Any substance that can bring about an allergic response in an organism. Hay fever and asthma are two common allergic responses. The allergens that evoke these responses include pollen, fungi, and dust. Allergens can be described as host-specific agents...

Any substance that produces an allergic reaction when it comes into contact with a sensitive individual. See also:...

An allergen is a nonparasitic antigen capable of stimulating a type-I hypersensitivity reaction in atopic individuals.[1] Most humans mount significant IgE responses only as a defense against parasitic infections. However, some individuals mount an IgE...

Dear Jane,My kids have terrible allergies. What can I do around the house to ease their suffering this season?Thanks,Mary D.  Dear Mary, While all the allergy-proofing in the world won’t completely eliminate your kids’ symptoms, there are many steps you can take to drastically reduce allergens...

More and more foods bear a mishmash of warnings that they might accidentally contain ingredients that could seriously sicken people with food allergies.Yet there are signs that the labels are creating confusion among families that should heed them _ even as new testing shows there...

More and more foods bear a mishmash of warnings that they might accidentally contain ingredients that could seriously sicken people with food allergies. Yet there are signs that the labels are creating confusion among families that should heed them _ even as new testing shows...