Question

There are many symptoms surrounding allergic reactions and occasionally, some conditions may include an accompanying fever!

How might you go about treating immediate (Type I) hypersensitivity?

When a person has hayfever, some common symptoms are runny nose, weeping eyes, difficulties in breathing, etc. (a) Why does this happen? (b)Antihistamines are often given as treatment: what is their mechanism of action? (c) Describe how allergy shots might lessen the effects of type I hypersensitivity?

Explain how monoclonal antibodies against IgE might help those that suffer from

allergies.

How would you test the relative importance of genetic influence on development

of allergies compared with environmental influences on the development of allergy?

List 3 specific inflammatory mediators (chemicals) involved in Type I hypersensitive reactions and briefly describe their effect.

In the year 1900, the incident of allergy was about 1-2%. Today, it is almost 30%. Why

has the prevalence of allergies in the population increased?