Via practica 1/2021

Alcohol in the hands of an allergist

Hypersensitivity reactions to alcoholic beverages are relatively frequent affecting 10% of the general population. In terms of pathogenesis, it has to be differentiated between immunologic, mainly IgE- mediated, hypersensitivity reaction and intolerance reactions in which no causative allergen-specific immune mechanisms can be detected. The main causative agents of intolerance reaction are ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, histamine, and other biogenic amines, sulphites.

Keywords: alcohol, allergies, intolerances