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About the Immune System & Allergies

Allergies occur when the immune system reacts to an allergen by producing antibodies to attack it when a person is allergic to a substance, according to the University of Virginia Health System. The function of the immune system is to protect the body from infections, bacteria and diseases and destroy any that come in contact with the body. Read on to find out more about allergies and the immune system.

  1. What Are Allergies?

    • According to WebMD.com, about one out of five people in the United States suffers from allergies. People who suffer from allergies have immune systems that react to normally harmless products in the environment, called allergens. These can often be such things as pollen, mold, peanuts, grass and cat hair, according to WebMD.com.

    Symptoms of Allergies

    • Allergy symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe, depending on how allergic a person is to a substance, according to WebMD.com. Mild allergy symptoms can include "congestion, rashes, and itchy, watery eyes." Moderate allergy symptoms can include "itchiness and difficulty breathing." Severe allergic reaction symptoms can include "abdominal pain, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, mental confusion or dizziness, and varying degrees of swellings that can make breathing and swallowing difficult."

    The Immune System

    • The immune system comprises tissues, proteins, cells and organs, and protects the body against germs it comes into contact with, according to kidshealth.org. This system is the body's defense mechanism, warding off disease through the production of white blood cells. Allergic disorders arise when the body comes into contact with an allergen and the immune system overreacts, causing allergic symptoms.

    Immune System Disorders--Allergies

    • Allergies are considered to be disorders of the immune system, according to the University of Virginia Health System. These disorders can include asthma, which causes difficulty breathing; eczema, which causes an itchy rash throughout the body; or severe allergic reactions as discussed above. When the body comes into contact with a severe immune system disorder, such as AIDS, autoimmune disease or cancer, the body is less able to fight off allergies, among other serious complications, diseases and viruses.

    Treating Allergies

    • According to the University of Virginia Health System, a person becomes allergic when an allergen is "inhaled, ingested or enters through the skin." Allergic reactions can be treated through the use of over-the-counter medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays, eye drops, allergy shots and a variety of medical inhibitors, according to WebMD.com. Allergies can also be treated naturally through the use of herbal supplements and natural products, such as saline.

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