- Allergy treatment
- Antimicrobials for systemic use
- Antiparasitic drugs
- Cardiovascular system
- Dermatology
- Drugs affecting metabolism
- Drugs used in sensory organ disorders
- Gastrointestinal tract
- Haemopoietic system and blood
- Locomotor system
- Nervous system
- Respiratory system
- Systemic hormones
- Urogenital system and Sexual hormones
Allergy treatment
- Allergy treatment overview
- Most common types of allergies
Allergy is a reaction of hypersensitivity of the body's immune system developed to repeated impacts of a certain compound or compounds (allergens) on the previously sensitized by the allergen body. Allergens are considered substances having direct allergic effects, and substances that can strongly potentiate the effect of other allergens. A wide variety of substances can be classified as allergens among them are pollen, medications, alimentary products (nuts, eggs, milk, etc.), animal products (hair) and others. Allergy is a very common problem which affects millions of people all over the world.
A person can be exposed to an allergen by direct contact like inhaling, swallowing or skin contact. After exposure to an allergen the immune system starts to produce immunoglobulin E (IgE) a specific type of antibody which binds to blood cells mastocytes (mast cells). Mast cells are found in most tissues characteristically surrounding blood vessels and nerves (in the skin, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, nasal and oral cavity, conjunctiva and etc.). When the allergen binds to immunoglobulin E attached to the mastocytes, these cells start to release inflammatory and allergic mediators like histamine and cytokines (Eosinophil chemotactic factor). Being released into the blood circulation histamine dilate and increase permeability of the blood vessels causing swelling (edema), redness. They also increase the sensitivity of the nerve endings causing itching and pain.
The symptoms of an allergy vary depending on the type of an allergic reaction.
