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Alergias - Overview

Causas:

Las alergias son relativamente comunes y tanto la genética como los factores ambientales pueden jugar un papel en su desarrollo.

El sistema inmunitario normalmente protege al cuerpo de sustancias nocivas como las bacterias y los virus. Este sistema también reacciona ante sustancias extrañas, llamadas alergenos, que generalmente son inocuas y que en la mayoría de las personas no causan ningún problema.

Pero en una persona con alergias, la respuesta inmunitaria es hipersensible. Cuando el sistema inmunitario reconoce un alergeno, libera químicos como las histaminas, que lo combaten. Esto provoca picazón, hinchazón, producción de moco, espasmos musculares, ronchas, erupción cutánea y otros síntomas que varían de una persona a otra.


Alergias

Los alergenos comunes comprenden el polen, el moho, la caspa de animales y el polvo. Asimismo, son muy comunes las alergias a alimentos y medicamentos. De igual manera, las reacciones alérgicas pueden ser causadas por picaduras de insectos, joyas, cosméticos, condimentos y otras sustancias.

Algunas personas tienen reacciones similares a las alergias frente a las temperaturas cálidas o frías, la luz del sol y otros desencadenantes ambientales. Algunas veces, la fricción (el roce o golpes fuertes en la piel) producirá síntomas.

Una alergia específica por lo general no se transmite de padres a hijos (hereditaria). Sin embargo, si ambos padres tienen alergias, usted probablemente va a sufrir este problema. La posibilidad es mayor si es la madre quien sufre de alergias.

Las alergias pueden llevar a que ciertas afecciones, como problemas sinusales, eccema y asma, empeoren.

  • Reviewed last on: 6/29/2010
  • Paula J. Busse, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Wallace DV, Dykewicz MS, Bernstein DI, Blessing-Moore J, Cox L, Khan DA, et al. The diagnosis and management of rhinitis: an updated practice parameter. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008 Aug:122(2).

Kurowski K, Boxer RW. Food allergies: detection and management. American Family Physician. 2008 June:77(12).

Bielory L, Friedlaender MH. Allergic conjunctivitis. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2008 Feb;28(1):43-58, vi.

Sicherer S, Sampson HA. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2010 Feb 125 (2 suppl2) S116-25.

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