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A king eating strawberries

Watch Andreas J. Bircher explain how Shakespeare’s Richard III might indeed have suffered from an allergy to strawberries.

Many people suffer from allergies. The concept of an allergy, however, was only introduced into medical science at the beginning of the 20th century.

Before that, typical symptoms were explained with many reasons. Rashes and itching skin were even interpreted as the result of poison or witchcraft. Archaic as this may seem, it helps to delve into medical history in order to understand how comprehension evolved. Not only because every understanding bears the mark of its past, but also because the past teaches us humility when we evaluate what we consider our knowledge today. The knowledge concerning allergology, the science of allergies, is expanding. Research widens horizons and changes perspectives. It all starts, however, with a basic understanding of our immune system.

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Allergies: When the Immune System Backfires

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FutureLearn - Learning For Life