What is an allergy?

• ‧ Allergens are everywhere in our daily lives. When the body comes into contact with an allergen, it triggers the immune system to produce and release antibodies, leading to inflammation and a series of allergic symptoms.
• ‧ Common allergens are mainly categorized into environmental inhalants and foods, such as pollen, animal dander, dust mites, nuts, eggs, and seafood

Increasing Number of People with Allergies?

With changes in modern living environments and dietary habits, allergy issues have become increasingly common. Allergic symptoms do not only affect physical health; long-term allergic reactions can cause physical and mental stress, impacting quality of life, learning efficiency, and sleep quality.
The immune systems of children are not yet fully matured, so their incidence of allergies is generally higher than that of adults, with a significant upward trend in recent years. In Hong Kong, 1 in every 3 children experiences allergic symptoms, and the incidence rates of eczema, rhinitis, and nasal allergies are all increasing. 

In addition to environmental and dietary factors, genetics is also a major cause. If one parent has an allergic constitution, the child has a 30% chance of developing the same. If both parents have an allergic constitution, there is a 70% chance of having an "allergic baby."

Common Allergy Symptoms

Skin Allergy ‧Redness and swelling, itching, eczema, hives	Nasal Allergy  ‧Nasal congestion, itching, runny nose, sneezing
Eye Allergy ‧Redness and swelling, watery eyes, bloodshot eyes	Tracheal (Respiratory) Allergy  ‧Narrowing of the airways, shortness of breath, coughing

Common Allergy Testing Methods

Allergy tests can be categorized into immediate (IgE, skin prick) and delayed (IgG) reactions. 

IgE and Skin Prick Tests: These are used to detect severe allergies that occur within minutes to one hour, such as hives or difficulty breathing. They have a high level of accuracy.

IgG Tests: These are commonly used to detect food intolerances (chronic allergies). However, IgG antibody levels can be influenced by many other factors. Some medical organizations generally do not recommend using IgG as a definitive diagnosis for food allergies; it is typically used for reference purposes only.