Allergy Fact Sheet

Allergies range from mild to fatal, yet each allergic response shares several key characteristics. Essentially, an allergy is an overreaction of the body's immune system to a substance, whether it is inhaled, ingested or touched. The degree of sensitivity to particular allergens varies by individual, and treatment plans primarily seek to minimize or stop the response. However, another approach is desensitization, in which the body is slowly conditioned to not respond to specific allergens. Although they're common, allergies can be difficult to treat.

Symptoms

• Symptoms range from mild to severe and include sneezing, coughing, running nose, watery eyes, rash, hives, decreased blood pressure, asthma and shortness of breath.

Commonly Affected Parts of Body

• The eyes, nose, skin, stomach and lungs are most prone to react to allergens.

Most Severe Reactions

• Allergens injected into the bloodstream carry the highest risk of fatality. These include medications like penicillin, venom from insects or snakes, vaccines or allergy shots.

Genetic Predisposition

• Children of parents with allergies have as much as a 70 percent chance of developing allergies.

Diagnostic Tests

• Skin tests reveal sensitivity to known allergens, while blood tests check for allergen-specific IgE, an allergen antibody.

Treatment

• Antihistamines, steroids or immunotherapy manage allergies, but there is no cure.