• Question: Is it physically possible to be allergic to water?

    Asked by anjie to Catherine, Charlotte, Colin, Becki, Rick on 24 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Charlotte Dalton

      Charlotte Dalton answered on 24 Jun 2013:

      I don’t think it is, as humans are mostly water so you would be allergic to yourself! you might be allergic to impurities in tap water though such as certain metals

    • Photo: Rebecca Scott

      Rebecca Scott answered on 24 Jun 2013:

      I’m not sure…you can definitely be allergic to some of the impurities found in water and to the chemicals that sometimes get added (like the chlorine added to swimming pools). I know that sometimes people get really itchy or get a rash from sweat, but I always assumed that was due to being too hot, rather than allergic to the water… oooh! a quick google search says it is extremely rare, but apparently it is possible. There you go, I’ve learnt something new. Thank you @anjie, that was a really good question and you’ve taught me something 🙂

    • Photo: Colin Swift

      Colin Swift answered on 24 Jun 2013:

      The human body is made up of approximately 60% of its mass in water – this will vary dependant on how much the individual has drunk etc. water is involved in many oof the body’s processes, from transportation of oxygen and food around using the blood, to the transmission of nerve signals to name but a few. Hard to imagine any of it working if one were allergic.
      A viral disease called Rabies can make people become agitated at the sight of water – which unless treated would most likely lead to death – so definately not a good thing to catch!

    • Photo: Catherine Fontinelle

      Catherine Fontinelle answered on 24 Jun 2013:

      Hi @angie

      Too much is definitely bad for you, you could drown….but just enough to keep you going would be fine…one to one and a half litres a day.

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