1.How might you go about treating immediate (Type I) hypersensitivity? 2.When a
ID: 41648 • Letter: 1
Question
1.How might you go about treating immediate (Type I) hypersensitivity?
2.When a person0 has hayfever, some common symptoms are runny nose, weeping eyes, difficulties in breathing, etc. (a) Why does this happen? (b)Antihistamines are often given as treatment: what is their mechanism of action? (c) Describe how allergy shots might lessen the effects of type I hypersensitivity?
3.How would you test the relative importance of genetic influence on development of allergies compared with environmental influences on the development of allergy?
Explanation / Answer
1. type I hypersensitivity can be treated by:
a. Administering epinephrine immediately
b. Give intravenous fluids rapidly
c. Use vasopressins such as dopamine, norepinephrine etc.
d. Give antihistamines to alleviate urticaria, hypotension.
e. Use nebulizers when needed
f. Use corticosteroid to prevent late phase reaction.
g. patient should be transferred to hospital for further attention and care.
2. (i) These symptoms are caused due to chemical histamine which is released by Immunoglobulin E as defense against airborne substance.
(ii) Mechanism of action of antihistamines involves competition between antihistamines and histamines for histamine receptors in body. When antihistamine drugs are used they enter the system and start competing with histamine for occupying its receptors H1 (located throughout body) and H2 (located within gastric mucosa). Since, histamine is not able to occupy its receptors, it is unable to cause problems and this in turn causes a relief in symptoms for hay fever.
(iii) Allergy shots help in building immunity against specific allergans. These shots have a very low amount of pure form allergans which are given monthly for a few years. This constant dosage helps in preparing body against these allergans in a gradual manner and over time the reactions which occur due to exposure to allergan decreases. Thus, allergy shots lessen effects of type I hypersensitivity.
3. The relative importance of both the influences can be tested by setting up experiments or studies which find the genes which play a key role in developing symptoms or phenotypes for the allergy. Once these genes are identified interaction of genetic or environemental influences with the allergy can be deduced. Thus, the importance and relationship of these influences to the attributes of the allergy and its development could be found out.
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