Allergies

Allergic deseases are some of the most frequently occurring and fastest-growing clinical patterns. Today, an estimated one in ten children already suffers from an allergy or asthma. An allergy exists when the body's own defence (immune system) reacts hypersensitively to normally harmless substances in the environment and thus damages the organism.

The immune system has the task of protecting the organism against the penetration of disease pathogens and toxins. It must therefore be possible to distinguish between the body's own substances and those foreign to the body as well as harmful and harmless ones. There are two systems for this: the inherited and acquired immune system. The inherited immune system reacts quickly and non-specifically to any foreign substances and thus represents the first line of defence. If the inherited defence is no longer sufficient, the acquired immune system is activated. It reacts specifically to certain foreign substances.

With the first contact with a foreign substance – a so-called antigen – it is still quite slow. It first has to adapt to the structure of this antigen and remember it. Then it can recognise the antigen immediately if it attacks again and react very quickly, e.g. by forming specific anti-bodies. Anti-bodies are complex structures that are also called immunoglobulins. They have not only an important role in warding off disease pathogens but also in allergic reactions. If anti-bodies are formed against normally harmless substances such as pollen or animal hair, this reaction is excessive and unwanted. We then speak of an allergy. An allergic reaction can lead to different clinical patterns that can also be life-threatening (e.g. allergies to bee or wasp venom, drugs or food).

The allergic clinical patterns include:

• Allergic conjunctivitis
• Allergic asthma
• Allergic contact eczema
• Allergic rhinitis
• Skin rashes, usually all over the body (nettle rash, urticaria)
• Hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis)
• Allergy to insect venom
• Neurodermatitis (atopic eczema)
• Quincke oedema (swelling of the mucous membranes)
• Intolerance of foods, their additives or drugs