Why do some people have more allergies than others?

Someone may be taking a drug like Flomax, which can worsen sinus conditions and make allergy medicine less useful, he says. People may respond unusually to allergy medications based on their genes. Their genetics may also make them exhibit different symptoms for allergies than what are traditional, Zitt says.

Which is the best description of an allergy?

An allergy is defined as an abnormal response from the immune system to an exposure to an allergen. There are several conditions that fall under the umbrella of allergies, including anaphylaxis, allergic rhinitis (commonly known as “hay fever”), food allergies, skin allergies and allergic asthma. 1

How many people in the UK have food allergies?

The rise in allergies in recent decades has been particularly noticeable in the West. Food allergy now affects about 7% of children in the UK and 9% of those in Australia, for example. Across Europe, 2% of adults have food allergies.

Can a child have both a food allergy and an intolerance?

Most of the time, children with food allergy do not have parents with food allergy. However, if a family has one child with food allergy, their brothers and sisters are at a slightly higher risk of having food allergy themselves, although that risk is still relatively low.

Can a person be allergic to more than one allergen?

IgE antibodies are custom made for each type of allergen. This is why you can be allergic to one or two specific foods or pollens and tolerate others without a problem. When Does a Person Develop Allergies?

Can a person be predisposed to an allergy?

If you’re predisposed to a certain type of allergy, but you’ve never been around that allergen before, it can seem like your symptoms have materialized out of nowhere. Say, for instance, you never had pets growing up. You’re allergic to pet dander, but you’d never know it.

What causes a person to have an allergy to something?

Allergies occur when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance — such as pollen, bee venom or pet dander — or a food that doesn’t cause a reaction in most people.

Where can I find allergy levels in my area?

Search, browse and select cities on our interactive allergy map to see allergy levels and pollen count forecasts.