Tag: allergies

You have an allergy when your body overreacts to things that don't cause problems for most people.
These things are called allergens. Your body's overreaction to the allergens is what causes symptoms (see the box below for a list of symptoms). For example, sometimes the term "hay fever" is used to describe your body's allergic reaction to seasonal allergens in the air, such as grass or pollen.
Keeping a record of your allergy symptoms over a period of time can help you and your doctor identify which allergens cause you to overreact.

Many of the symptoms of nasal allergies (also known as allergic rhinitis) are similar to those of cold symptomsrunny nose, watery eyes, cough, nasal congestion, sneezing. Many times parents are confused on whether their child has a long-term cold or allergies.

What are pet allergies?

A pet allergy is an immune reaction to animal dander (skin flakes), saliva, urine, or feces. (Animal fur or hair itself isn't much of an allergen, but it can trap pollen, dust, mold, and other allergens.) When a child with pet allergies breathes in dander or comes in contact with saliva or droppings, his immune system goes on alert and releases histamine and over 40 other chemicals to fight off the allergen.