What causes allergic reactions, and how do they manifest?

Allergic reactions happen when your body thinks something harmless is actually dangerous, and it goes on a little defense mission to protect you.

Imagine you're playing in a park, and suddenly a big dog runs at you. You might jump back or shout "Whoa!" That's like how your body reacts when it sees something foreign, like pollen, pet dander, or even chocolate.

Your immune system, which is like the boss of your defense team, thinks this foreign stuff is an enemy. It sends out tiny soldiers called antibodies to attack it. These soldiers cause a reaction in your body, and that's when you get symptoms like sneezing, itching, or even swelling.

Sometimes allergies are like a loud alarm bell:

• You might sneeze like a rocket, boooom!
• Your eyes might water like a sad puppy.
• Or your nose could run like a faucet.

Other times, the reaction is slower and more like a quiet whisper, you might get hives or feel itchy all over.

Every time you meet that "enemy" again, your body gets faster at defending itself, and the symptoms can get stronger too.