Allergies are exaggerated reactions of the immune system to substances or compounds that should normally be tolerated by the body. Examples of allergens include pollen (causing hay fever), dust mites (causing dust mite allergy), food, synthetic substances (such as perfume), metals (causing nickel allergy), and many more. Pollen and food allergies are particularly common.
Allergies can trigger an immediate response in the body (sneezing, teary eyes, difficulty breathing) or cause delayed symptoms. In the case of food allergies, both immediate and delayed reactions are often observed. Especially the symptoms that appear several hours to days later are often nonspecific (such as abdominal pain, skin rashes, headaches), making it difficult for patients to associate them with specific foods.
A significant role in the development and maintenance of allergies is played by chronic masked allergies to wheat and cow's milk proteins, which the patient is often unaware of. Treating these two central allergies can significantly reduce the body's predisposition to allergies. This is especially important for individuals with multiple allergies, as the traditional allergy treatment (immunotherapy against individual substances) often does not effectively address the multitude of allergies.
Furthermore, there is evidence that infection with certain viruses can be significant in the development of allergies. Here, appropriate diagnostics and therapy to address viral burden can positively influence the outcome of allergy treatment.