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