Clinical Trials Related to Allergies
Allergies are a variety of conditions caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system to something in the environment. Your immune system produces substances known as antibodies. Allergies are your immune system making antibodies that identify a particular allergen as harmful, even though it isn’t to most of the population. When you come into contact with the allergen, your immune system’s reaction causes inflammation.
Allergies are your body’s reaction to an otherwise harmless substance like pollen, mold, animal dander, latex, foods, or insect stings. Symptoms can range from a rash, itchiness, runny nose, watery or red eyes, to something life-threatening. Current treatments include antihistamines, decongestants, nasal steroids, immunotherapy and currently approved FDA asthma medications.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and wheezing. Asthma symptoms may be triggered by allergens or other, non-allergic stimuli, such as respiratory tract infections, cold air, or tobacco smoke. If you have asthma your airways are always inflamed. They become even more swollen and the muscles around the airways can tighten when something triggers your symptoms. This makes it difficult for air to move in and out of the lungs, causing symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and/or chest tightness.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is an immune disease in which people can’t eat gluten because it will damage their small intestine. If you have celiac disease and eat foods with gluten, your immune system responds by damaging the small intestine. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley.
Cow’s Milk Allergy
Milk allergy is an adverse immune reaction to one or more proteins in cow’s milk. When allergy symptoms occur, they can occur rapidly or have a gradual onset. The former may include anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition which requires treatment with epinephrine among other measures.
Urticaria
Urticaria, also known as hives, is an outbreak of swollen, pale red bumps or plaques (wheals) on the skin that appear suddenly — either as a result of the body’s reaction to certain allergens, or for unknown reasons. Hives usually cause itching, but may also burn or sting.
