Clinical Immunology

Infection and Allergy

Infection refers to invasion of the body by a foreign organism. Infection ranges from mild and self-limiting (colds or most cases of food-poisoning) to life-threatening (cholera, tuberculosis). The severity of a given infection may vary according to the patient - many infections which are mild in healthy young adults may be very dangerous to babies or old people. Allergies are among the most common chronic conditions worldwide. Allergy symptoms range from making you miserable to putting you at risk for life-threatening reactions. Allergies can cause a variety of symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, itching, rashes, swelling, or asthma. Allergies can range from minor to severe. Anaphylaxis is a severe reaction that can be life-threatening. Doctors use skin and blood tests to diagnose allergies. These diseases include allergic asthma, hay fever, food allergies, atopic dermatitis, and anaphylaxis. Symptoms can be red eyes, an itchy rash, sneezing, a runny nose, shortness of breath, or swelling.