Allergies Sourcebook

Omnigraphics' Health Reference Series is designed for the general reader seeking guidance on how to avoid serious illness by following preventive lifestyles and recognizing early warning signs. It also supports the layperson who has received a diagnosis of a serious disease or disorder as well as the family member or nonprofessional caregiver who must learn to care and to cope with the illness. Each volume in the series deals comprehensively with a particular area of medical concern and contains material found in publications issued by the National Institutes of Health and other agencies and associations. Nowhere else can general readers find this information conveniently collected, coordinated, and indexed in book form. Allergies Sourcebook, Fifth Edition More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year. Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States, and according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), about fifty percent of the Americans test positive for at least one of the most common allergens: ragweed, pollen, mold, animal dander, dust mite, cockroaches, milk, eggs, tree nuts, and peanuts. Symptoms associated with allergic reactions can range from mild annoyances to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening emergency. Combined, allergies cost the U.S. healthcare system more than $18 billion annually. Despite their widespread occurrence, however, many people do not understand the basic biological processes involved in allergic reactions and the role the immune system plays in causing common symptoms. Furthermore, medical science has yet to identify the specific genetic and environmental interactions that lead to the development of allergies or to fully understand why the prevalence of allergic diseases is increasing. Allergies Sourcebook, Fifth Edition provides updated information about the causes, triggers, treatments, and prevalence of common allergic disorders, including rhinitis, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, allergic asthma, dermatitis, eczema, hives, and anaphylaxis. It discusses the immune system and its role in the development of allergic disorders and describes such commonly encountered allergens as pollen, mold, dust mites, and animal dander. Facts about allergies to foods and food additives, insect stings, medications, and chemicals are also included, along with information about allergy diagnosis, treatments, coping strategies, and prevention efforts. The book concludes with a glossary of related terms and directories of resources, including one to help people with food allergies find allergen-free foods.