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  4. An allergic reaction is initiated by antibodies of

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Q. An allergic reaction is initiated by antibodies of

Human Health and Disease

Solution:

Allergy is the hypersensitiveness of a person to some foreign substances coming in contact with or entering the body, i.e., to an allergen. Some of the common allergens are dust, pollen, spores, fabrics, etc. Initially when the allergen comes in contact with the B-lympocytes these produces IgE antibodies. These antibodies bind to the antigens forming antigen-antibody complexés. These complexes then bind to the mast cells which release histamine. This histamine causes marked dilation of all the peripheral blood vessels and the capillaries become highly permeable so that large amounts of fluid leak out from the blood into tissues. This affects the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes and upper respiratory tracts, asthma, eczema of the skin, etc.