ausEE Inc.

a charity dedicated to improving lives affected by an eosinophilic disease

What is Allergy?

Allergy occurs when a person's immune system reacts to substances in the environment that are harmless for most people. These substances are known as allergens and are found in house dust mites, pets, pollen, insects, moulds, foods and some medicines.

Atopy is the genetic (inherited) tendency to develop allergic diseases. People with atopy are said to be atopic. When atopic people are exposed to allergens they can develop an immune reaction that leads to allergic inflammation (redness and swelling).

This can then cause symptoms in the:

nose and/or eyes - hay fever (allergic rhinitis/conjunctivitis)
skin - eczema, hives (urticaria)
lungs - asthma

A substance that is an allergen for one person may not be for another - everyone reacts differently. The likelihood (or risk) of developing allergies is increased if other family members suffer from allergy or asthma.

What happens when you have an allergic reaction?

When a person who is allergic to a particular allergen comes into contact with it, an allergic reaction occurs. This begins when the allergen (for example, pollen) enters the body, triggering an antibody response. The antibodies attach themselves to special cells, called mast cells. When the pollen comes into contact with the antibodies, the mast cells respond by releasing certain substances, one of which is called histamine. When the release of histamine is due to an allergen, the resulting swelling and inflammation is extremely irritating and uncomfortable.

Which areas of the body may be affected?

Depending on the allergen and where it enters your body, you may experience different symptoms. For example, pollen, when breathed in through the nose, usually causes symptoms in the nose, eyes, sinuses and throat (allergic rhinitis). Allergy to foods usually causes stomach or bowel problems, and may cause hives (urticaria). Allergic reactions can also involve several parts of the body at the same time.

Life threatening allergic reactions require immediate treatment.

Most allergic reactions are mild to moderate, and do not cause major problems, even though for many people they may be a source of extreme irritation and discomfort. However, a small number of people may experience a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. It is a serious condition which requires immediate lifesaving medication. Some of the more frequent allergens which may cause this are peanuts, shellfish, insect stings and drugs. If you know that you have a very severe allergy, you should have an Anaphylaxis Management Plan from your doctor, which should include an ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis. Here is information from Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia to help be prepared In an emergency.

This information has been sourced from The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA); for more information and additional resources please visit their website http://www.allergy.org.au/.

After an EGID diagnosis is confirmed, allergy testing may be carried out by an allergist or trained and experienced medical practitioner. Skin prick testing is the most common form of allergy testing. In EGID patients it is not uncommon for allergy test results to be negative. This means that a food can be consumed with no obvious reaction to it, but over a period of days to weeks the eosinophils triggered by the food can cause inflammation to the esophagus. In these instances it is useful to keep a Food Diary to assist in identifying the offending food.