Monday 10/November/2025 – 05:12 AM
Dr. Amjad Al-Haddad, an allergy and immunology consultant, confirmed that the word allergy is a general description of the immune system’s response to a trigger, explaining that these triggers may enter the body through breathing, food, or direct contact, causing various symptoms that vary depending on the affected organ.
Post-Corona disorders, allergy rates have increased
Al-Haddad explained, in television statements, that the allergy may appear in the form of a cold or sneezing when the nose is exposed to the causative agent, or redness and itching in the eyes when in contact with it, or shortness of breath and coughing when inhaled, or a skin rash and itching when ingested through food.
He added that types of allergies include skin allergies, chest allergies, and eye and nose allergies, noting that allergy patients have witnessed a noticeable increase after the Corona pandemic as a result of immune system disruption and psychological stress, which negatively affected individuals’ immunity, especially in cases of excessive skin itching.
He pointed out that the periods after infection with the Corona virus witnessed an increase in cases of respiratory allergies and sinus problems, pointing out that these phenomena are related to the impact of immunity after the viral infection, in addition to the psychological factor that leads to the exacerbation of skin allergic diseases.
He also explained that allergies are not only linked to environmental factors, but also to foods, such as allergies to milk, eggs, nuts, and fish, stressing that some children may suffer severe allergic shock simply by inhaling the smell of fish without eating it.
He explained that environmental causes, such as dust, pollen, and pet dander, are among the most irritating factors for allergies, especially in major cities where cats and dogs are kept indoors.
He stressed that the type of allergy is detected through special tests, most notably the skin test (Skin Prick Test), which relies on pricking the skin with known allergy-causing substances such as milk, eggs, strawberries, and dust, and monitoring the body’s reaction within a quarter of an hour to determine the type of cause. Specific antibody (IgE) analysis can also be performed to detect the causes more accurately.
