Allergy treatment: 'correcting' the immune response
According to the British Allergy Foundation, one in three people in the UK suffer from an allergy at some time in their lives, with numbers increasing year-on-year. An allergy, as opposed to an intolerance, is a reaction produced by the immune system when the body comes into contact with the allergenic substance. The immune system produces an antibody,immunoglobulin E (IgE), to fight off the allergen in the same way that it would fight an infection. This leads to a number of chemicals being produced, including histamine. When histamine is produced this can cause tightening of muscles and increased mucus production. Treatments for allergies include immunotherapy, to correct the immune system; and steroid treatment, as a potential cure. The types of immunotherapy treatments and the way in which they work can be read in this article.