Why Did 1920s “Allergy” Redefinition Cost 100s Millions Of Lives?

This shift has resulted in many lives lost, as the medical community began to ignore patients' complaints about sensitivities to everyday substances, which could lead to various health problems.

Many individuals do not realize they have allergies, often called 'hidden' or 'silent' allergies. These can be hard to identify because their symptoms are often mild, misunderstood, or occur rarely.

Undetected allergies can cause various symptoms that affect daily life, often without a clear link to a specific allergen. Symptoms may include tiredness, digestive problems, skin issues, breathing difficulties, and even neurological conditions like ADHD or migraines. In some cases, they can lead to severe allergic reactions.

Allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to usually harmless substances, known as allergens. This can lead to skin issues, breathing problems, digestive troubles, or severe reactions like anaphylaxis. In 1925, European allergists changed the definition of allergy, focusing on antibody-antigen interactions and leaving out other types of hypersensitivity.

Reasons for Hidden Allergies include subtle symptoms that may be mistaken for other issues, delayed reactions that appear hours or days after exposure, and misinterpretation of symptoms like digestive problems, tiredness, or skin rashes as other conditions.

Hidden allergens can be found in processed foods, cosmetics, or medications, making them difficult to recognize. Cross-contamination can also occur, where foods that should be allergen-free become contaminated during production or preparation.

Examples of hidden allergens include soy, milk, eggs, or nuts in processed foods, cross-contaminated sandwiches, tree nuts and coconut in skincare products, and less common allergens like lentils or sesame. Not recognizing hidden allergies can lead to chronic health issues, missed diagnoses, and a higher risk of severe allergic reactions.

Source:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK234794/#:~:text=Thus%20the%20word%20%22allergy%22%20as,hypersensitivity%20on%20any%20other%20basis.