Allergies
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44 free Allergies trivia questions with answers — science & nature quiz, new questions added Aug 2026.
50 free allergies trivia questions with answers. Test your knowledge about allergies with our engaging trivia quiz! From common triggers to surprising facts about allergic reactions, discover how much you know about this widespread health condition. Whether you're an allergy sufferer or simply curious, this quiz offers educational fun for everyone.
30 of 44 questions with answers and explanations. Play the quiz
Q 01What are normally harmless substances, such as pollen, that provoke hypersensitivity reactions called?
Allergens
Allergens are typically harmless substances that can cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals, such as pollen, dust mites, or certain foods.
Q 02What is the most common immediate treatment for a severe allergic reaction?
Epinephrine
Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, and works quickly to reverse symptoms.
Q 03Which antibody is primarily responsible for mediating allergic reactions?
IgE
Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies are key players in allergic reactions, binding to mast cells and basophils and triggering the release of inflammatory mediators like histamine upon allergen exposure.
Q 04What common environmental allergen comes from trees, grasses, and weeds?
Pollen
Pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds is a widespread outdoor allergen, causing seasonal allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever.
Q 05Hay fever in Japan is caused primarily by pollen from which tree?
Sugi (Japanese cedar)
Sugi, the Japanese cedar, was planted en masse after World War II for timber, and its spring pollen now triggers hay fever in a large share of the country's population.
Q 06What type of cells release histamine during an allergic reaction?
Mast cells
Mast cells are immune cells that store histamine and other inflammatory mediators in granules, releasing them upon activation during an allergic response.
Q 07Which chronic skin condition, often linked with allergies, is marked by itchy, red, dry and inflamed patches?
Eczema
Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is chronic inflammation of the skin that leaves it itchy, red, swollen and cracked, and it often goes hand in hand with allergies.
Q 08Which common food allergen is a legume?
Peanuts
Despite their name, peanuts are botanically legumes, not tree nuts, and are one of the most common and potent food allergens.
Q 09Which food became the ninth mandatory allergen on US food labels in 2023?
Sesame
The FASTER Act of 2021 added sesame to the eight allergens already required on US labels; the EU list is longer and includes celery, mustard, and lupin.
Q 10What common allergic symptom involves persistent itching and inflammation of the nasal passages?
Allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, is characterized by symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, and itchy nose and eyes, often triggered by airborne allergens.
Q 11What is the primary purpose of an antihistamine medication?
Block histamine receptors
Antihistamines primarily work by blocking the action of histamine at its receptors, thereby reducing allergic symptoms like itching, sneezing, and runny nose.
Q 12Which allergy causes mouth and throat itching immediately after eating certain raw fruits or vegetables?
Oral Allergy Syndrome
Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS), also known as Pollen-Food Allergy Syndrome, is a type of contact allergic reaction in the mouth and throat that occurs when proteins in certain raw fruits, vegetables, or nuts cross-react with pollen antibodies.
Q 13How do dust-mite and pet-dander allergies typically differ from pollen allergies?
Q 21Which microscopic allergen feeds on shed skin and thrives in warm, humid bedding and carpets?
Dust mites
Dust mites are common indoor allergens, microscopic arachnids that feed on shed human skin cells and thrive in warm, humid environments like bedding, upholstered furniture, and carpets.
Q 22Which chronic condition, in which inflamed and narrowed airways cause wheezing, is often allergic and managed with inhalers?
Asthma
Asthma, especially allergic asthma, inflames and narrows the airways in response to allergens, causing wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath, often treated with inhalers.
Q 23What is the term for swelling beneath the skin, often around the eyes or lips, that can accompany hives?
Angioedema
Occur year-round
Perennial allergies occur year-round because indoor allergens such as dust mites, pet dander and mould never go away, unlike seasonal allergies tied to outdoor pollen.
Q 14Which type of medication is the preferred first-line treatment for persistent allergic rhinitis, working by reducing inflammation in the nose?
Corticosteroid sprays
Nasal steroid sprays are often the first-line treatment for nasal allergy symptoms because they effectively reduce inflammation in the nasal passages, providing relief from congestion, sneezing, and runny nose.
Q 15Which metal, common in cheap jewellery, coins, zips and buttons, causes an itchy contact rash in many people?
Nickel
Nickel allergy is a common cause of allergic contact dermatitis, with rashes wherever skin touches nickel: most often the hands, face, or anywhere in contact with jewellery or metal buttons.
Q 16Which kind of pollen is the most common trigger of hay fever worldwide?
Grass
Ryegrass and timothy are the usual culprits. Ragweed dominates autumn allergies in North America, but grass pollen reaches the most sufferers overall.
Q 17What is the medical term for hives, an itchy rash characterized by raised, red welts on the skin?
Urticaria
Urticaria is the medical term for hives, which are itchy, raised, red, or skin-colored welts that appear on the skin as a symptom of an allergic reaction or other triggers.
Q 18What preservative compound in some foods and wines can trigger asthma-like symptoms in sensitive people?
Sulfites
Sulfites are sulfur-based compounds used as preservatives in various foods, beverages, and medications, and can cause asthma-like symptoms, especially in individuals with asthma.
Q 19What type of immunotherapy involves placing drops or tablets under the tongue to treat certain allergies?
Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT)
Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a form of allergy treatment where allergen extracts are administered as drops or tablets under the tongue, offering a convenient alternative to injections.
Q 20Where should an epinephrine auto-injector such as an EpiPen be injected in an emergency, through clothing if necessary?
Outer thigh
The middle of the outer thigh, over the vastus lateralis muscle, so the drug reaches muscle quickly; it can go straight through clothing.
Angioedema is a type of swelling similar to hives, but it occurs deeper under the skin, often around the eyes, lips, or genitals, and can be a serious symptom if it affects the throat or tongue.
Q 24What nickname is given to oral anaphylaxis caused by eating flour infested with tiny arachnids?
Pancake syndrome
Opened bags of flour stored in warm, humid kitchens can become infested, and the resulting batter delivers a dose of allergen straight to the gut.
Q 25What is the characteristic habitual upward nose-rub of chronic hay fever sufferers called?
Allergic salute
The allergic salute, sometimes called the nasal salute, is the gesture of wiping or rubbing the nose upwards with the fingers, palm or back of the hand.
Q 26What type of allergic reaction is triggered by consuming red meat, often linked to a tick bite?
Alpha-gal syndrome
Alpha-gal syndrome is a type of food allergy to red meat and other products made from mammals, where the reaction is triggered by a sugar molecule called alpha-gal, often introduced by a tick bite.
Q 27Montelukast treats allergic asthma and rhinitis by blocking receptors for which mediators?
Leukotrienes
Montelukast is a leukotriene receptor antagonist: it blocks cysteinyl leukotrienes, inflammatory mediators released by mast cells and eosinophils that narrow airways and boost mucus.
Q 28Which common allergy trigger grows both indoors and outdoors in damp environments?
Mold
Mold, a type of fungus, releases spores that can act as allergens and thrive in damp indoor and outdoor environments, triggering respiratory and skin allergy symptoms.
Q 29Which helper T-cell subset drives the IgE response behind most allergies?
Th2
Th2 cells drive allergy: their interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 push B cells to switch to IgE production, while their interleukin-5 recruits eosinophils.
Q 30Which common food allergen is often found in baked goods, pasta, and cereals?
Wheat
Wheat is a common food allergen, especially in children, and is a staple ingredient in many processed foods like baked goods, pasta, and cereals.