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An allergy is a disproportionate reaction of
our body’s defences to a substance that is
inoffensive for most people.
The immune system of an allergic individual
treats these substances, known as an aller-
gen, as something harmful and a response
takes place that provokes symptoms ran-
ging from slight discomfort to problems that
could be life-threatening.
The main allergens are:
•
Pollen: grass, olive trees, conifers,
Arizona hedges, and yew trees are
the plants that cause the most aller-
gies in Spain, mainly in the spring.
•
Fungi in the environment.
•
Dust mites.
•
Animal epithelium; cats, dogs, hor-
ses, and rodents are the most fre-
quent causes.
•
Certain food such as milk, eggs, she-
llfish, wheat, nuts, peanuts, chocolate
and soy.
•
Medicine.
•
Insects.
Symptoms
Symptoms vary depending on the location,
intensity, and severity. Serious allergic re-
actions could occur that could even cause
lead to death.
The most frequent is allergy to pollen or po-
llinosis. It affects about 15% of the popula-
tion, with this percentage increasing to 30%
in the case of young people.
Pollinosis appears mainly in urban habitats
instead of rural areas, probably because air
pollution accentuates the allergenic effect
of pollen.
The most common allergy symptoms are
mild, although quite annoying, such as
tears and itching eyes, known as rhinocon-
junctivitis, in addition to nasal congestion,
sneezing, and coughing. The more serious
effects are difficulty in breathing and asth-
ma. The most serious secondary symp-
tom caused by an allergic reaction is anal-
phylactic shock, a medical emergency that
requires immediate attention by a health
professional since it is life-threatening.
It is not always easy to distinguish an aller-
gic process from a cold affecting the upper