Allergy Causes

To help answer this question, let us look at some examples of common household. A few months after the arrival of a cat in the house, the father started getting the itchy eyes and sneezing episodes of. One in three children developed a cough and wheezing, especially when the cat into the bedroom. Mother and two other children did not experience any reaction to the presence of cats. How do we explain this?


The immune system is a defense mechanism which was organized by the body against foreign invaders, particularly infections. His job is to recognize and react against foreign substances, called antigens. Antigens are the ingredients that can cause the production of antibodies. Antigens may or may not lead to allergic reactions. Allergens are certain antigens that cause allergic reactions and the production of IgE.

The purpose of the immune system is to mobilize its power to assault and destroy the enemy. One way to do this is to create protective proteins called antibodies that specifically targeted against particular foreign substances. These antibodies, or immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD), are protective and help destroy a foreign particle by attaching itself to the surface, thus making easier the other immune cells to destroy it. However people who are allergic, develop a specific type of antibody called immunoglobulin E, or IgE, in response to specific foreign substances that are generally harmless, such as cat dander. Summarized, immunoglobulins are a group of protein molecules that work as antibodies. There are 5 kinds of different types: IgA, IgM, IgG, IgD, and IgE. IgE is the allergy antibody.

In the example animal cat, father and youngest daughter developed IgE antibodies directed in large numbers against cat allergens, cat dander. Father and daughter now become sensitive or likely to develop allergic reactions on subsequent exposure and repeated on cat allergen. Typically, there are periods of "sensitivity" that range from monthly to yearly before an allergic reaction. While it may occasionally occur an allergic reaction on first exposure to the allergen, certainly before there is contact so that the immune system to react in this way.

IgE is the antibody which is owned by all of us in small quantities. People who are allergic, however, produce IgE in large amounts. Normally, antibodies are important in protecting us from parasites, but not from cat dander or allergens. During the period of sensitivity, over-produced IgE cat dander and certain cells lining the potentially explosive-containing chemicals. These cells are capable of causing an allergic reaction on subsequent exposure to the dander. This is caused by a reaction from dander cat dander IgE irritates the cells and lead to the release of various chemicals, including histamine. These chemicals, in turn, causes inflammation and allergy symptoms are typical. This is how the immune system becomes excessive and disiapakn to cause an allergic reaction when stimulated by allergens.

Time of exposure to cat dander, mother and two other children generate classes other antibodies, none of them cause allergic reactions. The family members who are not allergic, dander particles are eliminated by the immune system and the cat has no effect on them.