All About Allergies: Everything You Need to Know about Asthma, Food Allergies, Hay Fever, and More

Rubin, a pediatrician specializing in allergy treatment, debuts with a savvy primer on allergies. He begins with a history of humanity’s understanding of allergies, from ancient observations of rashes to the coining of the term allergy in 1906, and explains that allergies occur when the immune system mistakenly identifies harmless substances, such as pollen or certain foods, as threats. This leads to symptoms like itching and sneezing or even a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. After describing how allergies can affect different parts of the body, from the nose and throat to the lungs and gastrointestinal tract, Rubin walks readers through what to expect at an appointment with an allergist, such as allergy skin testing, which involves introducing small amounts of an allergen to the skin to identify triggers. Elsewhere, he discusses specific allergic diseases, including sinusitis, food allergies, eczema, contact dermatitis, and asthma, and outlines treatment options, such as over-the-counter medications and oral immunotherapy, which involves eating increasing doses of a food allergen to desensitize the immune system. Throughout, Rubin includes practical advice, such as not using nasal decongestant sprays like Afrin for more than five days in a row, as it can worsen symptoms. Allergy sufferers will find this illuminating. (Feb.)