Allergic diseases are on the rise all over the world and appear in increasingly more complex and serious forms. It is estimated that between 20% – 30% of the Portuguese population can be affected by one or more allergy problem such as asthma, rhinitis, eczema, hives and food or medication allergies.
Dr. Pedro Morais Silva, a specialist in Immunoallergology answers some pertinent questions.
What is an allergy?
An allergy is an exaggerated and inadequate response of our immune system against inoffensive substances in the environment. In a normal situation, our body fights these agents that can cause diseases, such as bacteria or parasites and “tolerates” beneficial substances such as food, the air that we breathe or medication.
Allergy Therapeutics plc (LON:AGY) is a market-leading, pioneering immunology business with specialist experience in the research and development of allergy treatments.