What is Allergy

 

What is Allergy

1. An abnormally high sensitivity to certain substances, such as pollens, foods, or microorganisms. Common indications of allergy may include sneezing, itching, and skin rashes.
2. Informal. An adverse sentiment; antipathy: an allergy to cocktail parties.

 

Are there different types of allergy?

Basically allergic reactions can be divided into those

that occur within 2 hours of a person coming into

contact with whatever they are allergic to (immedi

ate type) and those that only occur after a longer

period, often over 24 hours later (delayed type).

Most immediate type reactions are caused by a

reaction between a protein in the blood called

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) and the substance you are allergic to.

A process not involving IgE causes delayed type reactions.
Only the immediate type can be identified using skin tests or blood tests.
Only the immediate type can cause anaphylaxis (immediate life threatening reactions)