Definition and Types of Allergens
- Allergens are antigens that cause an immune response in the body, resulting in allergies.
- Types of allergens include dust mite excretion, pollen, pet dander, royal jelly, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, shellfish, fish, wheat, soy, sesame, sulfites, mustard, gluten-containing cereals, celery, lupin, urushiol, poison ivy, poison oak, various trees and wood products.
- Allergens can cause symptoms such as asthma, skin rash, sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and throat irritation.
- Sensitivities to allergens vary from person to person.
- Different countries have different official allergen lists due to genetic profiles and exposure levels.
Common Allergens
- Nickel sulfate, Balsam of Peru, fragrance mix I, quaternium-15, and neomycin are common allergens.
- Seasonal allergies are often caused by tree and grass pollens.
- Grass allergy symptoms include rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, tickling sensation in the mouth or throat, coughing, wheezing, irritability, headaches, and sinus congestion.
- Seasonal allergies have a higher risk if both parents have allergies.
- Mast cells release histamines in response to allergens, leading to allergic reactions.
Seasonal Allergy Diagnosis
- Doctors diagnose seasonal allergies based on symptoms, evaluation, and physical exams.
- Two tests, blood test and skin test, are conducted to determine the cause of the allergy.
- Skin tests can be done by applying purified liquid allergens and pricking the skin or injecting allergens under the skin.
- Diagnosis helps identify the main cause of the allergic reaction.
- Treatment recommendations are provided based on the diagnosis.
Allergies and Parasite Defense
- Research suggests that allergies may have evolved as a defense mechanism against parasites.
- Protease allergens cleave sensor proteins that detect proteases produced by parasitic worms.
- Allergies may be a result of the immune system's response to fight off parasites.
- Yale University Immunologist Ruslan Medzhitov supports the theory of allergies as a defense mechanism.
- Allergies and their triggers may worsen due to climate change.
Allergies and Asthma
- Seasonal allergies are one of the main triggers for asthma.
- Cold, flu, cigarette smoke, exercise, and seasonal allergies can trigger asthma attacks.
- Up to 75% of asthmatics in Canada also have seasonal allergies.
- Global warming can worsen allergenic tree pollen, leading to increased asthma attacks.
- Extreme allergies and global warming are interconnected, impacting millions of asthmatics.
Allergen Data Sources
| Reference | URL |
|---|---|
| Glossary | https://www.alternix.com/blogs/glossary-of-terms/allergen |
| Wikipedia | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allergen |
| Wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q186752 |
| Knowledge Graph | https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/0g21s |
