I've been reading a lot lately about the immune system and how overreactions to particles such as pollen & dust mites result in allergy symptoms. But what I can't find information on is how such particles are dealt with in non-allergic individuals. When one who is non-allergic breathes in pollen & dust-mites, don't these particles have to be cleared out of the lungs somehow? If so how does this occur? Do phagocytes just quietly engulf the particles without triggering inflammation? What is the process?

Thanks for any help,
James

The problem is that the immune system in an allergic person does not work properly. Instead of ignoring the allergan, it attacks it - causing the reaction. In a non-allergic person, no reaction would occur. The body is designed to inhale thru the nose...the little hairs are to catch the pollen,etc without letting them into the lungs. However, if a nonallergic person inhales them into the lungs, they either are exhaled or dissapate without a reaction. That's the best I can come up with.