Table of Contents Introduction What is an allergy? What Causes Allergies? What is an allergic reaction? Symptoms of Allergies to Airborne Substances Pollen Allergy Mold Allergy Dust Mite Allergy Animal Allergy Chemical Sensitivity Diagnosing Allergic Diseases Treating People with Allergic Diseases Allergy Research Keeping On Top of Your Health Condition Information Resource

What Causes Allergies?

Scientists think that people inherit a tendency to be allergic, meaning an increased likelihood of being allergic to one or more allergens, although they probably do not have an inherited tendency to be allergic to any specific allergens. Children are much more likely to develop allergies if their parents have allergies, even if only one parent is allergic. Exposure to allergens at certain times when the body's defenses are lowered or weakened, such as after a viral infection or during pregnancy, seems to contribute to the development of allergies.