Allergy. The Cruel Games of Immunity

Hay fever. Peanut allergy. Eczema. Billions of people around the world suffer from one form of allergy or another. The number of allergy sufferers is growing catastrophically, increasing the moral and physical burden not only on themselves but also on their families, the healthcare system, and society as a whole. Medical anthropologist Teresa MacPhail, who also suffers from allergies and lost her father to one (he died from anaphylactic shock after a bee sting), set out to understand the causes of this ailment, why it can be fatal, and what harm it brings. This book is a comprehensive and thorough study of the phenomenon of allergy—starting with its first medical description in the early 19th century and ending with recent revolutionary developments in biological drugs and immunotherapy that offer hope to the most severe patients. In her search for materials for her book, the author worked with hundreds of experts, patients, and enthusiasts, communicating with biologists and doctors from the best allergy clinics in the world. Thus, a book about various allergies emerged: what they are, why they occur, and how they can impact the fate of humanity. If we better understand this in all its irritating aspects, we can create a more comfortable and safe environment for ourselves and future generations.