In case of a small invasion (e.g, vaccination), the disturbed cells set about manufacturing hooks (antibodies) in great profusion, throw them off into the blood stream. Then, when another protein army comes along, there are enough hooks loose in the blood to deal with the invaders. The person has been immunized. But occasionally something goes wrong with the detaching mechanism by which the disturbed cells turn loose their hooks. Then, instead of immunity, allergic sensitization is set up. Though sprouted in great numbers, the hooks remain attached to the cell Now the cell is more attractive to foreign proteins than before. They swarm to its hooks like hungry wolves pouncing on beefsteaks. From then on, the. person is allergic to that protein.
Suppose x farmer.is stung by a bee. He suffers only a temporary, curseworthy discomfort, forgets it. His blood cells manufacture antibodies against the bee venom. But instead of being turned loose, as they normally should, they may remain attached. The victim is then sensitized instead of protected from bee sting. Six months later he may be stung again. He faints, dies. This is allergic shock.
Milder allergies to foods, pollens, textiles and animal hairs, are produced the same way. Food allergies are often acquired by digestive upsets which allow proteins to get into the blood instead of being broken down in the digestive tract. Some people are born with food allergies, acquired from proteins in the maternal blood during pregnancy. E In treating milder allergies, the first step is to, find out what a patient is allergic to, by means of skin fests which result in small reactions to the offending substance. If it is a food or something similar, all the patient has to do is avoid it. If it is a wind-borne pollen that cannot be escaped, the patient may try "desensitization" treatment, which involves injecting very small quantities of the allergenic protein. How or why desensitization works is Unknown. The benefits of desensitization are temporary and partial, though the degree of relief. may seem wonderful to a sufferer. Treatments must be repeated every year. Sometimes allergies subside spontaneously, but there ig no medical cure.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.