Understanding Allergy and Hay Fever Medications

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• What are allergies?
• What causes allergies?
• What are the risks of allergies?
• What medical treatments are used for allergies and hay fever?
• Antihistamines
• Decongestants
• Anticholinergic nasal sprays
• Corticosteroid nasal sprays
• Antiallergy eye drops
• Leukotriene inhibitors
• Mast cell inhibitors
• For More Information
• Web Links
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

What are allergies?

An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system responds to a foreign substance in an abnormal fashion. The immune system normally protects the body from harmful agents like bacteria and toxins. The body's abnormal response to a harmless substance (called an allergen) is called a hypersensitivity, or an allergic reaction. Generally, these reactions are due to interactions between the allergen and the family of proteins, IgE, resulting in activation of cells in the body called mast cells and basophils.