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ALLERGIES
What does an allergy mean?
• An allergy refers to an exaggerated reaction
by our immune system in response to bodily
contact with certain foreign substances.
• It is exaggerated because these foreign
substances are usually seen by the body as
harmless and no response occurs in nonallergic people.
• Immune responses are primarily mediated by
a variety of white blood cell sub-types.
What does an allergy mean?
• An allergy is also called hypersensitivity.
• Allergies are triggered by antigens (any foreign
molecule that stimulates an immune
response) called allergens.
• The resulting immune response is what causes
inflammation and damages the body, not the
allergen itself.
Major Types of Hypersensitivity
1. Delayed Hypersensitivity – Mediated by
helper T cells and macrophages; independent
of antibodies.
2. Immune-complex Hypersensitivity –
Mediated by antigen-antibody complexes
deposited in tissue.
3. Immediate Hypersensitivity – Mediated by
IgE antibodies, mast cells, and eosinophils.
Definition of Terms
• B Cell – Cells that when activated secrete antibodies.
• Immunoglobulin (Ig) – Proteins that function as B-Cell
receptors and antibodies.
• Antibodies – Immunoglobulins secreted by plasma cells.
• Helper T Cells – Class of T cells that activate B cells.
• Cytokines – Protein messengers that regulate immune
responses.
• Macrophages – Cells that function as phagocytes.
• IgE – Class of antibodies that mediate immediate
hypersensitivity.
• Histamine – An inflammatory mediator secreted by mast cells
• Mast Cells – Tissue cell that IgE binds to in order to release
inflammatory mediators
Delayed Hypersensitivity
• Inflammatory response is independent of
antibodies.
• Caused by increased secretions of cytokines
by helper T cells activated by antigens in the
area.
• Cytokines act as inflammatory mediators and
activate additional mediators.
• Takes several days to develop.
– Ex: Poison Ivy rash
Delayed Hypersensitivity
Immune-Complex Hypersensitivity
• Antibodies combine with free antigens.
• These complexes precipitate out of the surface
of endothelial cells or are trapped in the walls
of capillaries.
• The inflammatory immune response induced
damages the tissues immediately surrounding
the complexes.
– Ex: Allergy to penicillin.
Immune-Complex Hypersensitivity
Immediate Hypersensitivity
• Also called IgE-mediated hypersensitivity.
• Initial exposure to the antigen leads to some
antibody synthesis and production of memory B
cells that activate immunity.
• When exposed to the antigen again, it elicits a
more powerful antibody response.
• Particular antigens can stimulate the production
of IgE antibodies.
• IgE antibody production leads to the release of
inflammatory mediators such as histamine.
Immediate Hypersensitivity
Immediate Hypersensitivity
• Symptoms of IgE-mediated allergy:
– Increased mucus secretion
– Increased blood flow
– Swelling of the epithelial lining
– Contraction of smooth muscle surrounding
airways
A severe reaction can lead to anaphylaxis, which
is death due to circulatory and respiratory
failure.
ALLERGY TREATMENT
While there is no cure for allergies, they can be
managed effectively by a combination of three
treatment modalities:
• Allergen avoidance
• Immunotherapy
• Allergy Medications
Allergen Avoidance
• Allergy diagnosis is the
first step
allergy testing can let you know
for certain which allergens are
affecting you. Testing may
reveal allergens that you didn't
even realize were causing you
problems. It is important to
identify and confirm allergens
that trigger your symptoms.
Animal allergies
• allergy to animal dander, hair, and saliva is
a common problem with household pets.
Pets that causing allergies include dogs,
cats and birds
• The best avoidance measure for a pet allergy is
removing the animal from the house completely if you
so emotional and cant do that, and keep it off of
furniture and bedroom as much as possible.
• Have someone else bathe the pet
• Vacuum the carpet and floors frequently
Dust mites
• Dust mites are microscopic creatures that
live in our bedding, pillows and
mattresses and eat human dead skin
flakes. Many people can be allergic to
dust mite
• Avoidance of dust mites includes
frequent washing of bedding, in hot
water every week.
• Other bedding materials such as blankets
and comforters should be washed once to
twice a month. Decorative pillows and
stuffed animals also harbor dust mites,
and should be washed frequently or
removed from the bed
Immunotherapy: allergy shots
When you get allergy shots
(immunotherapy), your allergist
or doctor injects small doses of
substances that you are allergic to
under your skin.
This helps your body "get used
to" the allergen, which can result
in fewer or less severe symptoms
of allergic rhinitis.
Immunotherapy Facts
• Helps people with severe
allergies or people who have
allergy symptoms over three
months a year.
• Works best for airborne
allergies and insect sting
allergies.
• Doesn’t work well for food
allergies or hives.
• Helps protect children with
allergies from developing
asthma.
Allergy Medications
• In general there is no cure
for allergies, but there are
several types of medications
available both over the
counter and prescription to
help treat annoying
symptoms like congestion
and runny nose.
• Allergy medications are
available as pills, liquids,
inhalers, nasal sprays, eye
drops, skin creams
"Allergist - Find an Allergist. Find
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.edu/doi/10.1111/j.13989995.1998.tb04082.x/pdf>.
"Allergy Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - What
Causes Allergies? on MedicineNet."
MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2012.
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htm>.
Vander, Arthur J., James H.
Sherman, and Dorothy S.
Luciano. Human Physiology: The
Mechanisms of Body Function.
Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2001. Print.