I get allergies almost everyday because of dust/pollen. But I will not get chickenpox after being exposed to it once.
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Because immunity to a virus like chickenpox is your immune system working as it’s supposed to, while an allergic reaction is basically your immune system malfunctioning and overreacting. In the case of dust or pollen, they aren’t attacking your body the way a virus does, so your body reacting to them is usually causing things to go wrong. When you develop immunity to a virus your body kinda saves the information on how to make those antibodies, so that it can react quicker next time. It can’t do that for common allergens, there’s no way for it to “learn” they are not harmful.
Because biology is weird!
An immunity and an allergy are actually kinda the same thing. When you get the chickenpox, you’re body learns and remembers how to fight the pathogen.
Allergic reactions are your body fighting things that don’t need to be fought. It tries to do a bunch of stuff to fight this thing that isn’t fighting back, but isn’t going away either.
Sometimes your body will realize it’s overreacting, and you outgrow the allergy. Unfortunately that’s not always the case, and requires several exposures.
Because biology is weird!
An immunity and an allergy are actually kinda the same thing. When you get the chickenpox, you’re body learns and remembers how to fight the pathogen.
Allergic reactions are your body fighting things that don’t need to be fought. It tries to do a bunch of stuff to fight this thing that isn’t fighting back, but isn’t going away either.
Sometimes your body will realize it’s overreacting, and you outgrow the allergy. Unfortunately that’s not always the case, and requires several exposures.
Because immunity to a virus like chickenpox is your immune system working as it’s supposed to, while an allergic reaction is basically your immune system malfunctioning and overreacting. In the case of dust or pollen, they aren’t attacking your body the way a virus does, so your body reacting to them is usually causing things to go wrong. When you develop immunity to a virus your body kinda saves the information on how to make those antibodies, so that it can react quicker next time. It can’t do that for common allergens, there’s no way for it to “learn” they are not harmful.
Because biology is weird!
An immunity and an allergy are actually kinda the same thing. When you get the chickenpox, you’re body learns and remembers how to fight the pathogen.
Allergic reactions are your body fighting things that don’t need to be fought. It tries to do a bunch of stuff to fight this thing that isn’t fighting back, but isn’t going away either.
Sometimes your body will realize it’s overreacting, and you outgrow the allergy. Unfortunately that’s not always the case, and requires several exposures.
Because immunity to a virus like chickenpox is your immune system working as it’s supposed to, while an allergic reaction is basically your immune system malfunctioning and overreacting. In the case of dust or pollen, they aren’t attacking your body the way a virus does, so your body reacting to them is usually causing things to go wrong. When you develop immunity to a virus your body kinda saves the information on how to make those antibodies, so that it can react quicker next time. It can’t do that for common allergens, there’s no way for it to “learn” they are not harmful.
>Why do we get immunity after being exposed to a pathogen but not an allergen?
>I get allergies almost everyday because of dust/pollen. But I will not get chickenpox after being exposed to it once.
There seems to be a misconception here. Allergies **are** immunity. You remaining allergic is rooted in the same mechanisms that keep you immune against chickenpox and whatever other pathogens.
>Why do we get immunity after being exposed to a pathogen but not an allergen?
>I get allergies almost everyday because of dust/pollen. But I will not get chickenpox after being exposed to it once.
There seems to be a misconception here. Allergies **are** immunity. You remaining allergic is rooted in the same mechanisms that keep you immune against chickenpox and whatever other pathogens.
>Why do we get immunity after being exposed to a pathogen but not an allergen?
>I get allergies almost everyday because of dust/pollen. But I will not get chickenpox after being exposed to it once.
There seems to be a misconception here. Allergies **are** immunity. You remaining allergic is rooted in the same mechanisms that keep you immune against chickenpox and whatever other pathogens.
An allergy is you being immune to the thing. Your immune system attacks it, same as it attacks a bug you’re immune to. The symptoms of a cold are your immune system working. It’a just that the bug isn’t around all the time like an allergen can be.
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