• Question: Why do some people have allergic reactions and others don't?

    Asked by natalia to Betul, Bridget, Ceri-Wyn, Laurel, Maria on 22 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Bridget Waller

      Bridget Waller answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      Generally, it is because people vary in their immune response. This means that some people react strongly to alien substances (substances that aren’t ‘them’) and others don’t. So in a sense, people who are allergic are simply reacting normally to protect the body, but in such an extreme way that is also hurts their own body!

    • Photo: Ceri-Wyn Thomas

      Ceri-Wyn Thomas answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      I think this is due to both your environment and your genes: Some people inherit the tendency to have allergies and their immune systems are less able to cope with certain allergens. The antibody that copes with allergens is called IgE so maybe some people have less of this? Over exposure to certain chemicals in foods, insect bites or pollen etc can also cause an allergy to develop. Although exposure can also ward off any chance of developing an allergy! Some research suggests that children exposed to dogs from a young age will be less likely to develop an allergy to animal fur. I guess it’s pretty complicated. I have an allergy to peanuts and I have asthma and I’m not really sure how either conditions started I’m afraid.

    • Photo: Betul Arslan

      Betul Arslan answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      Allergic reactions are caused by mistaken immune responses. Normally our immune system recognize a harmful bacteria or a virus and respond to save us, properly. Some people though, have mistaken immune system, meaning: their immune system respondes to a harmless substance, thinking at it’s a danger. You see, our bodies have good intentions! 🙂

    • Photo: Maria Pawlowska

      Maria Pawlowska answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      Hi Natalia,

      That’s because some people produce antibodies (the cells the eliminate bad things from our body) to harmless things like pollen, or peanuts. That’s probably because we live in very clean environemnts and our immune systems get ‘bored’ so they attack just about anything.

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