What Happens During an Allergic Reaction

Question

What happens during an allergic reaction?
A) Immune cells attack the body's healthy cells.
B) The body mounts an immune reaction to a harmless substance.
C) Substances that were previously harmless become pathogenic.
D) The immune system overreacts to a mild pathogen.

Accepted Answer

During an allergic reaction, the body's immune system mistakenly identifies a harmless substance (known as an allergen) as harmful and reacts by producing an immune response. This can lead to symptoms such as itching, swelling, hives, and in severe cases, anaphylaxis. Immune cells are not attacking healthy cells, substances are not becoming pathogenic, and the immune system is not overreacting to a mild pathogen during an allergic reaction.