamine drugs
• Hospitalization - for an asthma attack
• Emergency treatment - for a severe asthma attack or anaphylactic shock
• Vitamin B5 - possibly used for related vitamin B5 deficiency
• more treatments...»

Read more about treatments for Allergies

Latest Treatments for Allergies

• Antihistamine
• Anti-IgE
• Leukotriene modifiers
• Steroids
• Sublingual immunotherapy
• more treatments...»

See full list of 7 latest treatments for Allergies

News Archives for Allergies

Medical news articles related to Allergies include:

• Health Tip: Common Food Allergies in Children
• Black Male Children Face Highest Risk for Food Allergies
• Child's Food Allergies Take Toll on Family Plans
• Health Tip: Coping With Pet Allergies
• Childhood Food Allergies on the Rise
• Health Tip: Allergies and Your Eyes
• Food Allergies Up 18% Among U.S. Children
• Health Tip: Eating Out With Food Allergies
• more health news...»

Source: HealthDay News

Videos for Allergies

Patient Surveys for Allergies

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Allergies
  Take Survey  View Results

Reseach about Allergies

Visit our research pages for current research about Allergies treatments.

Statistics for Allergies

• Medical statistics for Allergies
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Allergies
• Death and Mortality statistics for Allergies
• Society statistics for Allergies

Allergies: Broader Related Topics

• Immune disorders
• Allergic Disorders
• Respiratory conditions
• Adolescent conditions
• Common Conditions
• Skin conditions
• more types...»

Types of Allergies

Types of Allergies

• Hay fever
• Allergic rhinitis
• Airborne allergies
• Latex allergies
• Food allergies
• more types...»

See full list of 14 Types of Allergies

Curable Types of Allergies

Possibly curable types of Allergies include:

• Asthma
• Allergic rhinitis
• Atopic dermatitis
• Celiac sprue
• Food allergies
• Allergic sinusitis
• more types...»

Rare Types of Allergies:

Rare types of Allergies include:

• Latex catheters induced allergies
• Sthethoscopes induced allergies
• Wound drains and tubes induced allergies
• Condoms and diaphragms induced allergies
• Handgrips induced allergies
• more types...»

Stories from Users Related to Allergies

• Allergic to My Apartment/Mold????
• Severe Fatigue/diziness...Sinusitis? Allergies?
• allergies, not sure what to
• Allergy Shots
• Sunlight triggers allergies and Chronic Fatigue for me.. What's the cause?
• Allergies
• Severe Fatigue/diziness...Sinusitis? Allergies?
• Is it all allergies?
• Eczema or allergies?
• Weird allergic symptoms...
• allergic to summer?
• Allergies
• allergic to flea bites
• Neurological symptoms and an allergy?
• Allergy or something else?
• No.1 guestion about allergies...
• 14 month-old with long list of allergies
• Allergic to my wife?
• Allergy To Products?
• Can anyone help with possible formula allergy?

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Allergies, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Allergies

Something in the Air Airborne Allergens: NIAID (Excerpt)

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. (Source: excerpt from Something in the Air Airborne Allergens: NIAID)

Allergies: NWHIC (Excerpt)

Allergies involve an immune response in the body to things such as plant pollen, other grasses and weeds, certain foods, rubber latex, insect bites, or certain drugs. Estimates suggest that allergies affect more than 50 million people in the United States. Nearly 10% of American women have pollen allergies. Allergic drug reactions, commonly caused by antibiotics such as penicillin, occur in 2%-3% of hospitalized patients. Severe allergic reaction to insect stings occurs in up to 5% of the population. Although most people have experienced a reaction to something they have eaten, only 1% of the adult population suffers from true immune reactions to food. (Source: excerpt from Allergies: NWHIC)