Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.
🔑Concepts
Allergy is defined as the exaggerated or hypersensitive response of the immune system to certain antigens present in the environment.
Allergens are the substances that cause an allergic response, such as pollen, dust mites, dander, etc.
The antibodies produced during an allergic reaction are specifically of the type.
Allergic reactions are triggered by the release of chemicals like and from in the body.
Common symptoms of allergy include sneezing, watery eyes, running nose, and difficulty in breathing (as seen in asthma).
Treatment for allergies involves the administration of drugs like , , and which quickly reduce symptoms.
Auto-immunity is a condition where the body's immune system loses the ability to distinguish 'self' cells from 'non-self' cells and starts attacking its own body cells.
The exact cause of auto-immunity is often unknown, though genetic factors and environmental triggers play a significant role.
A classic example of an auto-immune disease is , where the immune system attacks the joints.
📐Formulae
💡Examples
Problem 1:
A 10-year-old child living in a metro city suffers from repeated bouts of wheezing and breathlessness whenever exposed to dust. Identify the condition and the likely cause based on modern lifestyle.
Solution:
The condition is (a form of allergy).
Explanation:
Modern lifestyle in cities involves a protected environment with less exposure to natural antigens early in life. This results in hypersensitivity to allergens like dust, leading to mediated inflammatory responses in the airways.
Problem 2:
Explain why is categorized as an auto-immune disease.
Solution:
It involves the immune system attacking self-antigens in the joints.
Explanation:
In , the body's immune system fails to recognize the synovial membrane and other joint tissues as 'self' and attacks them, leading to chronic inflammation and joint deformity.