Gourt > Kids and Teens > Health > Conditions and Diseases > Allergies
An allergy can refer to several kinds of immune reactions including Type I hypersensitivity in which a person's body is hypersensitised and develops IgE type antibodies to typical proteins. When a person is hypersensitised, these substances are known as allergens. The word allergy derives from the Greek words allos meaning "other" and ergon meaning "work". Type I hypersensitivity is characterised by excessive activation of mast cells and basophils by immunoglobulin E resulting in a systemic inflammatory response that can result in symptoms as benign as a runny nose, to life-threatening anaphylactic shock and death.
Allergy is a very common disorder and more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergic diseases. Allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic disease in the United States, costing the health care system $18 billion annually (Allergy statistics).
History
The term and concept of "allergy" was coined by a Viennese pediatrician named Clemens von Pirquet in 1906 *. He observed that the symptoms of some of his patients might have been a response to outside allergens such as dust, pollen, or certain foods. For a long time all hypersensitivities were thought to stem from the improper action of inflammatory immunoglobulin class IgE, however it soon became clear that several different mechanisms utilizing different effector molecules were responsible for the myriad of disorders previously classified as "allergies". A new four-class (now five) classification scheme was designed by P. G. H. Gell and R. R. A. Coombs. Allergy has since been kept as the name for Type I Hypersensitivity, characterised by classical IgE mediation of effects. More on [ Allergy ]
@arwild01 Its just an unfortunate combination of genetics and allergies.
fignewton (fignewton) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:09:06 -0000
@arwild01 Its just an unfortunate combination of genetics and allergies.
might just be allergies. NasalCrom and Walmart's brand of Tavist 12-hour antihistimine are working nicely.
Mark_Cable (Mark Cable) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:09:05 -0000
might just be allergies. NasalCrom and Walmart's brand of Tavist 12-hour antihistimine are working nicely.
Don't feel so great this morning, tired, and my allergies are acting up. :P Blah. Playing Denton today
NicoleKardos (Nicole Kardos) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:08:05 -0000
Don't feel so great this morning, tired, and my allergies are acting up. :P Blah. Playing Denton today
Allergies #Allergies: Food Allergy Community Up in Arms Over Nut Article... http://bit.ly/4mA8R8
t_allergies (Allergies Topic) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:05:42 -0000
Allergies #Allergies: Food Allergy Community Up in Arms Over Nut Article... http://bit.ly/4mA8R8
Cobwebs: Great for goth aesthetic, not so great for allergies.
robot_smith (a rain love ink) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:01:49 -0000
Cobwebs: Great for goth aesthetic, not so great for allergies.
@endanubis allergies not giving you a problem w/all the pet hair??
JonicaG (Jonica Grodzicki) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:59:09 -0000
@endanubis allergies not giving you a problem w/all the pet hair??
Child and Youth Health: Allergies - Read what they are, how they feel, what happens in the body and what to do.
Food Allergy News for Kids - Learn what it is, symptoms, and what to do. Read and share stories, play games, do puzzles, and try project ideas.
Food Allergy News for Teens - Provides articles and an advice column, as well as tips for managing these problems at school.
Hay Fever (Allergic Rhinitis) For Teenagers - Explains what it is, what causes it, and how to control it. Includes a printable sheet to record medicine and dosage information.
How Allergies Work - Illustrated guide includes allergy terminology, symptoms, reactions, and causes.
Meta Description: [ If you've got allergies, you know the drill -- sneezing, wheezing, itching. Know why you get these symptoms? You may be surprised at the answer. Learn about the immune-system mix-up we call an ]
Just For Kids - Fun activities like stories, games, coloring pages, and articles to help you learn about managing your allergies and asthma.
KidsHealth: Food Allergies - Find out what it is, how to know if you have one, what a reaction feels like, and what the doctor can do.
Meta Description: [ Struggling with strawberries? Petrified of peanuts? Sorry you ate shellfish? Maybe you have a food allergy. Find out more in this article for kids. ]
KidsHealth: Help With Hives - Read what hives are, why people get them, what the doctor does, and how to prevent them.
Meta Description: [ Hives are red, itchy blotches that can can appear because of an allergic reaction. Find out more in this article for kids. ]
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Meta Description: [ During an allergic reaction, your body's immune system goes into overdrive. Find out more in this article for kids. ]
KidsHealth: Nut and Peanut Allergy - Find out more about these food allergies and how to stay healthy.
Meta Description: [ A growing number of kids are allergic to nuts and peanuts. Find out more about this problem and how allergic kids can stay healthy. ]
MedlinePlus: Allergies - Illustrated guide, includes causes, symptoms, and treatments. Learn about different tests used to find allergens.
TeensHealth: Allergies - Article tells what allergies are, common types, what doctors can do, and how to deal with them.
Meta Description: [ Your eyes itch, your nose is running, you're sneezing, and you're covered in hives. The enemy known as allergies has struck again - and all you want to do is curl up into a ball of misery. ]
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