Risk Factors and Preventive Measures
The sole risk for hypersensitivity reaction (types I,
II, and III) is exposure to an allergen; the most
effective prevention is avoiding such exposure.
This approach is often easier said than done, espe-
cially when the allergen is an ubiquitous sub-
stance such as pollen or mold. Doctors often
recommend taking antihistamine medications on
a regular schedule during times when pollen
counts are high to reduce hypersensitivity reac-
tions among people who have seasonal allergies.
Desensitization effectively reduces or prevents
hypersensitivity reactions to specific allergens for
many people, providing permanent relief.
See also ALLERGIC DERMATITIS; ALLERGY; B-CELL
LYMPHOCYTE; GRANULOCYTE; LEUKOCYTE; LIVING WITH
ALLERGIES; LYMPHOCYTE; MAST CELL; NATURAL KILLER
(NK) CELL; T-CELL LYMPHOCYTE.hypersensitivity reaction 271