Why is the immune system so fast to respond to allergens, but take days to fight off a legitimate infection?
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In reality most of the things you notice as a “cold” or upper respiratory infection are a result of the body fighting the legitimate infection. Your body responding to an allergen is a different set of cells as well. The immune response to an infection involves specialized cells ( B and T cells, amongst others) which have to activate, develop, and replicate to get ready. Where as allergens trigger a cell that is already just sitting around (mast cells) waiting for something to do. The mast cells sense their allergen and dump histamine and other stuff. Depending on the strength of the response, and where the allergen is, affects the response from itching to full on throat closure and blood pressure decline.
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