What is allergy?
Allergies occur when the immune system overreact to harmless substances in the environment. Among four types of allergies, IgE allergy and IgG sensitivity are becoming increasingly common and greatly affect our daily lives.
Immediate-onset IgE Allergy
When allergies are mentioned, the type that usually comes to mind is IgE allergy even though most people may not know the full name. With IgE allergy, the body induces an immediate reaction mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies and responds by releasing histamine and various other chemical mediators upon exposure to a food allergen. In simpler terms, the immune system will recognize the allergen as a threat and release antibodies immediately to neutralize the perceived danger – thereby releasing histamines and other chemicals that cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction. Symptoms such as hay fever or anaphylaxis are typical IgE allergies, whereby symptoms are immediately noticeable. Due to the body’s rapid response, anyone suffering from such an allergy will most likely already know which foods can induce these responses. Therefore, blood testing is not generally required to uncover the root cause.
Delayed IgG Sensitivity
Delayed IgG sensitivity (Type 3 reaction) is mediated by a mixture of immunoglobulins, but the primary troublemaker is IgG. Immune complexes composed of antigen and antibody take root inside the body and to combat these cytokines are released, which results in an inflammatory response. As the name suggests, the symptoms from Type 3 reactions are delayed and can manifest themselves hours or days after the consumption of the trigger food making them far more difficult to detect.
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