Understanding Allergy, Sensitivity & Immunity

Understanding Allergy, Sensitivity & Immunity

Title

Understanding Allergy, Sensitivity & Immunity: A Comprehensive Guide.

Author

Janice Vickerstaff Joneja, Ph.D. and Leonard Bielory M.D

Publisher

Rutgers University Press, Piscataway, New Jersey, U.S.A. rutgerspress.rutgers.edu

ISBN

0-8135-1520-3; 0-8135-1521-1

Date

1990

From the publisher:

Sneezes, wheezes, runny nose, itchy skin, upset stomach, headaches – the miseries of an allergy attack are all too familiar to sixty million North Americans. And they have an astonishing array of substances to blame: ragweed pollen, dust mites, strawberries, eggs, milk, wheat, wasps, detergents, perfumes, wool, molds, feathers, and aspirin. But the real cause of allergy lies within the body itself, in the inappropriate reaction of the immune system to the outside world. The immune system’s array of defences against truly harmful microorganisms turns against ordinary, harmless substances instead. However, allergies don’t have to rule your life. If you understand the immune system, you can figure out how to take control over them. This book explains, in clear, sensible language:

  • How the immune system works, and why it is so complicated
  • What causes the itching, the sneezing, the diarrhea, the swelling, the rash
  • How to tell an allergy from a common cold
  • When to seek emergency help for insect bites
  • How allergy tests work (and which ones to distrust)
  • The difference between autoimmune and immune deficiency diseases
  • How immunizations protect you against disease
  • Why you should not take ibuprofen if you are allergic to aspirin
  • When antihistamines will help and when they are a waste of money
  • Why some allergens provoke instant, life-threatening reactions
  • Why doctors distinguish between allergies and other sensitivities and intolerances
  • Where clinical immunologists and clinical ecologists differ in their approach
  • How you and your doctor can detect the causes of allergies
  • How you can work out a healthy, balanced diet that avoids food allergy problems
  • How to tell if your children have allergies, and how to help them
  • Why, in the future, doctors will pay more attention to the psychological side of allergies

Table of Contents:

Table of Contents

  List of Tables and Figures xiii
  Acknowledgements xv
  Preface xvii
  Introduction 1
  PART I IMMUNITY: RESISTENCE TO INFECTION 5
  The Science of Immunology 7
CHAPTER 1 HOW MICROORGANISMS CAUSE DISEASE 7
  Microorganisms in the Normal Human Body
  Microorganisms in Our Environment
  Microorganisms and Disease
CHAPTER 2 ROUTES OF TRANSMISSION OF PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS 20
  The Respiratory Route
  The Digestive Route
  Direct Contact
  Sexual Transmission
  Mother to Child
  Blood
  The Healthy Carrier
  Opportunistic Infections
CHAPTER 3 DEFENSE AGAINST INFECTION 26
  The First line of Defense
  The Immune Response
CHAPTER 4 CELLS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM 28
  Leukocytes
  White Blood Cell Count
CHAPTER 5 ANTIGENS 35
  Antigens and Compatibility
  Human Blood Group Antigens
  Human Leukocyte Antigens
  Haptens
  Allergens
CHAPTER 6 ANTIBODIES: THE IMMUNOGLOBULINS 41
  Structure of the Immunoglobulins
  Characteristics of the Immunoglobulins
  The Antigen-Antibody Complex
  Monoclonal Antibodies
CHAPTER 7 THE COMPLEMENT SYSTEM 51
  The Complement Cascade
  Complement in Disease and Hypersensitivity Reactions
  Summary
CHAPTER 8 THE LYMPHOCYTES 58
  B Cells
  T Cells
  Natural Killer Cells
  Lymphokines
CHAPTER 9 THE IMMUNE RESPOPNSE 66
  Phagoctytosis
  Response to an Invading Virus-The Common Cold
  Response to Other Infections
CHAPTER 10 ACQUIRED IMMUNITY 81
  Active Immunity and Vaccines
  Passive Immunity
CHAPTER 11 MEASUREMENT IN IMMUNOLOGY 93
  Diagnostic Serology
CHAPTER 12 AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE 105
  Possible Causes
  Autoimmune Diseases and Human Leukocyte Antigens
  Examples of Autoimmune Diseases
CHAPTER 13 IMMUNE DEFICIENCY DISEASES 110
  Types of Immune Deficiencies
  Acquired immune deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
CHAPTER 14 WHO CATCHES COLD AND WHY? 115
  Stress
  PART II ALLERGY: HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS, INTOLERANCE, AND SENSITIVITY
CHAPTER 15 THE HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS 121
CHAPTER 16 TYPE 1 HYPERSENSITIVITY: ATOPIC ALLERGY 124
  The Symptoms of Allergy
  Immunology of Type I Hypersensitivity
  Body Chemicals That Mediate the Symptoms of Allergy
  Palliative Medications for Allergy
  Summary
CHAPTER 17 ALLERGIES CAUSED BY TYPE I HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS 146
  Anaphylaxis
  Respiratory Tract Allergies
  Allergic Skin Reactions
  Allergic Gastrointestinal Disorders
  Drug Reactions
  Some Common Allergens
CHAPTER 18 TYPE II HYPERSENSITIVITY: CYTOTOXICITY REACTIONS 160
  Mechanisms of Type II Hypersensitivity Reactions
  Type II Hypersensitivity Disorders
  Summary
CHAPTER 19 TYPE III HYPERSENSITIVITY: IMMUNE COMPLEX REACTIONS 164
  Mechanism of Type III Hypersensitivity
  Examples of Type III Hypersensitivity Disorders
  Summary
CHAPTER 20 TYPE IV HYPERSENSITIVITY: DELAYED REACTIONS 168
  Characteristics of Type IV Reactions
  Mechanism of Type IV Hypersensitivity
  Example of Type IV Hypersensitivity Disorders
  Summary
CHAPTER 21 TYPE V, TYPE VI, AND MIXED-TYPE HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS 174
  Type V-Stimulatory Hypersensitivity
  Type VI Hypersensitivity-Alternative Complement
  Pathway Activation
  Mixed-Type Hypersensitivity Reactions
CHAPTER 22 DIAGNOSTIC TESTS FOR HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS: ALLERGY TESTS 180
  Tests for Type I Hypersensitivity Reactions
  Tests for Type IV Hypersensitivity Reactions
CHAPTER 23 FOOD AND CHEMICAL ALLERGY, INTOLERANCE, AND SENSITIVITY 188
  The Difference between Allergy and Intolerance
  Immunology of the Digestive Tract
  Food Intolerance
  Food Sensitivity
  “Nonallergic” Sensitivity
  Laboratory Tests for Sensitivity Reactions
  Clinical Immunology and Clinical Ecology
  Dealing with Allergies and Sensitivities
  PART III COPING WITH ALLERGIES AND SENSITIVITIES
  Introduction 209
CHAPTER 24 SELF TESTING FOR FOOD AND INHALANT SENSITIVITY 211
  Step 1: Selection of suspects
  Step 2: Elimination of suspects
  Step 3: Challenge
CHAPTER 25 LIVING WITH YOUR ALLERGIES 222
  Who Gets the Allergies-and Why
  The Hypoallergenic Life-cycle
  Menu Planning
CHAPTER 26 ALLERGIC INFANTS AND CHILDREN 237
  The immune System of the Newborn
  Recognizing an Allergic Infant
  Hypersensitivity Reactions in Infants
  Allergies in Older Children
CHAPTER 27 IMMUNOTHERAPY: DESENSITIZATION 246
  Immune Mechanism of Desensitization
  Desensitization Procedure
 
  PART IV CURRENT CONCERNS AND FUTURE TRENDS
CHAPTER 28 SENSITIVITY SYNDROMES 253
  Chronic Candidiasis
  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  Sick Building Syndrome
  Diet and Disease
CHAPTER 29 WHAT IS IN THE FUTURE? 263
  “Vaccination” against Allergies
  Suppression of IgE
  Pharmacological Inhibition of Mediators of Allergy
  Psychoneuroimmunology
  Appendix A DNA (DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID) AND RNA (RIBONUCLEIC ACID) 271
  Appendix B GRAM-POSITIVE AND GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA 272
  Appendix C THE IMMUNOLOGICAL BASIS OF IN-HOME PREGNANCY KITS 273
  Appendix D FATTY ACIDS 275
  Food Allergen Scale 276
  Glossary 277
  Bibliography 291
  Index 317