ALLERGY

Course overview

ALLERGY IS DESCRIBED AS AN EXAGGERATED RESPONSE FROM THE BODY’S IMMUNE SYSTEM TO OTHERWISE INERT SUBSTANCES PRESENT IN THE ENVIRONMENT. THE USUAL SYMPTOMS ARE PRURITUS, FLUSHING, RASH, URTICARIA, SWELLING OF THE LIPS, TONGUE, AND AIRWAY, (ANGIOEDEMA), NAUSEA, VOMITING, ABDOMINAL CRAMPING, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, WHEEZING AND BRONCHOSPASM, STRIDOR, SYNCOPE OR COLLAPSE. THIS ACTIVITY ILLUSTRATES THE ETIOLOGY, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, CLASSIFICATION, AND CLINICAL SYMPTOMATOLOGY OF ALLERGY AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN MANAGING AND EDUCATING THE PATIENTS.