Submitted by: Submitted by davidsgirl
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Category: Other Topics
Date Submitted: 09/10/2012 07:49 PM
Casey N. Wall
Mrs. Pan
Capstone Project
28 October 2011
Allergies
What happens to the body when it comes in contact with a foreign substance? “When an allergen comes in contact with the body, it causes the immune system to develop an allergic reaction in persons who are allergic to it. When you inappropriately react to allergens that are normally harmless to other people, you are having an allergic reaction and can be referred to as allergic or atopic. Therefore, people who are prone to allergies are said to be allergic or "atopic."”(Szeftel) The reactions from an allergen can be different for every person. They can range from mild to severe, and there are different steps to take for each reaction. This paper will show the different types of allergens and the reactions to that allergen, the different treatment plans for each allergy symptom, and what it takes to be an allergy doctor.
There are three main types of allergies. They consist of food allergies, environmental allergies, and common household allergies. Each allergen can have a different reaction depending how allergic the person is to it. Every person can have a different reaction to the same allergen, but one reaction could be more severe than the other. If the reaction is severe enough it can put you into anaphylactic shock, which can result in death if not treated immediately. “Anaphylaxis is a type of allergic reaction, in which the immune system responds to otherwise harmless substances from the environment. Unlike other allergic reactions, however, anaphylaxis can kill. Reaction may begin within minutes or even seconds of exposure, and rapidly progress to cause airway constriction, skin and intestinal irritation, and altered heart rhythms. In severe cases, it can result in complete airway obstruction, shock, and death”(“Anaphylaxis”). Anaphylaxis can be very deadly if not treated immediately during a reaction.
The first main type of allergen is a food allergen. “The main food allergens are,...