What are allergies?

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What are allergies?

Allergies are very common. According to health authorities, about 20% of people in North America and Western Europe have suffered from pollinosis (allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis).

The number of people with allergies is increasing all over the world. According to Allergy UK, about 30-40% of people experience allergies at some point in their lives. Allergies are most common in children, especially food allergies.

Signs and symptoms of allergies:

When an allergic person comes in contact with an allergen, an allergic reaction does not occur immediately. The immune system gradually increases sensitivity to the substance.

Over time, the body acquires a specific high sensitivity - a process called sensitization.

Sensitization can last from a few days to several years. In most cases, the sensitization process is not completed and the patient develops some symptoms, but a complete allergic reaction is not observed.

When the immune system is exposed to an allergen, inflammation and irritability occur. Signs and symptoms depend on the type of allergen. Allergic reactions can occur in the intestines (digestive system), skin, sinuses, airways, eyes, and nasal passages.

✔ Symptoms of dust and dust allergy include:

? ️Nose tip

? ️Itchy eyes

? ️Itching on the nose

? ️Rhinitis

? ️Swelling of the eyes

? ️Age aging

? ️Cough.

Symptoms of skin allergies, such as eczema (atopic dermatitis):

? ️Skin peeling

? ️Itching

? ️Dry skin

? ️Red rash on the skin.

Allergies to food (food) have different reactions:

? ️Return

? ️Tumor of the tongue

? ️Surgery in the mouth

? ️Swelling of the lab

? ️Swelling of the face

? ️Swelling of the throat

? ️Gastric spasm

? ️Respiratory disorders

? ️Rectal bleeding (children rarely)

? ️Diarrhea

? Anaphylaxis (anaphylactic shock) is a very serious, often life-threatening allergic reaction.

Allergy to insect bites has the following symptoms:

? ️High of voice

? ️Swelling of the bite site

? ️Sudden drop in blood pressure

? ️Skin itching

? ️Dizziness

? ️Cough

? ️Difficulty breathing

? ️Anxiety

? ️Anaphylaxis.

Allergy to drugs can have the following symptoms:

? ️High of voice

? ️Swelling of the tongue

? ️Swelling of the lab

? ️Swelling of the face

? ️Skin rash

? ️Itching

Symptoms of anaphylactic shock. Symptoms of anaphylactic shock:

Anaphylactic shock is a serious allergic reaction that begins quickly. Anaphylactic shock can be life-threatening and should be considered as emergency medical care.

This type of allergic reaction reflects several different symptoms that can appear minutes after the allergen exposure. If the allergen is directly exposed to the blood, the onset of an allergic reaction is usually 5 to 30 minutes. The reaction to a food allergen takes longer.

Anaphylaxis - requires urgent medical attention.

Manifestations of anaphylactic shock on the skin and mucous membranes:

All parts of the body, redness and itching are observed. Damaged tissue also swells (angioedema). Some may experience skin irritation sensations. Swelling of the tongue and throat is observed in about 20% of cases. If the skin has a strange blue color, it may be a sign of hypoxia (lack of oxygen).

In some patients, nasal congestion may occur. Inflammation of the mucous membrane (conjunctiva) covering the front of the eyes and the inside of the eyelids may occur.

Respiratory changes during anaphylaxis:

? ️Difficulty breathing

? ️ Whistling during breathing due to spasms of the bronchi

? ️Stridor is a sound that vibrates strongly when breathing

? ️Sound suffocation

? ️Odinophagia - pain when swallowing

? ️Cough

? ️Cardiovascular changes

Coronary artery spasm - sudden (temporary) contraction of the muscle in the artery wall due to histamine-releasing cells in the heart. This can lead to myocardial infarction, dysrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) or heart attack.

Low blood pressure can cause your heart rate to increase. Dizziness occurs due to a sudden drop in blood pressure. Some may lose consciousness. In some cases, the only sign of anaphylaxis may be low blood pressure.

Changes in the gastrointestinal tract:

? ️Abstract of the abdomen

? ️Diarrhea

? ️Vomiting

? ️Loss of urinary control

? ️Abdinal pain.

Causes of allergy development

Human immunity responds to an allergen as a pathogen (external harmful substance) and tries to destroy it as a foreign bacterium, virus, fungus, or toxin.

However, the allergen is not harmful. It's just that the immune system has become very sensitive to this substance.

When the immune system is exposed to an allergen, it produces antibodies to immunoglobulin E (IgE) to destroy the allergen. It produces chemicals in the body that cause an allergic reaction.

One of these chemicals is called histamine. Histamine causes muscle contraction, including in the walls of blood vessels and in the airways. Histamine also helps in the secretion of mucus from the nose.

A person with allergies blames the allergen for the allergy symptoms - a friend’s pet, plant dust, or dust mites. However, they are wrong. The problem is not in the allergen, but in the immune system of the allergic person.

Risk factors for the development of allergies:

In medicine, risk factors are understood as factors that worsen the condition of a disease or patient. This danger can come from what a person does. For example, smoking is a risk factor for lung disease.

Below are some of the risk factors associated with allergies:

? Having a family member with asthma - If your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents have asthma, you are also at risk of developing allergies.

? Having a person with allergies in the family - if a close relative is allergic, you are more likely to develop allergies. Children have more allergies than adults. On the plus side, many children lose their allergies as they get older. Presence of asthma - People with asthma are more likely to develop allergies.

Insufficient exposure to sunlight - Scientists from the European Center for Environment and Human Health and researchers from various Australian centers have found that children living in areas with low levels of sunlight have higher rates of allergy development. The most common allergen

An allergen is a substance that causes an allergic reaction in some sensitive individuals.

Allergy to animals

Dust fleas are their feces

Jun

Fur

Bran

Fel d1 is a protein found in the sebaceous and salivary glands of cats

Medical allergens Penicillin

Salicylates are salts of salicylic acid, usually found in aspirin

Sulfanamides.

Oats among the food products

Celery

Pumpkin

Bean

Insects

Poisonous insects

A fly

Bees

Ants fleas

Diagnosis of allergies:

There are several ways to diagnose allergies. The doctor asks the patient questions about the origin of the allergy, when it occurs, the symptoms of the allergy. Other family members are also asked if they have allergies.

There are a number of tests for allergies. Here are some examples:

✔Blood test — measures the level of IgE antibodies released by the immune system. This test is sometimes referred to as the radioallergersorbent test (RAST).

✔The skin piercing test is also known as a test before taking various antibiotics. The skin is scratched with the tip of a syringe and a little less allergen is applied to the area. If there is a skin reaction - itching, redness and swelling may indicate the presence of an allergy

✔Patch test - used in patients with dermatitis (eczema). The suspected allergen was placed on special metal discs in the required amount. The doctor will check the skin reaction after 48 hours.

Methods of treatment of allergies

The most effective treatment for allergies is to avoid allergen exposure. However, sometimes it is not possible to get rid of the allergen completely. It is also important to educate patients to know how to correctly identify their allergens.

Allergy medications:

Medications can help relieve allergy symptoms, but they cannot cure it. Many pills for the treatment of allergies are available without a doctor’s prescription. Consult your doctor before using the medication.

Antihistamines (histamine antagonists): they stop the effects of histamine, which is produced in the body, as part of an allergic reaction. Some antihistamines are not suitable for children.

Nasal drops: Some patients say that nasal drops help in cases of pollinosis. Drops for the nose have a short-term effect.

Leukotriene receptor antagonists (antileukotrienes): Prescribed in asthma or when other treatments are ineffective. Antileukotrienes block the action of leukotrienes - chemicals that cause swelling. Leukotriene is produced in the body during an allergic reaction.

Steroid drops: help reduce nasal congestion, persistent nasal congestion can cause sinusitis, sinusitis and other diseases.

Immunotherapy

It is also called hyposensitization. Such therapy restores the immune system. The doctor will gradually adjust the allergen doses over the years. The target leads to long-term tolerance, which reduces IgE production. Immunotherapy is used only for severe allergy types.

Prevention of allergies

While treatment may help relieve allergy symptoms, patients should not be exposed to certain allergens. In some cases, this is not an easy task. It is almost impossible to avoid plant dust in spring and summer. Even the cleanest houses have fungal spores or dust. And so:

Reduce the effects of dust mites Replace carpets with other, harder coverings (e.g. laminate); Replace a traditional curtain with a roller curtain; Clean pillows, chairs, and soft toys regularly. If possible, wash them at high temperatures; Do not use woolen or down pillows; Allergies to cats and dogs

If you are visiting a pet owner’s home, take antihistamines.

Remember, the proteins present in the urine, saliva, and hair of animals, not animals, cause allergies. If you are not in contact with animals, ask the owner to lock the animal in another location or move it to another room.

Do not allow pets to sleep in your place. Soft toys and bedding for pets should be washed regularly at high temperatures.

Prevent allergies to mold spores Check if you have mold in your home; Check the plumbing in your home. Water flow creates moisture, which is the most favorable environment for mold fungus; you can clean your own small moldy areas. Special service can help clean mold in areas that are not easily accessible; If drywall is moldy, cut and replace it;