We must recognize the seriousness of allergic diseases, for as modern society becomes more complex, the number of allergens and patients is increasing. Allergic disorder is a type of chronic disease which occurs in patients with atopy, and adverse physiologic reactions(hypersensitivity) resulting from the interaction antigen with humoral antibody(IgE) and lymphoid cells.
Hypersensitivity reactions are classified into four types, according to the Gell and Coomb´s classification. The most common is the immediate hypersensitivity(type Ⅰ) : manifestations of allergic diseases include allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis, urticaria, angioederma, anaphylaxis to drugs and insect allergy. The second most common is the delayed hypersensitivity(cell-mediated, type Ⅳ) ; one manifestation is contact dermatitis. Diagnosis for allergic diseases include careful inquiry of allergic history and in vivo and in vitro tests. Successful management of allergic disorders in based upon four principles : avoidance of allergens or irritants by environmental control, pharmacologic therapy(antihistamines, sympathomimetic drugs, anticholinergic drugs, and steroid etc,),immunotherapy, and prophylaxis(DSCG, ketotifen).
Therefore, it is most important in allergic disorders to perform proper therapy and attempt prevention through environmental control or prophylatic agents, For proper therapy, it is essential to develop drugs that complement the deficits of existing therapeutic drugs and to carry out research into therapy based on allergic mechanisms. In this dissertation, we will describe the type of hypersensitivity reactions, diagnostic methods and pharmachologic therapy for allergic disorders.
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