Allergy is a very common ailment, characterized by an excessive reaction of the body’s immune system to environmental triggers, known as allergens. This hypersensitivity reaction triggers an inflammatory response, which generates symptoms such as running nose, itchy eyes, skin irritation, eczema or even anaphylactic shock and death. Although the substances which trigger the allergic reaction are harmless, the human body perceives them as threatening and activates its defense system, causing the unpleasant or even dangerous allergy symptoms mentioned above. Because it is such a tricky disease, there was a time when sufferers were not trusted by their bosses or teachers that they felt really bad and they were sick, so they had to find good work excuses to justify their not going to work. This is not happening anymore: allergy has been recognized by the medical world. Moreover, doctors know today that it is a chronic disease and that it causes temporary ailments to patients, forcing them to stay home instead of working or going to school.

The origin of allergy

The word allergy comes from Greek language, in which allos means other and ergon means work. The godfathers of this chronic disease were two doctors, the Austrian Clemens von Pirquet and the American of Hungarian origin Bela Schick, who used the term to define the hypersensitivity reaction shown by some of their patients.

Most common allergy triggers (allergens)

Amongst the most blamed allergens, there are: dust, pollen, foods, medication, cats, dogs, cold, mold, mites, wasps, bees, latex. Symptoms may vary from mild respiratory troubles, skin irritations or sneezing, up to severe manifestations such as choking, massive swelling or even anaphylaxy. They are dangerous because they can be mistakenly treated without the removal of the cause. For instance, sleep apnea treatments may be useless in case your apnea is caused by an allergic reaction.

Allergy statistics

In America only, more than 50 millions people suffer from allergies. The American health care systems spends each year $18 billion for the treatment of allergic diseases.

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