What is an allergy?

An allergy is an immune reaction to something harmless to most people. Pollen, dust mites, certain foods, medicines and insect venoms can trigger it. Reactions range from mild to life-threatening. Food intolerance and every medicine side effect are not the same as allergy.

Symptoms and assessment

1. Affected areas Sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, rashes and digestive symptoms can occur. Airways may be involved. Timing after exposure and repeated patterns help assessment. 2. Allergy versus intolerance Intolerances can arise through nonimmune mechanisms. Discomfort after food does not establish the cause. Removing broad food groups without diagnosis can impair nutrition, especially in children. 3. Testing Skin and blood results require interpretation alongside history. Positive tests do not always mean clinically significant allergy. Supervised challenges may be needed; retrying a suspected food at home can be unsafe.

Prevention, treatment and anaphylaxis

4. Exposure reduction Confirmed triggers need practical avoidance plans, including labels, cross-contact and workplace exposures where relevant. One diet or cleaning list does not suit every allergy. 5. Individual plans Clinicians select symptom treatments and specialized options where appropriate. Previous serious reactions may require an emergency plan. Learn to use a prescribed adrenaline auto-injector. 6. Emergencies Sudden tongue or throat swelling, breathing difficulty, faintness or rapid deterioration may be anaphylaxis, even without a rash. Use a prescribed auto-injector according to the learned plan and call 112 in Türkiye. Antihistamines alone do not replace emergency anaphylaxis treatment.