What is an Allergy

The term allergy is used to describe a response, within the body, to a substance, which is not necessarily harmful in itself, but results in an immune response and a reaction that causes symptoms and disease in a predisposed person, which in turn can cause inconvenience, or a great deal of misery. It is a disorder of the immune system and also referred to as atopy. Allergic reactions occur to normally harmless environmental substance known as allergens. Common allergic reactions include eczema, hives, hay fever, asthma attacks, food allergies and reactions’ of stinging insects e.g. wasps and bees.

There are now a number of tests to diagnose allergic conditions and these include testing the skin for a response to known allergens or analysing the blood for the presents and levels of allergen- specific IgE.

Treatment for allergies includes allergen avoidance, the use of anti-histamines, steroids or other oral medications.

In the UK over the last twenty years, the incidence of common allergic diseases has trebled, giving this country one of the highest rates of allergy in the world. In any one year, 12 million people in the UK (one-fifth of the population) are now likely to be seeking treatment for allergy. Peanut allergy alone affects 1 in 70 Children.