Question

Define allergy. How does the process of allergy resemble that of immunity, and how do they differ? Why is it important to know the difference?

Answer 1

Allergy refers to a hypersensitive reactions by the immune system to allergens like food,dust,pollens. When host is exposed to an allergen the immune system identify and start producing antibodies.

Immune system is responsible to potent body against invasion of allergens. Innate immunity protects body from all the pathogens. Natural barriers in the human body to protect from antigens are skin and mucus membranes lining body cavities prevent easy invasion of allergens into the human host. Skull protects brain from direct external invasion of pathogens. Lungs and heart are safely protected inside the thoracic cage. Sneezing and coughing act as a defense to remove the pathogens from the respiratory tract.

Humoral immunity mainly detects pathogens like bacteria,fungi , moulds and viruses as antigens. Once antigens are detected humoral immunity produces antibodies against the invaded antigens. Antigen antibody reaction occurs to completely eradicate the pathogens int he blood.

In allergic process the adaptive / innate immunity responded enormously incase of allergen exposure this results in allergy. Type 1 hypersensitivity reactions results from exaggerated immune response to allergens like dust and pollen.