About this ebook
worldwide. Allergy symptoms range from making you miserable
to putting you at risk for life-threatening reactions. According to
the leading experts in allergy, an allergic reaction begins in the
immune system. Our immune system protects us from invading
organisms that can cause illness. If you have an allergy, your
immune system mistakes an otherwise harmless substance as an
invader. This substance is called an allergen. Allergies are
common In the developed world, about 20% of people are affected
by allergic rhinitis, about 6% of people have at least one food allergy
and about 20% have atopic dermatitis at some point in time
Depending on the country about 1–18% of people have asthma.
Anaphylaxis occurs in between 0.05–2% of people.
Many allergens such as dust or pollen are airborne
particles. In these cases, symptoms arise in areas in contact with
air, such as eyes, nose, and lungs. For instance, allergic rhinitis, also
known as hay fever, causes irritation of the nose, sneezing, itching,
and redness of the eyes. Inhaled allergens can also lead to increased
production of mucus in the lungs, shortness of breath, coughing,
and wheezing.
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About the author
Department of Botany, B R Barwale College, Jalna
