[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fxLN3MUwXCdr5RPjwZYIDpOj8CHyjOmngWTgoKXPtZbg":3,"$f9YNF1cxRUU_fm6n_8HwCghMGWCrVTwvQr7HMiPwuvaw":32,"$f3Ft0rKFJHppdzE-vuveecxx1BUcg9iOlMLtyzf_MJDg":47},[4,8,12,16,20,24,28],{"title":5,"slug":6,"path":7},"About Microbeonline.com","about-microbeonline-com","\u002Fabout-microbeonline-com\u002F",{"title":9,"slug":10,"path":11},"About Me","about-me","\u002Fabout-microbeonline-com\u002Fabout-me\u002F",{"title":13,"slug":14,"path":15},"Advertise with Us","advertise-us","\u002Fadvertise-us\u002F",{"title":17,"slug":18,"path":19},"Privacy Policy","privacy-policy","\u002Fprivacy-policy\u002F",{"title":21,"slug":22,"path":23},"Abbreviations","abbreviations","\u002Fabbreviations\u002F",{"title":25,"slug":26,"path":27},"Microbes","microbes","\u002Fmicrobes\u002F",{"title":29,"slug":30,"path":31},"Books","recommended-books","\u002Frecommended-books\u002F",{"type":33,"data":34},"blog",{"slug":35,"title":36,"description":36,"seoTitle":37,"seoDescription":37,"author":38,"createdDate":39,"lastUpdatedDate":40,"draft":41,"category":42,"image":37,"body":43,"faq":44,"tags":45,"related":46},"allergies-and-autoimmunity","Allergies and Autoimmunity: Similarities and Differences",null,"Srijana Khanal","2022-11-07","2025-12-29",false,"immunology","Allergies and autoimmunity are conditions related to the immune system. They occur when antigens activate immune cells.\n\nAllergies and autoimmune diseases follow a similar developmental way, though their presentation is often quite different. **Allergic reactions occur when the immune system reacts to foreign environmental substances.** With allergies, the invaders are otherwise harmless environmental triggers. On the other hand, **autoimmunity is a system of responses from the immune system against the body’s healthy cells and tissues.** With an autoimmune disease, our immune system mistakenly identifies the host’s cells for destruction. The brief descriptions of allergies and autoimmune diseases, their similarities and differences are given below:\n\n## What are allergies?\n\nAllergies are a type of hypersensitivity reactions mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE). Allergies are not related to any diseases or infections. These can be observed in various body parts; the effect is mainly seen on the skin and mucus membrane. The immune system recognizes innocuous non-self antigens (e.g., proteins in peanuts) and responds against them. The human body may be sensitive to such specific particles found in the environment. Such particles are called allergens. Allergens are the antigens producing abnormally exaggerated immune responses.\n\n![Types of allergies - Types of allergies](https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fblogs\u002FTypes-of-allergies.jpg)Figure: Types of allergies\n\nCommon allergens are dust, pollen, feathers, latex, pet dander, mites, and even food particles, like peanuts.\n\nWhen the body encounters an allergen, antibodies called [immunoglobulin E (IgE)](\u002Fimmunoglobulin-e-ige-antibodies\u002F) are produced in its response. It is followed by the release of chemicals such as histamine and serotonin.\n\nSneezing, coughing, running nose, red eyes, itchy rashes, or difficulty breathing and swallowing can be allergy symptoms. Allergy to at least one allergen is common throughout the world. However, in recent times more people are prone to allergies due to modern and unhealthy lifestyles, as they have low immunity and high environmental sensitivity.\n\n## What are Autoimmunities?\n\nThe system of immune responses of an organism against its healthy cells and tissues is autoimmunity. Diseases that occur because of such reactions are called autoimmune diseases. In autoimmunity, the immune system attacks cells expressing self-antigens. Such self-reactive immune cells produce autoantibodies. Thus, autoimmunity is an overburdened immune system causing systemic inflammation.\n\n| Common Autoimmune Disease | Tissue Affected |\n| --- | --- |\n| Multiple Sclerosis | Myelin on axons in the CNS |\n| Aplastic anemia | Bone marrow |\n| Rheumatoid arthritis | Joints |\n| Type I diabetes | Beta islets cells of the pancreas |\n| Crohn’s disease | Gastrointestinal tract infection |\n| Ulcerative colitis | Large intestine |\n| Celiac disease | Tiny intestinal microvilli in cross-reaction with gluten |\n| Grave’s disease | Thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) |\n| Hashimoto’s disease | Thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) |\n| Psoriasis | Skin |\n| Myasthenia gravis | Skeletal muscles |\n| Lupus | Many tissues |\n| Addison’s disease | Adrenal cortex |\n\n![Tissues affected by autoimmune attack - Tissues of the body affected by autoimmune attack](https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fblogs\u002FAutoimmune-attack.jpg)Figure: Tissues of the body affected by autoimmune attack\n\nThe higher classes of vertebrates can recognize foreign [antigens](\u002Fantigen-structure-types-factors-affecting-immunogenicity\u002F). Their immune system can distinguish perfectly between their cells and foreign organisms. But, sometimes, the body attacks its cells and tissues due to genetic defects, environmental factors, or some other unknown cause. This results in autoimmune diseases. An imbalance in T cell function (which produces and suppresses the immune response) helps to develop autoimmune diseases.\n\nRheumatoid arthritis (RA), Graves’ disease, and polymyositis are common examples of autoimmune diseases.\n\n**In some cases, allergies trigger autoimmune diseases**.**One of the examples is the gluten-thyroid connection, where antibodies against it attack thyroid tissue.**\n\n### Similarities\n\n- Both of them have symptoms of general fatigue and sickness.\n- Itching can be a common symptom of both.\n- In the higher immune response, allergy and autoimmune disease result in some redness or swelling.\n- Hypersensitivity can cause both allergies and autoimmunity.\n\n### Differences between allergies and autoimmunity\n\n| SN | Allergies | Autoimmune Disease |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 1 | In allergies, the host immune system reacts abnormally in response to a foreign substance (i.e., an allergen). | In autoimmune disease, the host immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and cells of the body. |\n| 2 | External factors, mainly environmental substances like pollen, dust, insect venoms, or food and drugs, trigger the allergies. | Internal factors trigger autoimmune diseases, which affect the body’s cells. |\n| 3 | Allergies are often equated with type I hypersensitivity reactions. | Most autoimmune diseases are linked to type III or type II hypersensitivity reactions. |\n| 4 | Mast cells and IgE antibodies play a central role in the allergic response | T and B cells are the primary factors in autoimmunity. |\n| 5 | The most common treatments are bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and antihistamines. | The most common treatments are immunosuppressants, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamin D, and omega 3. Sometimes, pain relief medicines and even surgery are required. |\n| 6 | Some examples of allergies are asthma, itchy sensation, redness, watery eyes, etc. | Some autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, type I diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, etc. |\n\n**References**\n\n- [byjus.com\u002Fbiology\u002Fallergies-autoimmunity\u002F](https:\u002F\u002Fbyjus.com\u002Fbiology\u002Fallergies-autoimmunity\u002FAugust%20et.%20al.%20Autoimmunity%20and%20Allergy:%20Session%207%20https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ibiology.org\u002Fsessions\u002Fsession-7-autoimmunity-and-allergy\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fcentrespringmd.com\u002Fdo-allergies-trigger-autoimmune-disease\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fyoutube.com\u002Fwatch?v=ZojeIXkjUE4&feature=share)\n- August et. al. Autoimmunity and Allergy: Session 7[https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ibiology.org\u002Fsessions\u002Fsession-7-autoimmunity-and-allergy\u002F](https:\u002F\u002Fbyjus.com\u002Fbiology\u002Fallergies-autoimmunity\u002FAugust%20et.%20al.%20Autoimmunity%20and%20Allergy:%20Session%207%20https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ibiology.org\u002Fsessions\u002Fsession-7-autoimmunity-and-allergy\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fcentrespringmd.com\u002Fdo-allergies-trigger-autoimmune-disease\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fyoutube.com\u002Fwatch?v=ZojeIXkjUE4&feature=share)\n- [https:\u002F\u002Fcentrespringmd.com\u002Fdo-allergies-trigger-autoimmune-disease\u002F](https:\u002F\u002Fbyjus.com\u002Fbiology\u002Fallergies-autoimmunity\u002FAugust%20et.%20al.%20Autoimmunity%20and%20Allergy:%20Session%207%20https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ibiology.org\u002Fsessions\u002Fsession-7-autoimmunity-and-allergy\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fcentrespringmd.com\u002Fdo-allergies-trigger-autoimmune-disease\u002Fhttps:\u002F\u002Fyoutube.com\u002Fwatch?v=ZojeIXkjUE4&feature=share)",[],[],[],[48,55,62,67,71,75,80,85,88,92],{"slug":49,"name":50,"description":51,"image":52,"body":53,"postCount":54},"acharya-tankeshwar","Acharya Tankeshwar","Editor-in-chief","https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fauthors\u002Ftankeshwar-acharya-author-microbeonline.jpg","***Tankeshwar Acharya, MSc (Medical Microbiology)***\n\n*Tankeshwar Acharya is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology at Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS), Nepal, where he has been teaching and practicing clinical microbiology for over 14 years. He is the founder of Microbe Online, one of the leading free microbiology education resources on the web, covering bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, immunology, and clinical laboratory diagnostics written from direct experience in both the classroom and the diagnostic laboratory.*",432,{"slug":56,"name":57,"description":58,"image":59,"body":60,"postCount":61},"ashma-shrestha","Ashma Shrestha","SEO Copywriter and Science Communicator\nKathmandu, Nepal","https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fauthors\u002Fashma-shrestha.png","Ashma Shrestha holds a Master of Science in Medical Microbiology from the Institute of Science and Technology (IOST), Tribhuvan University, Nepal, where she developed a strong foundation in virology, molecular biology, and diagnostic microbiology.\n\nShe now works as an SEO Copywriter at Resolution Digital, where she combines her scientific training with research-driven content strategy. She is certified in Google Analytics and Google Business Profile (GBP), and brings a data-informed approach to science communication writing content that is not only accurate but structured to reach and serve the students who need it most.\n\nAt microbeonline, Ashma contributes articles primarily in virology and molecular biology, areas she finds most compelling for their mechanistic depth and their growing clinical relevance. Her writing reflects the same standard the site is built on: factual rigor, clear explanation of the *why* behind microbiology concepts, and content that helps students move from memorization to genuine understanding.\n\nShe is passionate about making complex microbiological concepts accessible without sacrificing accuracy; a skill that sits at the intersection of her scientific training and her professional work in content and SEO.",81,{"slug":63,"name":64,"description":65,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":66},"sushmita-baniya","Sushmita Baniya","Author \u002F Contributor",32,{"slug":68,"name":69,"description":65,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":70},"samikshya-acharya","Samikshya Acharya",20,{"slug":72,"name":73,"description":65,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":74},"alisha-tripathi","Alisha Tripathi",6,{"slug":76,"name":77,"description":78,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":79},"aastha-shrestha","Aastha Shrestha"," Author \u002F Contributor",10,{"slug":81,"name":82,"description":83,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":84},"guest-author","Guest Author","Guest Author \u002F Contributor",2,{"slug":86,"name":38,"description":65,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":87},"srijana-khanal",18,{"slug":89,"name":90,"description":83,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":91},"dr-poonam-acharya","Dr. Poonam Acharya",1,{"slug":93,"name":94,"description":65,"image":37,"body":95,"postCount":96},"nisha-rijal","Nisha Rijal","**Nisha Rijal** is a microbiologist and quality assurance specialist. She served for nearly 12 years as a microbiologist at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), Nepal's national reference laboratory, and continues to work as a consultant microbiologist in international public health organization. ",51]