Question

On a visit to a hill station, one of your friend suddenly became unwell and felt uneasy.

1. List two symptoms you would look for to term it to be due to allergy.
2. Explain the response of the body to an allergen.
3. Name two drugs that can be recommended for immediate relief.

Answer 1

1. Two symptoms to look for to term the condition as allergy when your friend suddenly becomes unwell and uneasy on a visit to a hill station are:
   • Sneezing, watery eyes, and running nose
   • Difficulty in breathing or swelling of lips and throat
2. Response of the body to an allergen:
   When the body is exposed to an allergen such as pollen grains, mites in dust or animal dander, it triggers an allergic reaction that is a hypersensitive immune response. Mast cells, a type of immune cell, get activated and release histamine and other chemicals. Histamine causes symptoms like inflammation, swelling, mucus production, and constriction of airways, leading to sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, and breathing difficulty. The body essentially perceives the allergen as harmful and mounts this exaggerated immune response to remove it.
3. Two drugs recommended for immediate relief of an allergic reaction:
   • Antihistamines: These drugs block the action of histamine by competing for H1 receptor sites and thereby prevent or relieve allergy symptoms.
   • Sodium cromoglycate: It prevents the release of histamine from mast cells and is especially used for respiratory allergies. Avoiding exposure to the allergen is also the best treatment when possible.