Which of the following is a Common Cause of Hypersensitivity Diseases?

Understanding what causes Hypersensitivity Diseases is a way to identify and potentially avoid them. One of the common causes, as with allergies, is an overreaction of the immune system. This can be caused by genetic factors or environmental factors that make the immune system hypersensitive. Another common cause is pharmaceuticals – certain drugs can cause Hypersensitivity Diseases including food-related hypersensitivities.

Common causes of Hypersensitivity Diseases

Hypersensitivity diseases are caused by the body’s immune system overreacting to a perceived threat. This can happen when the immune system sees a substance as foreign and attacks it, but in the case of hypersensitivity disease, the body thinks that its tissues are foreign.

Hypersensitivity diseases are caused by an immune system that overreacts to a foreign substance or agent. The body’s immune system is supposed to recognize and fight off viruses, bacteria, and other foreign invaders, but when it overreacts and attacks harmless substances like pollen or peanuts, you have a hypersensitivity disease.

Common causes of hypersensitivity diseases include:

1. Genetics

Some people have genes that make them more susceptible to certain allergies than others. People with a family history of allergies are more likely to develop allergies themselves.

2. Immune System Dysfunction

An impaired immune system may be unable to recognize and fight off allergens properly, causing an allergic reaction instead of a normal immune response. This can occur after taking medications like antibiotics or steroids for an extended period or if you suffer from conditions like HIV/AIDS or cancer chemotherapy treatment.

3. Infection & Allergen Exposure

Infections can lead to an overactive immune response and cause hypersensitivity diseases such as hay fever (seasonal allergies), eczema (atopic dermatitis), and hives (urticaria).

4. Food intolerances (e.g., lactose intolerance)

It occurs when your body doesn’t make enough enzymes to digest certain foods, so they end up passing through your digestive tract undigested and can cause uncomfortable symptoms like bloating or gas.

5. Celiac disease (e.g., wheat gluten)

This disease is caused by an autoimmune reaction to gluten in some people who lack a protein called tissue transglutaminase (TTG), which helps break down gluten proteins into smaller molecules that can be absorbed.