Why does an allergy cause coughing?
In the context of an allergy, the organism reacts to a substance that is actually harmless, but is classified by the body as potentially dangerous. Thus this substance becomes an allergen and triggers an immune reaction. In many allergies, for example hay fever (pollen allergy) or food allergies, the messenger substance histamine, which is produced in the body’s own cells, plays an essential role.
Besides histamine, other messenger substances are produced that bind to receptors of body cells. Here they then trigger the allergy symptoms. Depending on the way in which the allergen “penetrates” the allergy symptoms can appear in different parts of the body.
In pollen allergy, the allergen enters the respiratory tract via the mouth and nose. The body’s immune system reacts to this in excess by releasing various messenger substances in this area of the body. This leads to an irritation of the bronchial tubes, which can manifest itself by a narrowing of the airways (shortness of breath) and coughing.
Allergic coughing is a relatively common accompanying symptom.
- Pollen allergy (hay fever)
- Food allergy
- Animal hair allergy
- House dust allergy
Unfortunately, it is not so easy to distinguish whether a cough is caused by an allergy or not. An allergic cough has no specific characteristics that make a reliable differentiation possible.
Allergic cough is in most cases dry and not productive, so no secretion (phlegm) is coughed up. It also occurs whenever contact with the allergen has taken place. Often the process of diagnosis is lengthy.
Coughing, which occurs more frequently only in certain seasons, can be an indication of an allergic cough in the context of a pollen allergy, for example. Coughing that occurs in the context of a house dust allergy is most noticeable in the night and early morning hours because the triggering allergens, so-called mites, are in bed. If the cough appears again and again shortly after the consumption of a certain food, this can be an indication of an allergy to this food.
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