A simple guide to allergies

What is an allergy?
How do you recognise an allergy?
Find out more about allergies
and what to do in an emergency.
Learn more today!

Find out more about allergies.
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if you have any questions.
From 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.,
from Tuesday to Friday.
Our telephone number is: 031 359 90 50.

We speak German, French and English.
We provide free advice.

Kind regards
Bettina Ravazzolo
Expert, aha! Swiss Allergy Centre

aha!infoline
031 359 90 50
Monday to Thursday
08.30–12.30

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Everything you need to know about allergies

What is an allergy?

If a person is allergic to something,
this means the following:

For example:
A person finds it hard to breathe
when they eat peanuts.
This person is allergic to peanuts.

What is an allergen?

An allergen is the substance
that causes an allergy.

For example:
A bee sting:
Some of the venom in the sting is an allergen.

What are the signs of an allergy?

Allergies can cause small and big problems in your body.

For example:
– A person’s skin turns red and becomes swollen.
– A person finds it hard to breathe.

What types of allergies are there?

There are different types of allergies.

For example:

Hay fever
Allergies to an insect’s venom
Food allergies
House dust mite allergy

A simple explanation of allergies: Pollen allergies

An allergy to pollen is also called hay fever.
Pollen is made by plants.
The pollen from trees and plants can cause an allergy.

Find out more about pollen allergies here

A simple explanation of allergies: Insect venom allergies

Some people have strong reactions to
being stung by a bee or a wasp.
Bees and wasps are insects.
That’s why this type of allergy is called an insect venom allergy.

Find our more about insect venom allergies here

A simple explanation of allergies: Food allergies

Your body can have strong reactions to food.
For example, with a rash on your skin or vomiting.
Examples of foods that cause allergies are peanuts and milk.

Find out more about food allergies here

A simple explanation of allergies: House dust mite allergy

Mites are extremely small animals.
You cannot see mites with the naked eye.
There are mites in every home.
This is normal.
They live in dust.
Some people have bad reactions to mites.
They may have a runny nose or a cough, for example.

Find out more about house dust mite allergies here

Might you have an allergy?
What are the symptoms of an allergy?

You will quickly notice the symptoms of an allergy
after coming into contact with an allergen.

An allergy can affect different parts of your body.
Sometimes, only one part of your body is affected.
Other times, more than one part of your body is affected.

The following body parts are most affected:

Airways
These are the throat and the nose, for example.
A person may need to cough
or might not be able to breathe well and have a runny nose.
Skin
A person’s skin turns red, is itchy and becomes swollen.
Stomach and intestines
A person may need to vomit or has diarrhoea.
Heart and circulatory system
A person becomes dizzy.
And they can even collapse
if the allergy is really bad.