What is atopy?
Atopy is a group of allergic conditions that affect a person together. Treatment includes corticosteroids, antihistamines, and inhalers.
Atopic conditions include:
- Allergic asthma;
- Allergic rhinitis;
- Food allergies;
- Eczema or atopic dermatitis;
- Urticaria;
- Allergic conjunctivitis;
- Eosinophilic esophagitis.
Atopic conditions are characterized by the following symptoms:
- Nasal congestion or runny nose;
- Itchy eyes;
- Watery eyes;
- Rash;
- Itchy skin;
- Difficulty breathing;
- Chronic cough;
- Nausea and vomiting;
- Swelling of the mouth, throat, tongue, or face.
The cause of allergic conditions associated with atopy is immunoglobulin E. Immunoglobulin E is a type of antibody that protects the body from harmful pathogens, but sometimes mistakenly binds to harmless allergens or substances, causing a reaction and symptoms.
The greatest risk factor for atopy is hereditary, genetic predisposition, that is, if a biological parent or sibling suffers from this type of allergic condition.
Source:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/atopy
