Hacker News Reader

Can someone explain the mechanism by which the allergy does not disappear after a period of time? Does the body essentially generate an immune response to the foreign molecule and then basically attack it whenever you encounter it again (e.g., by consuming red meat)?

View on HN

> Does the body essentially generate an immune response to the foreign molecule and then basically attack it whenever you encounter it again (e.g., by consuming red meat)?

Any foremost protein (maybe some other substances too) in fact. So even proteins that come from the patient's own body could be targeted - cf. Autoimmune diseases.

But depending on the circumstances, some allergic reactions might recede on abstinence, e.g. when the system is overreacting. But usually allergies are immune-responses and don't disappear over night.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com