ALLERGENS, PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS, AVOIDANCE AND TREATMENT

Authors

1 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain-Shams University, Cairo 11566

2 Military Medical Academy

Abstract

An allergen is an agent that can cause an allergic reaction. In some populations, the immune
system recognizes allergens as foreign or dangerous. Thus, the immune system reacts by making
a type of antibody IgE to defend against allergen and lead to allergy symptoms. Domestic animals
are one of the commonest allergen worldwide that children are sensitized. Commonest allergic
agents include: 1- Animal proteins and animal dander, 2- Insect bites and stings (their venom),
3- Insect and mite feces, 4- Insecticides, pesticides and repellents, 5- Crustacean shellfish
(e.g., crab, lobster, shrimp), 6- Pollen, 7- Drugs (such as antibiotics or medicines oral, injected,
inhalation or on skin), 8- Foods (such as egg, peanut, milk, nuts, soy, fish, animal meat, and wheat),
9- Fungal spores, 10- Dust (especially house dust mites, & 11- Natural rubber latex.

Keywords