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AllergyWhen you are allergic to something, you are oversensitive to some types of materials. These materials are called allergens. Allergens are chemical materials which cause reactions like asthma, hay fever of skin reactions, also called allergical reactions. Four types of allergical reactions can be divided.Type 1: IgE-allergy Type 2: IgG-antibody related allergic reaction Type 3: allergical reaction which focuses on surface antigens on tissues Type 4: cell related allergic reactions It all sounds quite complicated, therefore a short explanation to each type.  Type 1: IgE-allergyAt this type of allergy we can think of rash and skin changes, difficulty with breathing, red eyes and the lowering of the blood pressure. At tis type of allergy adrenaline is the solution to the body. The bronchi, which contract at these allergical reactions, will open again, at which the blood vessels in the skin will narrow and the activity of the heart will increase. IgE stands for ‘antibodies' which you have to produce before the allergical reaction can come on.Type 2: IgG-antibody related allergic reactionThis complicated name is give to allergical reactions like for instance reactions to a medicine. Drugs too can react this type of reaction. This type of reaction exists when anti-bodies float to the surface of cells and tissues on the antigens which are there.Type 3: allergical reaction which focuses on the surface antigens on tissuesThis type of allergy exists briefly said when antigens cause tissue-damage. So when the tissue in your body will be damaged and there exists an allergic reaction by this, we can speak of this type of allergy.Type 4: cell related allergic reactionAt this type of allergy the tissue will be damaged, just like the 3th type. Besides this type is quite different because is also eliminates and removes the antigens. You can describe this reaction as an 'immuneoreaction'. When you are/become immune, you are insusceptible to an illness or poison. Now it would be quite logical that you should not be susceptible to certain things, but oversensitiveness to certain materials often appears at this allergy.Because the above is probably rather complicated, the explanation of allergical reactions is easier to explain. Allergical reactions can exist by materials which are inhaled, eaten or in cantact with the skin. By inhaling the materials which float in the air, you can get hay fever. This can cause asthma in the lungs, but also allergies to animals appear from the materials which float in the air. When we are talking about allergical reactions which arise from food, we talk about food- allergy. Due to this you can get for instance itching lumps, or red spots. We can also classify an allergical reaction to a medicine here. When there are allergens on the skin, we talk about eczema. At this you can be allergic to metals, but also to cosmetics and perfumes and even to the glue which is used in plasters. There are allergens too which we do not inhale, eat or get through skin contact. Think of a wasp's sting. Through this allergens enter the body in another manner and people who are oversensitive to it, could get an allergical reaction. Allergy map of America Reprinted with permission ©2006 American Lung Association |
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