- Allergy involves an exaggerated response of the immune system, often to common substances such as foods or pollen.
- The immune system is an intricate system that normally defends the body against foreign invaders, such as bacteria and viruses, while also surveying for conditions such as cancer and autoimmunity.
- Allergens are substances that are foreign to the body and can cause an allergic reaction.
- IgE is the allergic antibody.
- Although many individuals outgrow allergies over time, allergies can also develop at any age, including during adulthood.
- While environment plays a role in allergy development, there is a greater risk of developing allergic conditions if a person has a family history of allergy, especially in parents or siblings.
In this review, you will learn how allergy relates to the immune system. You will begin understanding how and why certain people become allergic. The most common allergic diseases are discussed briefly in this article.