About Allergies

The human body's immune system reacts to harmful substances by releasing antibodies, which are special proteins made in the immune system to fight off viruses and infections that could harm us. An allergic reaction results when the body’s immune system reacts to relatively harmless substances (allergens) as if they were harmful to the body. The immune system responds to these allergens by making antibodies to fight them off.

When the body comes into contact with an allergen, the antibody released is called Immunoglobulin E (IgE) This antibody causes other blood cells to release more chemicals (including histamine), which together cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Although there are many thousands of allergens, the most common allergens include:

	House and dust mites
	Grass and tree pollens
	Pet dander or hair
	Fungal or mold spores
	Certain foods including milk, egg, wheat, soy, seafood, fruit and nuts
	Wasp and bee stings

Read more about allergies by visiting some of the websites on our links page.