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Also called: Hypersensitivity
An allergy is a reaction of your immune system to something that does not bother most other people. People who have allergies often are sensitive to more than one thing. Substances that often cause reactions are
Pollen
Dust mites
Mold spores
Pet dander
Food
Insect stings
Medicines
How do you get allergies? Scientists think both genes and the environment have something to do with it. Normally, your immune system fights germs. It is your body's defense system. In most allergic reactions, however, it is responding to a false alarm.
Allergies can cause a runny nose, sneezing, itching, rashes, swelling or asthma. Symptoms vary. Although allergies can make you feel bad, they usually will not kill you. However, a severe reaction called anaphylaxis and is life threatening.
Food Allergy
Food allergy is an abnormal response to a food triggered by your body's immune system. Allergic reactions to food can sometimes cause serious illness and death. Tree nuts and peanuts are the leading causes of deadly allergic reactions called anaphylaxis.
In adults, the foods that most often trigger allergic reactions include
Fish and shellfish, such as shrimp, lobster and crab
Peanuts
Tree nuts, such as walnuts
Eggs
Problem foods for children are eggs, milk (especially in infants and young children) and peanuts.
Sometimes a reaction to food is not an allergy. It is often a reaction called "food intolerance". Your immune system does not cause the symptoms of food intolerance. However, these symptoms can look and feel like those of a food allergy.
Latex Allergy
Latex is a milky fluid that comes from the tropical rubber tree. Hundreds of everyday products contain latex. Repeated exposure to a protein in natural latex can make you more likely to develop a latex allergy. If your immune system detects the protein, a reaction can start in minutes. You could get a rash, asthma and in rare cases shock from latex exposure.
Latex products are all around you. Some common ones are
Gloves
Condoms
Balloons
Rubber bands
Shoe soles
Pacifiers
If you are allergic to latex, it is a good idea to learn which products contain it. That way, you can reduce your exposure. The most common reactions are to gloves and condoms. Latex-free alternatives exist for both.
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