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Tell a FriendWhat is an Allergy?
Allergies are a physiological error. The body reacts negatively to harmless substances, foods or stimuli. The word “allergy” comes from the Greek allos, meaning “other”. It was first used in 1906 to refer to an "altered reaction" in the body's immune system.
An allergic reaction occurs when the body comes in contact with the allergen. This can occur through contact with the skin, inhalation, injection or ingestion of the substance.
Medical treatment includes: avoidance of the allergen, medications to reduce the symptoms of the allergic reaction or injections to desensitize the patient to the allergen. The medical classification of a “true allergy” requires an IgE-mediated response. However, there are also non-IgE-immune sensitivities as well as involvement with IgA, IgG or IgG4.
The use of the word “allergy” has become a generic term used by the public to describe allergies, sensitivities and intolerances. The distinction of a true allergy based on circulating immunoglobulins is generally unknown.
Potential Offending Agents
There are four types of offending agents which by their names are self-explanatory:
Contactants
Inhalants
Ingestants
Injectants
Specifically, some of these offending agents are:
Shell Fish
Red and White Wine, Beer
Chemicals, Latex
Fruit
Food Components
Perfumes
Berries
Airborne Irritants
Herbal Remedies
Eggs
Dust, Dust Mites
Nutritional Supplements
Nightshades
Seasonal Allergies
Environmental
Grains
Animal Dander
Woods, Metals
Dairy
Fabrics, Upholstery, Plastics
Stinging Insects
Advanced Allergy Therapeutics
Pareja Medical Center partners with Advanced Allergy Therapeutics to provide our patients with a high quality of allergy therapy.
Please click here for more information on allergies and our partnership with Advanced Allergy Therapeutics.