Allergic Reactions and Triage in Primary Care : Introduction

Allergic reactions represent a complex interplay between the immune system and environmental antigens, leading to a spectrum of clinical manifestations. These reactions are primarily classified into four types based on the Gell-Coombs classification, with Type I hypersensitivity being the most common. This immediate response is mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies and can result in acute conditions such as anaphylaxis—a life-threatening systemic reaction—as well as chronic conditions like allergic asthma and atopic dermatitis (Voisin et al., 2017; Ab, 2018; Kotb, 2022). The underlying pathophysiology involves the activation of mast cells and basophils, which release inflammatory mediators such as histamine, leukotrienes, and cytokines, thereby producing the clinical symptoms observed in allergic individuals (Durrani et al., 2024; López‐Sanz et al., 2021; Radtke & Voehringer, 2023).