• Question: Why do we have allergic reactions to somethings?

    Asked by Fiona Mansell to Alex, Anaïs, Peter, Sarwat, Shreesha on 17 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Peter Maskell

      Peter Maskell answered on 17 Mar 2015:

      our immune system may recognise the “something” as being foreign to the body and something it should get rid of. we know how the immune system does this but don’t know why sometimes it does this.

    • Photo: Shreesha Bhat

      Shreesha Bhat answered on 17 Mar 2015:

      Its not very well known as to why do some persons have allergies to some things and some do not. Some scientists believe that it may be hereditary (If your relatives / parents have an allergy to something, you may have that too).

      Biologically, it is due to the attentiveness of our immune system, which if feels that something foreign has entered the bodyand finds difficult to deal with, it just sends a signal which will release a chemical called histamine. Now, histamine has some actions which you will find very common in allergy, like it dilates the blood vessels (flushing and redness of skin, rashes), increases mucus production (runny nose), constriction of airways in lungs (wheezing, cough), etc.

    • Photo: Anaïs Pujol

      Anaïs Pujol answered on 17 Mar 2015:

      when a substance is recognised as foreign and so harmful by your body. This release an immune reaction but in an excessive way. It is a disorder in your immune system. Sometimes allergy can by genetic or from an environmental factor

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