Allergy Made Simple

Things you should know; where does the word "allergy" come from and what does it actually mean?; are allergies an illness of our times?; can allergies indirectly cause death in non-allergic people?; when were allergies first described?; how to be informed if you're allergic to pollen?; what is a pollen trap?; what can the allergic driver do?; what further help is available?; why do people who are allergic to tree pollen suffer in January and May?; pollen and the environment?; pollen allergies and your date of birth; house dust mites and other perennial allergens; what can you do if you're allergic to house dust mites?; what can you do if you're allergic to cat and dog hair?; allergies in the classroom; allergies and insects; what are allergens?; what happens when an allergen enters your body?; how do you tell whether a substance can cause allergies? what medical conditions are caused by allergies?; neurodermatitis; allergic reactions to medication; allergic reactions to insect poison; I'm even allergic to the sun; animal allergens; plants and your apartment; who can be affected by allergies?; why do more and more people suffer from allergies?; the latest theories; allergies and cancer - and something else of interest; songs against allergies?; what do condoms and bananas have in common? (cross-reactivity); allergy to food substances; why can't I eat eggs?; allergic to alcohol?; hidden allergens; genetically engineered foods - a danger for atopic persons? choosing a doctor; allergen extracts; what do all the numbers mean?; storage; what are diagnostic and therapeutic extracts?; the skin prick test; the rub test; the scratch test; the intracutaneous test; limits to skin testing; what other tests can determine allergies? - the provocation test; in vitro methods; avoiding allergens; hyposensitization - desensitization; desensitization - what must you look out for?; tips for allergy sufferers; preventive measures for the bedroom if you suffer from house dust mite allergy; how to reduce the risk of insect bites; hyposensitization - hints for allergy patients; cross-reactive allergens; the allergenicity of fruits and vegetables. Appendix: pollen calendars for realists.