The key difference between inflammation and allergy is that inflammation is a normal immune reaction of the human body to injuries and threats such as bacteria and viruses, while allergy is a specific immune reaction of the human body to a chemical invader such as a protein or a peptide.
Inflammation and allergy are two types of immune reactions generated by the human body as a response to various triggers. Every allergy reaction triggers inflammation. However, every inflammation response is not due to an allergy. Moreover, inflammation does not need a genetic predisposition, but allergy needs a genetic predisposition. Both these immune reactions are very important for the protection of the human body.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is an Inflammation
3. What is an Allergy
4. Similarities – Inflammation and Allergy
5. Inflammation vs Allergy in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Inflammation vs Allergy
What is Inflammation?
Inflammation is a normal immune reaction of the human body to injuries and threats such as bacteria and viruses. When the human body encounters threatening agents like bacteria, viruses, or toxic chemicals or suffers from an injury, the immune system is activated. The immune system sends out its first responders called cytokines to stimulate more inflammatory cells. Later, the cells begin an inflammatory response to trap offending agents or start healing injured tissue.
There are two types of inflammation: acute inflammation (a sudden response to damages like cutting the finger) and chronic inflammation (body continues inflammation even when there is no outside danger, for example, in rheumatoid arthritis). The symptoms of acute inflammation include flushed skin at the site of the injury, pain or tenderness, swelling, and heat. On the other hand, the symptoms of chronic inflammation include abdominal pain, chest pain, fatigue, fever, joint pain, mouth sores, and skin rash.
Figure 01: Inflammation
Inflammation can be diagnosed through physical examinations, X-rays, and blood tests such as C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Furthermore, inflammation is treated through medicines (supplements like vitamin A, C, D, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), biological drugs like abatacept, adalimumab, certolizumab, steroid injections), home remedies (quit smoking, limit alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, manage stress, regular physical stress, take supplements like omega 3 fatty acids) and surgery.
What is an Allergy?
Allergy is a specific immune reaction of the human body to a chemical invader such as protein or a peptide. It is an exaggerated immune response to substances such as pollen, molds, animal dander, latex, certain foods, and insect stings. Moreover, these substances are typically known as allergens. The symptoms of an allergic reaction include sneezing, itching of the nose, eyes, and roofs of the mouth, watery, red and swollen eyes, tingling in the mouth, swelling of the lips, tongue, face, throat, hives, anaphylaxis, rash, cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and wheezing.
Figure 02: Allergy
Allergies can be diagnosed through physical evaluation, skin tests, and blood tests such as IgE testing, radioallergosorbent test (RAST), or immunoCAP test. Furthermore, the treatment options for allergy include allergen avoidance, medications (antihistamines), immunotherapy, and emergency epinephrine.
What are the Similarities Between Inflammation and Allergy?
- Inflammation and allergy are two types of immune reactions in the human body.
- Both immune reactions can occur for various triggers, such as invaders.
- They are very important for the protection of the human body.
- Every allergy reaction triggers inflammation.
- They are treated through specific medicines.
What is the Difference Between Inflammation and Allergy?
Inflammation is a normal immune reaction of the human body to injuries and threats like bacteria and viruses, while allergy is a specific immune reaction of the human body to a chemical invader such as protein or a peptide. Thus, this is the key difference between inflammation and allergy. Furthermore, inflammation does not need genetic predisposition, while allergy needs a genetic predisposition.
The below infographic presents the differences between inflammation and allergy in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Inflammation vs Allergy
Inflammation and allergy are immune reactions that the human body generates. Inflammation is generated as a result of an injury or a threat, such as bacteria and viruses. Allergy is generated against a chemical invader such as protein or a peptide. So, this is the key difference between inflammation and allergy.
Reference:
1. “Inflammation: Definition, Diseases, Types, and Treatment.” WebMD.
2. “Allergies: Types, Symptoms, Causes & Treatments.” Cleveland Clinic.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Inflammation time-course” By Jenglish18 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Hives2010” By James Heilman, MD – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia