What to do when you have an allergy. How to treat allergies in all effective ways

Today, allergies are considered one of the most common pathologies. Moreover, the reasons and forms of manifestation of the body’s response to a stimulus can be completely different. Therefore, each case must be considered separately. Allergic reactions can occur at any time and in anyone. However, this cannot be considered a disease. What is an allergy, how does it occur and what to do about it - you will learn in this article. Moreover, you will have an idea of ​​how to cope with this condition in adults and children.

What is an allergy?

Current doctors are not inclined to consider this condition a disease. However, it can not only be unpleasant, but also life-threatening. Allergic reactions are the response of the immune system to any irritant. At the same time, the sensitivity of the body increases many times.

The reaction can manifest itself in different ways: intense and not very intense; in the form of marks on the skin, breathing problems, runny nose. And allergies can be specific and nonspecific. It should be noted that often a person has an acute reaction to an irritant, which can be very dangerous. In addition, anaphylactic shock and respiratory arrest may occur. Some types of reactions are fatal. Let's consider what it can be in more detail.

Types and types of pathology

Allergic reactions are not all the same. The mechanism of their occurrence is very close, but they manifest themselves in completely different ways. There are different types of allergic reactions.

1. Specific. In this case, a certain period of time is provided during which the allergen acts on the body. That is, the reaction does not appear immediately, not after the first contact.

2. Nonspecific. In this case, the body reacts instantly.

In addition, allergic reactions can be immediate or delayed. The first type includes skin and systemic pathologies. They occur 25 minutes after the action of the stimulus. They manifest themselves in different ways and can sometimes be life-threatening (Quincke's edema).

As for delayed reactions, the period of manifestation may take several hours or even days. It should be noted that there can be many reasons for the manifestation of pathology, so each specific case must be considered individually. Naturally, there are symptoms that are nonspecific.

There are also different types of allergic reactions.

• Anaphylactic (urticaria, asthma).
• Cytotoxic (allergy to drugs, Rh conflict in newborns - cell membranes are damaged).
• Immune complex (antigens are deposited on the walls of blood vessels: conjunctivitis, dermatitis, serum sickness).
• A condition in which antibodies help stimulate the functioning of other cells.

This is a rough list that includes the most common types of allergic reactions.

Reasons for appearance

There are many factors that contribute to the appearance of this condition. Among them are the following:

• Bites from insects or other animals.
• Dust.
• Bed mites.
• Mold spores.
• Medications.
• Animal fur or saliva.
• Some foods (especially honey).
• Cold and sun.
• Household cleaning products (chemical).
• Pollen from flowers and other plants.
• Latex.

In principle, possible allergic reactions can have different causes. You may have a completely atypical reaction to any irritant that your immune system finds dangerous. For example, some people even suffer from water. And an allergic reaction to insect bites can lead to fatal consequences.

Mechanism of development and symptoms of pathology

Now let's look at how the presented state arises. Whatever allergic reactions may be, they have the same mechanism of development.

1. The stage of the body meeting the stimulus (immunological). At this stage, the production of antibodies begins. Although this does not always happen. Often the body's response is visible after the second or subsequent exposure to the antigen.

2. Stage of damage to tissue cells (pathochemical). They contain the substances serotonin, histamine and others. Before this, the mediators are in an inactive phase. It is thanks to them that the body’s inflammatory reaction to the invasion of the irritant occurs.

3. Stage of external manifestations of allergy (pathophysiological). It is at this stage that you can already see different symptoms of pathology.

As for symptoms, they vary.

• Allergic reaction on the skin: red spots, rash, blisters, itching.
• Swelling of the mucous membranes.
• Runny nose.
• Sneezing.
• Tearing.
• Redness of the eyes.
• Inflammatory processes.
• Choking (Quincke's edema).
• Anaphylactic shock (drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness and even respiratory arrest).

In any case, an allergic reaction to insect bites or other irritants should be quickly eliminated.

Features of allergies in children

Today, pediatricians are increasingly encountering this problem in children. There can be many reasons for this: hereditary predisposition, polluted air, unhealthy diet, intolerance to mother's milk (lactose) and others. Allergic reactions in children can also manifest themselves in different ways: in the form of eczema, diarrhea, urticaria, pain in the abdominal area. In addition, other symptoms may be present: swelling of the mucous membranes, suffocation, fever, and other types of skin rashes. The most terrible condition is anaphylactic shock, as it develops much faster than in adults.

It should be noted that allergic reactions in children appear very quickly - within a few hours. In order to help the child cope with the situation in the least painful way, it is necessary to immediately eliminate the irritant. Then you can only use medications prescribed by your doctor (antihistamines). In addition, medications should only be given to a child if there is a real threat to life.

You should also prevent the occurrence of allergies. It consists of following a diet, eliminating the source of irritation, and periodic treatment. Naturally, children with such a diagnosis must be registered with an allergist.

How is an allergy determined?

Of course, if any symptoms of pathology appear, you must consult a specialist. Naturally, an allergic reaction on the skin is visible to the naked eye, but the doctor will tell you how to treat it correctly so that there are no complications.

Various methods are used for diagnosis.

1. Skin test. It is performed quickly and very simply, and the study allows you to find out which stimulus was effective. To do this, you should introduce a small amount of different allergens into the skin and observe the body's response. Typically the procedure takes no more than 20 minutes. Such tests can be done at any age and only under the supervision of a specialist. Before the study, you should not take antihistamines for two days. There are also application tests that give a more accurate result.

2. A thorough blood test to determine the amount of IgE antibodies in the blood. It should be carried out if the first type of research did not provide the necessary picture. The result is usually ready within one to two weeks. The disadvantage of this test is that it cannot determine how severe an allergic reaction a patient may have.

3. Provocative test. This method allows you to quickly detect the allergen and make an accurate diagnosis. In order to cause a reaction, a specific irritant is used, so the test should only be carried out in a hospital setting under the supervision of doctors who can quickly help in the event of a severe attack.

Naturally, many allergies can be detected with the naked eye. However, you must be absolutely sure of the accuracy of the diagnosis. Therefore, a visit to the doctor is mandatory. Remember that it can save your life and make it more comfortable.

What is an acute allergy?

Usually, in this condition, the immune system reacts to the irritant instantly. Moreover, the answer can be very strong. In some cases, you even have to call an ambulance. This could be an allergic reaction to a wasp sting, as well as other insects (or animals), or to some other irritant.

It should be noted that such a response of the body can be very strong, it can lead to anaphylactic shock. In this case, the person loses consciousness, his blood pressure drops and breathing often stops. Therefore, you must begin resuscitation measures immediately. Your first aid kit must have quick-acting medications that will help relieve symptoms or wait for an ambulance. In any case, the attending physician must be notified of the incident.

First aid

An acute allergic reaction can be very dangerous and even lead to death, so you need to deal with the pathology responsibly. There is no point in delaying the elimination of this rather serious condition. However, before the doctors arrive, you must perform certain manipulations that will prevent the occurrence of the most severe symptoms. Let's consider the question of what first aid should be for allergies, as well as how it should be treated.

So, if you have intolerance to certain foods, then washing the stomach with a special aqueous solution of salt or soda will help get rid of the symptoms. In addition, a cleansing enema can relieve an allergic reaction. The water must be warm. In this case, you can add vegetable oil to the liquid. In order to eliminate the effect of produced toxins on the body, you can take the following drugs: Fenistil, Enterosgel, Zyrtek. They also help stop the release of histamine in large quantities, so an acute reaction does not develop. After such an attack, you need to adhere to a certain diet for several weeks that will help restore the body. Try not to eat certain foods (honey, nuts, milk, fish, eggs, fried and smoked foods).

Help for allergic reactions to medications should be immediate. Especially if the medicine was administered intravenously. Naturally, before using the drug you should read its instructions, although certain reactions have been observed even to antiallergic tablets.

The body's resistance in this case can cause serious consequences. Most often, the symptoms of this pathology are various skin rashes, bronchial asthma or rhinitis. In this case, you cannot self-medicate. Be sure to consult a doctor and undergo a thorough diagnosis using all the necessary tests. Also, do not take any more medications that caused you to experience symptoms.

An allergic reaction to a wasp or other insect sting most often manifests itself in the form of a rash, itching and redness of the skin. Additionally, some toxins that enter your body through saliva can cause a severe response, including angioedema and anaphylactic shock. In any case, you should first remove the insect sting. Next, apply a cold compress to the damaged area for 15-20 minutes - this will reduce swelling. If the bite is on a limb, try to apply a tourniquet above this area to prevent the poison from spreading further. At the same time, do not forget to loosen it every 30 minutes. An allergic reaction to a bite in children can be very severe. In any case, you will have to use some kind of antihistamines (Fenistil, Zyrtec). Also, try to avoid encounters with insects.

If you are allergic to dust, pollen or animal fur, you may experience a runny nose, cough, pain in the eyes, swelling of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, as well as angioedema. In this case, it is necessary to urgently eliminate the irritant, wash off the particles that cause the body’s response from the body and clothing. You will definitely need to take antihistamines and call an ambulance (if measures taken on your own do not have an effect).

You can relieve an allergic reaction quite quickly, but do not forget that such a pathology must also be treated.

Features of treatment

So, you can eliminate the primary symptoms of allergies with the help of certain medications. However, pathology cannot be left untreated. Only in this case will you be able to reduce the body’s reaction to the irritant the next time you encounter it. This is especially true for the immune system’s response to dust, insect bites, and pollen, because these factors are almost impossible to completely eliminate.

So, the first rule of treatment is to avoid contact with the allergen. Next, you need to conduct a thorough diagnosis and only then proceed to complex therapy. The drugs help eliminate symptoms and also reduce the degree of the body's reaction. The most effective medications are: Claritin, Loratadine, Tavegil, Suprastin, Telfast. They are applied first. These drugs block the action of histamine. Naturally, each of them has certain side effects (drowsiness, nervousness, dizziness), so the doctor must select the most optimal and safest remedy.

If you have a stuffy nose or difficulty breathing, then you will need the following medications: Oxymetazoline, Pseudoephedrine. However, they have some contraindications (age under 12 years, pregnancy and breastfeeding, hypertension). In addition, these medications should not be taken for a long time.

For the treatment of allergic or common bronchial asthma, the inhibitor “Singulair” is most often used. In addition to the drugs presented, there are other hormonal medications that can eliminate allergy symptoms. However, they should be taken only after consulting a doctor. Improper use of hormonal drugs can lead to unpredictable consequences.

In addition to direct-acting medications, you need to take vitamin complexes and immunotherapy procedures, which will help reduce the body's sensitivity to the allergen.

To treat skin manifestations, ointments and creams are used along with oral medications. Timely treatment will reduce the severity of the reaction.

Folk remedies and allergy prevention

The presented pathology must always be under control. Various means are used for this. If you have an allergic reaction, treatment may be folk remedies. That is, home remedies also provide a good effect. Naturally, you should definitely consult a doctor and use unconventional methods of eliminating allergies only after it has been resolved. Otherwise, you can significantly worsen your condition. We present to your attention the most effective recipes, long tried by users.

1. Grind the eggshells using a coffee grinder and take a quarter of a teaspoon. For children, the dose can be reduced by half. In addition, try to dilute the raw materials with a drop of lemon juice. This remedy should be taken until the reaction disappears. That is, this method of treatment is suitable for those people who suffer from skin rashes.

2. Activated carbon will help remove some toxins from the body that can cause allergies. However, it is better to use white tablets as they are more effective. The medicine should be taken every morning. Moreover, it does not matter at all how exactly the reaction manifests itself. In addition, activated carbon can be taken regardless of the type of allergy. If you have an acute attack, taking a large number of tablets will help reduce the severity of the reaction.

3. St. John's wort will help reduce the manifestations of allergic rhinitis and lacrimation. To do this, you need to fill half a liter jar with fresh grass and fill it with alcohol (vodka). The mixture should infuse for about three weeks in a cool place. You should drink the mixture several times a day, 1 small spoon.

4. Chalk is an effective remedy for eliminating skin manifestations of pathology. It is enough just to periodically lubricate the affected areas with it. If the reaction is accompanied by severe itching, then it is better to first wipe the skin with hydrogen peroxide and then sprinkle it with crushed chalk.

5. Garlic and celery are beneficial. To do this, squeeze the juice from the plants and put it in the refrigerator. You should take it one tablespoon several times a day before meals. This remedy is suitable for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. It is better to grate the garlic on a fine grater.

6. Chamomile decoction, infusion and lotions are effective. They should be used to treat skin lesions.

However, treatment is not the only thing you should do. In order for allergic attacks to torment you as little as possible, it is necessary to take various preventive measures:

Avoid any encounters with irritants;

Try to stick to the diet prescribed by your doctor;

Give up cigarettes and alcohol;

Exercise or play sports;

Try to carry out wet cleaning daily (if necessary, the procedure is carried out even several times).

Naturally, it is necessary to strengthen the immune system. To do this, use fresh vegetables and fruits, multivitamin complexes. At the first symptoms of an allergy, try not to delay and take the antihistamine prescribed by your doctor.

These tips will help you quickly cope with a reaction to an irritant and significantly reduce its manifestation. But it is necessary to remember: any treatment should be carried out only after consultation with a doctor. Be healthy!

Allergy is a chameleon disease. Either it will appear on the skin as a plaque or rash, or it will begin its march with a banal itch. Seasonal runny nose? Also about her. And these are just minor pranks. And sometimes an allergy turns into a real evil monster: if it wants, it will start to choke, but if it wants, it will turn off the light of consciousness. How to resist this scourge?

It is not always possible to pacify such a chameleon; sometimes we do not even have time to administer drugs to save a person, death occurs in a matter of minutes...

Anaphylaxis in my practice

More than ten years ago, a man with a duodenal ulcer was treated in the therapeutic department of our hospital. On the first day they administered Kvamatel - there seemed to be no reaction. And on the second day the patient died, literally, as they say, on the needle. And no amount of resuscitation could save him.

And about five years ago, a guy came on my shift with a blunt abdominal injury. An ultrasound revealed that he had a ruptured spleen and fluid in his abdomen, a condition that required immediate surgery. With some technical difficulties, the spleen was removed; blood loss amounted to more than a liter. We decided to give him three doses of fresh frozen plasma.

The operation was successful, the surgeons took off their gowns and left... All that remained were the operating nurses, me and the anesthetist. They called a gurney and were already preparing to transfer the patient to the intensive care unit. They shifted the guy who had not yet woken up, and I was about to disconnect him from the ventilator and connect him to a breathing bag, when I suddenly noticed that his skin had become an unusually bluish color. They measured my blood pressure and it dropped to 80/40. We tried it again - 60/0. Pulse 48 per minute.

The patient was dying. From what? There is no blood through the drainage from the abdominal cavity, his breathing is not affected - he is on a ventilator. What's happened? - thoughts rushed through my head like bullets. The sisters, hardly hiding their horror, waited for decisions from me.

Lifting the sheet, I saw red plaques on my stomach.
- Adrenaline cube quickly!
Blood pressure is 40/0, ​​pulse has become arrhythmic. Solutions flowed into the veins into two rivers.
- Another cube of adrenaline! - at that moment my own adrenaline was going through the roof, the guy was not even twenty years old. - Prednisolone, all that we have, quickly into a vein!

Then a total of twenty ampoules of prednisolone were administered! Five cubes of adrenaline!

The pressure was finally stabilized at one hundred and forty, provided that it was maintained by constant administration of adrenaline. The guy's body was completely covered with red plaques.

The next day the patient was weaned off the respirator. Everything ended well, he survived without any negative consequences.

Why did this happen? He had no previous symptoms of allergies. We sinned on plasma, but who knows, because during the operation anesthetics, hemostatic agents, and other drugs were administered. Very often the allergen is never detected, even in allergy tests.

Who is guilty?

So what is an allergy? This is a complex of symptoms (itching, redness, swelling, loss of consciousness and many others) caused by the pathologically high sensitivity of the body's immune system, previously sensitized by a foreign substance (allergen). Sometimes an allergy to the body's own tissues occurs, which causes severe autoimmune diseases (glomerulonephritis, rheumatism, etc.).

It is interesting that allergies themselves appeared and are developing in parallel with our progress, the development of the chemical industry, and the improvement of the quality of life. The immune system began to malfunction and incorrectly determine what is good and what is bad.

For the development of a true allergy, it is necessary for the human body to encounter and become familiar with a certain substance (later the allergen). The first meeting will be harmless, but in response, the body will produce antibodies, and at the next contact, these antibodies will rush to the place of contact with the allergen (antigen) and form an antigen-antibody union. There will be a release of aggressive substances (histamine, cytokines, etc.) from special cells. This will manifest itself as a runny nose, lacrimation, itching, redness, etc.

Moreover, allergens often have not only a local effect, but also affect the body as a whole. That's when trouble can happen - Quincke's edema (swelling of the upper half of the body) with suffocation (as a result of swelling of the mucous membrane of the oropharynx), anaphylactic shock, a sharp drop in blood pressure and death.

I won’t go into the details of the pathogenesis, but there is also an anaphylactoid reaction. It is very similar to the classical reaction, but in pathogenesis there is a stage when antibodies are formed in response to the initial meeting of the allergen and the person. Here, immediately in response to contact, there is a release of biological substances that trigger the body’s reaction, or excess histamine comes from food (honey, fish), which is manifested by a certain reaction of the body. But clinically everything happens identically, and the treatment is the same. Therefore, we, clinicians, do not bother with such subtleties.

Allergies are so diverse that a separate specialist, an allergist, was appointed to treat this condition. And, of course, it is impossible to describe all the diversity of this disease in one article. People who are familiar with this scourge firsthand, I think, even without me, can already imagine what and how. Therefore, with your permission, I will omit such common and non-threatening symptoms as hay fever and lacrimation. And I will continue to write for those who have not yet properly understood allergies, but with the obligatory amendment that if necessary, you will immediately contact a specialist to determine the allergen and undergo a specialized course of treatment.

...and what to do?

How to independently understand that you have an allergy? After all, sometimes there is no specialist nearby, and we go to the doctor when the whole body is already covered with plaques or it has become completely bad.

Most often, allergies begin to manifest themselves with minor symptoms, and if you start treatment at this stage, then it may not come to an emergency. But it can come - because, starting with ordinary diathesis, allergies sometimes develop into more formidable forms: bronchial asthma and even anaphylactic shock.

But again, I repeat - definitely see an allergist! Only he will help you so that in the future you will not suffer from this misfortune. In particular, the allergist will explain what to do with the diet, because life when you can’t eat either spicy or smoked foods, and you can only eat porridge, is not life!

How does an allergy begin? First of all - with itching. They scratched there, they scratched here, more often under the armpits, in the groin. Itching, of course, is not a 100% indicator. It can also itch from being unwashed, scabies, liver disease, and a lot of other things. For example, if it itches often and in one place, look at the place where you scratched, maybe you will find the entry and exit points of the scabies mite. But if you find a rash or plaques and notice that under certain circumstances they disappear (appear at home, disappear at work), then it is most likely an allergy to something. Take an antihistamine (for example, Zyrtec), if the itching decreases and the plaque disappears, it means you definitely have an allergy.

Needs treatment. How? First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the allergen. And if it is not known, then you will have to go on a strict diet (the diet is posted on many sites, so I will not repeat it). In general, during an exacerbation of allergies, the body reacts to many possible allergens. Therefore, a diet is mandatory!

If the allergen is plant pollen, then windows should not be opened during flowering. Ventilate the apartment after rain. After washing, you cannot hang things outside. The cleanliness of the house should be perfect.

Allergies to medications usually manifest themselves immediately and quite violently, so the new drug, a possible allergen, should be immediately discontinued.

To relieve symptoms, take an antihistamine(it is histamines that are released from mast cells in response to the introduction of an allergen), the second or third generation is better. These drugs are convenient, taken once a day and do not have a hypnotic effect.

You need to drink a lot of water, but always bottled, purified water.(You can’t use it from the tap - there are too many nasty chemicals, which can also cause a reaction.) Histamine and other biologically active substances responsible for allergies will be eliminated through the kidneys in the urine. This way you will be doing a home detox. Sorbents are also good in this case (activated carbon).

At night, you can give an injection of suprastin (allergists recommend suprastin, not chloropyramine, but if suprastin is not available, then chloropyramine will do).

If after a day or two nothing helps, be sure to go to the doctor, don’t risk it! Anaphylactic shock is no joke!

Allergy sufferers should have adrenaline along with a syringe in their home medicine cabinet. At the moment, adrenaline is the most powerful and effective remedy for anaphylactic shock, combining antihistamine, anti-shock (stimulating the work of the heart and blood vessels) effects, it is the first-line drug for this life-threatening condition. However, if used rashly, it can lead to hypertensive crisis or arrhythmia. It is administered during anaphylactic shock, when the victim experiences dizziness, loss of consciousness, and a sharp drop in blood pressure. Subcutaneous routes of administration are questionable: necrosis may appear at the injection site, and, given the impaired microcirculation, the drug is unlikely to act properly. Therefore, the intravenous route is optimal - probably someone from your environment is able to give you an injection. Adrenaline is administered slowly, 0.3 milliliters at a time, constantly measuring blood pressure and pulse.

Like dexamethasone or prednisolone, you can also keep it in your medicine cabinet. They do not act immediately, but after 4-6 hours, but these drugs will help stabilize blood pressure by releasing their own endogenous adrenaline.

Be sure to inform others about your allergy and explain to them what to do if your condition becomes dangerous. Take care of yourself!

Vladimir Shpinev

Photo thinkstockphotos.com

The inner surface of the nose is covered with a huge number of small vessels. When an allergen or antigen enters the nasal cavity, the vessels of the nasal mucosa dilate and blood flow increases, this is a kind of defense system of the immune system. A large influx of blood causes swelling of the mucous membrane and provokes copious mucus secretion. Decongestants act on the walls of mucosal vessels, causing them to narrow, which reduces blood flow and reduces swelling.

These drugs are not recommended for children under 12 years of age, as well as nursing mothers and people with hypertension. It is also not recommended to use these drugs for more than 5-7 days, since with prolonged use they can cause a backlash and increase swelling of the nasal mucosa.

These drugs may also cause side effects such as dry mouth, headaches, and weakness. Very rarely, they can cause hallucinations or an anaphylactic reaction.

You should consult your doctor before starting to use these medications.

Leukotriene inhibitors(Montelukast (Singulair) are chemicals that block reactions caused by leukotrienes (leukotrienes are substances released by the body during an allergic reaction and cause inflammation and swelling of the airways). Most often used in the treatment of bronchial asthma. Leukotriene inhibitors can be used together with other medications, since no interactions with them have been found.Adverse reactions are extremely rare and can manifest themselves in the form of a headache, earache, or sore throat.

Steroid sprays(Beclomethasone (Beconas, Beclazon), Flucatisone (Nazarel, Flixonase, Avamis), Mometasone (Momat, Nasonex, Asmanex)) - these drugs are essentially hormonal drugs. Their action is to reduce inflammation in the nasal passages, thereby reducing the symptoms of allergic reactions, namely nasal congestion. The absorption of these drugs is minimal so that all possible adverse reactions disappear, however, with long-term use of these drugs, in rare cases, such adverse reactions as nosebleeds or sore throat are possible. Before using these medications, it is advisable to consult your doctor.

Hyposensitization(immunotherapy) - In addition to avoiding contact with allergens and drug treatment, there is such a treatment method as: immunotherapy. This method involves the gradual, long-term introduction of gradually increasing amounts of allergens into your body, which will lead to a decrease in the sensitivity of your body to a given allergen.

This procedure involves the administration of small doses of the allergen in the form of a subcutaneous injection. Initially, you will be given injections at intervals of a week or less, while the dose of the allergen will be constantly increased, this regimen will be followed until a “maintenance dose” is reached, this is the dose at which there is a pronounced effect of reducing the usual allergic reaction. However, once this “maintenance dose” is reached, it will need to be administered every few weeks for at least another 2-2.5 years. This treatment method is usually prescribed when a person has a severe form of allergy that does not respond well to conventional treatment, as well as for certain types of allergies, such as allergies to bee stings, wasp stings. This type of treatment should only be carried out in a specialized medical institution under the supervision of a group of specialists, since this method of treatment can provoke a severe allergic reaction.

Anaphylaxis(Anaphylactic shock)

This is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. People most often affected by anaphylaxis are:

• Respiratory tract (provokes spasms and pulmonary edema)
• Act of breathing (breathing disorder, shortness of breath)
• Blood circulation (lowering blood pressure)

The mechanism of development of anaphylaxis is the same as that of an allergic reaction, only the manifestation of anaphylaxis is tens of times more pronounced than with ordinary, even quite strong allergic reactions.

Causes of anaphylaxis

The causes are generally similar to common allergic reactions, but it is worth highlighting the causes that most often cause anaphylactic reactions:

• Insect bites
• Certain types of food
• Some types of medications
• Contrast agents used in diagnostic medical studies

Insect bites– despite the fact that the bite of any insect can cause an anaphylactic reaction, bee and wasp stings are the cause of anaphylactic shock in the vast majority. According to statistics, only 1 in 100 people have an allergic reaction to a bee or wasp sting, and only a very small number of people have an allergic reaction that develops into anaphylaxis.

Food– Peanuts are the main cause of anaphylactic reactions among foods. However, there are a number of other foods that can cause anaphylaxis:

• Walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds and Brazil nuts
• Milk
• Shellfish and crab meat

The following products are the least likely to cause an anaphylactic reaction:

• Bananas, grapes and strawberries

Medications – there are a number of medications that can trigger the development of anaphylactic reactions:

• Antibiotics (most often from the penicillin series ( penicillin, ampicillin, bicilin))
• Anesthetics (substances used during operations, intravenous anesthetics Thiopental, Ketamine, Propofol and inhalational anesthetics Sevovlurane, Desflurane, Halothane)
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen)
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (drugs used in the treatment of hypertension Captopril, Enalapril, Lisinopril)

People taking any drugs from the above groups, except angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, may cause an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis at the first dose, which will manifest itself within a short time after taking the medication, from several minutes to several hours.
An allergic reaction or anaphylactic shock can be triggered by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor drugs, even if the patient has been using these drugs for several years.

However, the risk of any allergic reactions when taking any of the above drugs is very low and cannot be compared with the positive medical effects achieved in the treatment of various diseases.
Eg:

• The risk of developing anaphylaxis when taking penicillin is approximately 1 in 5,000
• When using anesthetics 1 in 10,000
• When using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs 1 in 1500
• When using angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors 1 in 3000

Contrast agents- these are special chemicals that are administered intravenously and are used for a detailed examination of any part of the body or the vessels of any organ. Contrast agents are used in diagnostic medicine most often in studies such as computed tomography, angiography and x-ray examination.

The risk of developing an anaphylactic reaction when using contrast agents is approximately 1 in 10,000.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis

The time at which any symptoms appear depends on the route the allergen enters your body, so an allergen ingested through food can trigger symptoms from a few minutes to several hours, while an insect bite or injection can trigger symptoms within anywhere from 2 to 30 minutes. Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the reaction; in some people they may be mild itching and swelling, and in some they can be fatal if not treated promptly.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis include the following:

• Red rash with severe itching
• Swelling in the eye area, swelling of the lips and limbs
• Narrowing, swelling and spasms of the airways that can cause difficulty breathing
• Feeling of a lump in the throat
• Nausea and vomiting
• Metallic taste in the mouth
• Feeling of fear
• A sudden drop in blood pressure, which can lead to severe weakness, dizziness and loss of consciousness

Diagnosis of anaphylaxis

At this stage of medical development, it is not possible to determine in advance whether you will develop anaphylaxis. The diagnosis of anaphylaxis is made already during the onset of an anaphylactic reaction based on symptoms, or after the reaction has occurred. Monitoring the development of all symptoms is also not possible, since in most cases they lead to a sharp deterioration in health and can lead to death, so it is necessary to immediately begin treatment at the first signs of this disease.

After the occurrence and treatment of an anaphylactic reaction, studies are carried out aimed at detecting the allergen that caused this reaction. If this is your first manifestation of anaphylaxis and allergies in general, you will be prescribed a range of tests used to make an allergy diagnosis, including some of the following specific tests:

• Skin tests
• Blood test for IgE
• Skin or patch tests (Patch-testing)
• Provocative tests

The main goal of the study after an anaphylactic reaction is to detect the allergen that caused this reaction, also depending on the severity of the reaction to detect the allergen, it is necessary to use the safest possible test to in order to avoid a repeat reaction. The safest test is:

Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) This study allows you to determine the allergen that caused an anaphylactic reaction in the following way: a small amount of blood is taken from the patient, then small amounts of suspected allergens are placed in this blood; if a reaction occurs, namely the release of a large number of antibodies, the identified allergen is considered the cause of the reaction.

Treatment of anaphylactic shock

Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and requires immediate qualified medical attention.

If you notice any of the symptoms in yourself or someone else, you must immediately call an ambulance.

If you notice a possible cause for the development of symptoms, such as a bee sting site with a protruding sting, it is necessary to remove it.

If you, as an allergy sufferer or a survivor of anaphylactic shock, or a victim, have adrenaline auto-injectors, you must immediately administer a dose of the drug intramuscularly. These autoinjectors include:

• EpiPen
• Anapen
• Jext

If any of them is available, one dose must be administered immediately (one dose = one injector). It should be injected into the thigh muscle on the dorsal lateral surface; injection into adipose tissue should be avoided as then no effect will follow. It is necessary to carefully read the instructions before use to ensure correct administration. After administration, it is necessary to fix the injector within 10 seconds in the same position in which the drug was administered. For most people, the condition should improve within a few minutes after administering the drug; if this does not happen, you will need to re-administer another dose of the drug if you have another auto-injector.

If a person is unconscious, it is necessary to turn him on his side, bending the leg on which he lies at the knee and placing the hand on which he lies under his head. This way he will be protected from vomit entering the respiratory tract. If a person is not breathing or has no pulse, resuscitation measures must be carried out, but only if you know how to do this, resuscitation measures are carried out until breathing and a pulse appear or until the ambulance team arrives.

Treatment in a hospital will be carried out with drugs similar to those used in the treatment of allergies.

Typically, the patient can be discharged from the hospital 2-3 days after anaphylaxis.
If you know allergens that can cause you an allergic reaction or even that can cause anaphylactic shock, you should avoid contact with them as much as possible.

How long does an allergy last?

In general, allergies as a disease can last a lifetime. In this case, allergy means hypersensitivity of the patient’s body to certain substances. Since such sensitivity is an individual characteristic of the body, it persists for a very long time, and the body will always react with the appearance of corresponding symptoms upon repeated contact with the allergen. Sometimes allergies can occur only in childhood or during periods of serious disturbances in the functioning of the immune system. Then it goes away within a few years, but the risk of a reaction upon repeated contact in the future still remains. Sometimes, with age, the intensity of the manifestations of the disease simply decreases, although the body’s increased sensitivity still remains.

If by allergy we mean its symptoms and manifestations, then their duration is very difficult to predict, since this is influenced by many different factors. The functioning of the immune system and the pathological mechanisms underlying allergic reactions are not fully understood. Therefore, no specialist can give a guarantee when the manifestations of the disease will disappear.

The duration of an allergic reaction is influenced by the following factors:

• Contact with an allergen. Everyone knows that an allergic reaction occurs due to contact of the body with a specific substance - an allergen. The first contact in life does not cause an allergic reaction, since the body “gets to know” and recognizes the foreign substance. However, repeated contact leads to the appearance of pathological changes, since the body already has a set of necessary antibodies ( substances that react with the allergen). The longer the contact with the allergen, the longer the symptoms will be. For example, an allergy to pollen will last the entire flowering period of a certain plant if a person is constantly outdoors. If you try to spend more time at home, away from forests and fields, then contact with the allergen will be minimal, and the symptoms will disappear faster.
• Allergy form. Allergic reactions after contact with an allergen can take various forms. Each of these forms has a certain duration. For example, hives can last from a few hours to several weeks. Watery eyes, coughing and irritation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract are usually caused by the allergen and disappear within a few days after stopping contact with it. An attack of bronchial asthma caused by allergens can last several minutes ( less than hours) after termination of contact. Angioedema ( Quincke's edema) occurs upon contact with an allergen and is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the subcutaneous fatty tissue. After the start of treatment, it stops increasing, but completely resolves only after a few days ( sometimes hours). Anaphylactic shock is the most severe but short-lived allergic reaction of the body. Vasodilation, drop in blood pressure and breathing difficulties do not last long, but without medical attention they can lead to the death of the patient.
• Treatment effectiveness. The duration of the allergy manifestation largely depends on what drugs are used to treat the disease. The most rapid effect is observed from glucocorticoid drugs ( prednisolone, dexamethasone, etc.). That is why they are used for severe allergic reactions that threaten the patient’s life. Antihistamines act somewhat slower ( suprastin, erolin, clemastine). The effect of these drugs is weaker, and allergy symptoms will disappear gradually. But more often, antihistamines are prescribed for allergies, since glucocorticoids are similar in action to a number of hormones, which is why they can cause serious side effects. The sooner treatment is started, the faster it will be possible to eliminate allergy symptoms.
• Immune system status. A number of diseases of the thyroid, adrenal glands and other endocrine glands ( endocrine glands), as well as some pathologies of the immune system can affect the duration of allergy manifestations. When they occur, systemic disorders are observed that enhance the body’s immune response to various substances. Treatment of such pathologies will also lead to the disappearance of allergic manifestations.

To get rid of allergies faster, you should first consult an allergist. Only a specialist in this field can identify the specific allergen or allergens and prescribe the most effective treatment. Self-medication for allergies not only leads to a longer course of the disease, but also does not make it possible to avoid repeated contact with the allergen. After all, the patient can only guess what he is allergic to, but does not know for sure. Only a visit to the doctor and a special test will help determine which substance you should be wary of.

How quickly does an allergy appear?

There are several stages in the development of an allergic reaction, each of which is characterized by certain processes in the body. Upon first contact with the allergen ( a substance to which the body is pathologically sensitive) symptoms usually do not appear. The allergy itself occurs after repeated ( second and all subsequent) contact with an allergen. The time of onset of symptoms is very difficult to predict, since it depends on many different factors.

Upon repeated contact with an allergen, the body begins to release special substances, class E immunoglobulins ( IgE). They affect several types of cells scattered throughout the body, destroying their membrane. As a result, so-called mediator substances are released, the most important of which is histamine. Under the influence of histamine, the permeability of the vascular walls is disrupted, and some of the fluid leaves the dilated capillaries into the intercellular space. This causes swelling. Histamine also stimulates the contraction of smooth muscle in the bronchi, which can cause breathing difficulties. This whole chain takes some time. Nowadays, there are 4 types of allergic reactions. In three of them, all biochemical processes occur quickly. In one, a so-called delayed-type immune reaction occurs.

The rate of occurrence of various manifestations of allergies is influenced by the following factors:

• Type of allergic reaction.There are 4 types of allergic reactions. Usually immediate reactions predominate.
• Allergen quantity. This dependence is not always visible. Sometimes even a small amount of an allergen causes certain symptoms to appear almost instantly. For example, when a wasp stings ( if a person is allergic to their poison) almost immediately there is severe pain, redness, severe swelling, and sometimes rash and itching. In general, however, it is fair to say that the more allergen that enters the body, the faster symptoms will appear.
• Type of contact with allergen. This factor is very important, since different tissues of the body have different numbers of immunocompetent cells that recognize the allergen. If such a substance comes into contact with the skin, for example, itching or redness will appear after a longer time. Inhalation of pollen, dust, exhaust gases ( contact of the allergen with the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract) can almost instantly cause an attack of bronchial asthma or rapidly increasing swelling of the mucous membrane. When an allergen is introduced into the blood ( for example, contrast in some diagnostic procedures) anaphylactic shock also develops very quickly.
• Clinical form of allergy. Each of the possible allergy symptoms is a consequence of exposure to mediators. But it takes different times for symptoms to appear. For example, redness of the skin is due to the dilation of capillaries, which can occur very quickly. The smooth muscles of the bronchi also contract rapidly, causing an asthma attack. But swelling occurs due to the gradual seepage of fluid through the walls of blood vessels. It takes more time to develop. Food allergies usually do not appear immediately. This is due to the digestion of food and the release of the allergen ( it is usually a component of the product) takes time.
• Individual characteristics of the body. Each body has a different number of cells, mediators and receptors that take part in an allergic reaction. Therefore, exposure to the same allergen in the same doses in different patients can cause the appearance of different symptoms and at different intervals.

Thus, it is very difficult to predict when the first allergy symptoms will appear. Most often we are talking about minutes or, less often, hours. When a large dose of an allergen is administered intravenously ( contrast, antibiotic, other medications) the reaction develops almost instantly. Sometimes it takes several days for an allergic reaction to develop. This most often applies to skin manifestations of food allergies.

What can't you eat if you have allergies?

Nutrition and proper diet are the most important component of treatment for food allergies. However, even if you are allergic to substances that do not enter the body with food, proper nutrition is of a certain importance. The fact is that most people suffering from allergies have a hereditary predisposition to this disease and certain individual characteristics in the functioning of the immune system. Because of this, there is a high chance that their body is hypersensitive to several different allergens ( substances that provoke manifestations of the disease). Following a diet allows you to avoid eating foods that are potentially strong allergens.

For patients with any form of allergy, it is advisable to exclude the following foods from their diet:

• Most seafood. Seafood contains a very large amount of various microelements and vitamins. This explains their benefits for most people. However, it should be remembered that contact with new substances puts a strain on the immune system, and for people with allergies, there is an additional risk of exacerbation of the disease. You should limit your consumption of fish ( especially sea), and it is better to avoid caviar and seaweed completely.
• Dairy products. They should be consumed in moderation. Fresh milk and homemade fermented milk products should be completely abandoned. They contain a large amount of natural proteins, which are potential allergens. Factory-made dairy products go through several stages of processing, during which some of the proteins are destroyed. The risk of allergies remains, but is significantly reduced.
• Canned foods. Most industrial canned food is prepared with the addition of a large number of food additives. They are necessary to preserve the taste of products, extend shelf life and other commercial purposes. These additives are harmless to a healthy person, but they are potentially strong allergens.
• Some fruits and berries. A fairly common option is an allergy to strawberries, sea buckthorn, melon, and pineapples. Sometimes it manifests itself even when eating dishes made from these products ( compotes, jams, etc.). Citrus fruits are very strong potential allergens ( oranges, etc.). In this case, it will be regarded as a full-fledged food allergy. However, even for people, say, with allergies to bee stings or pollen, consuming these products is undesirable due to the burden on the immune system.
• Products with a large number of nutritional additives. A number of products already include a wide range of different chemical food additives in their production technology. These include sweetened carbonated drinks, marmalade, chocolate, and chewing gum. All of them contain a large number of dyes, which themselves can be allergens. Sometimes sweeteners and dyes are found even in improperly prepared dried fruits.
• Honey. Honey is a fairly common allergen, so it should be consumed with caution. You need to be equally wary of nuts and mushrooms. These products contain many unique substances that the body rarely comes into contact with. The risk of developing an allergy to such substances is much higher.

It would seem that the diet of patients with allergic diseases should be quite meager. However, this is not entirely true. The above products are not strictly prohibited. Patients should just carefully monitor their condition after consuming them and not eat them often or in large quantities. It is recommended to follow a more strict diet with the complete exclusion of this number of products during exacerbations of allergies ( especially after angioedema, anaphylactic shock and other dangerous forms of the disease). This will be a kind of precautionary measure.

If you have a food allergy, you need to completely exclude those foods that contain a specific allergen. For example, if a patient is allergic to strawberries, they should not eat strawberry ice cream or drink fruit tea with strawberry leaves or flowers. You need to be very careful to avoid contact with even small amounts of the allergen. In this case, we are talking specifically about pathological sensitivity to a previously known substance. Modern treatments can help gradually get rid of this problem ( for example, using immunotherapy). But for preventive purposes, the diet should still be followed. More precise instructions regarding permitted products for a particular patient can only be given by an allergist after all the necessary tests have been carried out.

Do allergies happen during pregnancy?

Allergic reactions in pregnant women are quite common. In principle, allergies rarely appear for the first time after conception. Usually women already know about their problem and notify their doctor about it. With timely intervention, diagnosis and treatment of allergic reactions during pregnancy are completely safe for both mother and fetus. Moreover, if the mother is allergic to any drugs that are used to eliminate serious problems, treatment may well be continued. They will simply add additional medications to the course that eliminate the manifestations of such allergies. In each individual case, doctors determine separately how to manage the patient. There are no uniform standards due to the wide variety of forms of the disease and the different conditions of patients.

In pregnant women, allergies can take the following forms:

• Bronchial asthma. This disease may be of an allergic nature. It usually occurs when an allergen is inhaled, but can also be a consequence of skin or food contact. The cause of the disease and the main problem is spasm of smooth muscles in the walls of the bronchioles ( small air passages in the lungs). Because of this, breathing difficulties arise, which in severe cases can result in the death of the patient. In case of pregnancy, prolonged breath holding is also dangerous for the fetus.
• Hives. Represents a skin allergic reaction. Most often it occurs in pregnant women in the last trimester. Itchy rashes appear on the stomach, less often on the limbs, which cause a lot of discomfort. This form of allergy is usually easily relieved with antihistamines and does not pose a serious threat to the mother or fetus.
• Angioedema ( Quincke's edema). It occurs mainly in women with a hereditary predisposition to this disease. Edema can be localized in almost any part of the body where there is a lot of subcutaneous tissue. The most dangerous swelling is in the upper respiratory tract, as it can lead to respiratory arrest and hypoxic damage to the fetus. In general, this form of allergy in pregnant women is quite rare.
• Rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is a very common problem in pregnant women. This form is especially common in the 2nd – 3rd trimester. Rhinitis is caused by allergen contact with the nasal mucosa. As a result, swelling occurs, fluid begins to leak from the dilated capillaries, and nasal discharge appears. At the same time, breathing difficulties arise.

Thus, some forms of allergies in pregnant women can be dangerous for the fetus. That is why it is recommended to consult a doctor for medical help at the first manifestations of the disease. If the patient knows that she has an allergy, then it is possible to prescribe certain medications prophylactically to prevent an exacerbation of the disease. Of course, it is necessary to avoid contact with known allergens at all costs. If contact does occur, the focus is on adequate and prompt medical treatment.

Options for drug treatment of exacerbations in various forms of allergies in pregnant women

A very important point in the management of pregnant women with allergies is childbirth itself. The fact is that in order to successfully carry out this procedure ( or caesarean section, if planned in a particular case) you will need to administer a large number of drugs ( including anesthesia if necessary). Therefore, it is important to notify the anesthesiologist about previous use of anti-allergy medications. This will allow you to optimally select drugs and doses, eliminating the risk of adverse reactions and complications.

The most severe type of allergic reaction is anaphylaxis. It manifests itself as serious circulatory disorders. Due to the rapid expansion of capillaries, blood pressure decreases. At the same time, breathing problems may occur. This creates a serious threat to the fetus, since it does not receive enough blood and, accordingly, oxygen. According to statistics, anaphylaxis in pregnant women is most often caused by the administration of any pharmacological drug. This is quite natural, since at different stages of pregnancy a woman receives a significant amount of different medications.

Anaphylaxis in pregnant women is most often caused by the following medications:

• penicillin;
• oxytocin;
• fentanyl;
• dextran;
• cefotetan;
• phytomenadione.

Treatment of anaphylactic shock in pregnant women is practically no different from that in other patients. To restore blood flow and quickly eliminate the threat, epinephrine must be administered. It will narrow the capillaries, dilate the bronchioles and increase the pressure. If anaphylaxis occurs in the third trimester, the possibility of a cesarean section should be considered. This will avoid danger to the fetus.

Why are allergies dangerous?

In most cases, patients with allergies do not see their disease as particularly dangerous. This is due to the fact that severe cases of allergies that actually threaten the health or life of the patient are extremely rare. However, the danger should not be ignored. Evidence shows that people who have suffered from hay fever or eczema for years may develop anaphylactic shock ( the most severe type of allergic reaction) upon new contact with the same allergen. It is quite difficult to explain this phenomenon, since the mechanism of development of allergic reactions has not yet been fully studied.

• rash;
• skin redness;
• peeling of the skin;
• nasal discharge;
• burning in the eyes;
• redness of the eyes;
• dry eyes;
• tearfulness;
• sore throat;
• dry mouth;
• dry cough;
• sneezing.

All these symptoms in themselves do not pose a serious threat to the patient's health. They are associated with local destruction of mast cells, mastocytes and other cells involved in the development of an allergic reaction. A special mediator is released from them - histamine, which causes local damage to neighboring cells and corresponding symptoms. However, in severe cases, allergies also affect the functioning of the cardiovascular or respiratory system. Then the disease becomes much more serious.

The most dangerous forms of allergic reactions are:

• Bronchial asthma. Bronchial asthma is a disease in which the small bronchi in the lungs narrow. Often this occurs precisely after contact with allergens, if the patient has hypersensitivity. An asthma attack is a very serious and dangerous condition as it affects breathing. Air does not enter the lungs in sufficient quantities, and the person may suffocate.
• Angioedema ( Quincke's edema) . With this disease, the entry of allergens into the body causes swelling of the subcutaneous fatty tissue. In principle, swelling can develop in almost any part of the body, but most often it is localized on the face. A life-threatening form of Quincke's edema is localized near the windpipe. In this case, due to swelling, the airways will close, and the patient may die.
• Anaphylactic shock. This form of allergic reaction is considered the most dangerous, as various organs and systems are affected. The greatest significance in the development of shock is the sharp expansion of small capillaries and a drop in blood pressure. At the same time, breathing problems may occur. Anaphylactic shock often ends in the death of the patient.

In addition, allergies are dangerous due to bacterial complications. For example, with eczema or rhinitis ( inflammation in the nasal mucosa) local protective barriers weaken. Therefore, microbes that have entered the allergy-damaged cells at this moment receive favorable soil for reproduction and development. Allergic rhinitis can develop into sinusitis or sinusitis with the accumulation of pus in the maxillary sinuses. Skin manifestations of allergies can be complicated by purulent dermatitis. This course of the disease occurs especially often if the patient has itching. In the process of scratching, it further damages the skin and introduces new portions of microbes.

What to do if your child has allergies?

Allergic reactions in children, for a number of reasons, occur much more often than in adults. Most often we are talking about food allergies, but almost all forms of this disease can be found even in early childhood. Before starting treatment for a child with allergies, it is necessary to determine the specific allergen to which the patient’s body is sensitive. To do this, contact an allergist. In some cases, it turns out that the child does not have allergies, but is intolerant to some food. Such pathologies develop according to a different mechanism ( we are talking about a lack of certain enzymes), and their treatment is carried out by pediatricians and gastroenterologists. If an allergy is confirmed, treatment is prescribed taking into account all age-related characteristics.

A special approach to treating allergies in a child is necessary for the following reasons:

• young children are not able to complain about subjective symptoms ( pain, burning in the eyes, itching);
• a child’s immune system is different from the immune system of adults, so the risk of allergies to new foods is higher;
• Due to their curiosity, children often come into contact with various allergens in the house and on the street, so it is difficult to determine what exactly the child is allergic to;
• Some strong allergy suppressants can cause serious side effects in children.

In general, however, allergic reactions in children involve the same mechanisms as in adults. Therefore, priority should be given to the same drugs in appropriate dosages. The main criterion when calculating the dose in this case will be the child’s weight, and not his age.

Of the medications used in the treatment of allergies, preference is given to antihistamines. They block receptors for the main allergy mediator, histamine. As a result, this substance is released, but does not have a pathogenic effect on the tissue, so the symptoms of the disease disappear.

The most common antihistamines are:

• suprastin ( chloropyramine);
• tavegil ( clemastine);
• diphenhydramine ( diphenhydramine);
• diazolin ( mebhydrolin);
• fenkarol ( quifenadine hydrochloride);
• pipolfen ( promethazine);
• arolin ( loratadine).

These drugs are prescribed mainly for allergic reactions that do not threaten the child’s life. They gradually eliminate urticaria, dermatitis ( skin inflammation), itchy, watery eyes or sore throat caused by an allergic reaction. However, in case of serious allergic reactions that pose a threat to life, it is necessary to use other means with a stronger and faster effect.

In emergency situations ( Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock, bronchial asthma attack) urgent administration of corticosteroids is necessary ( prednisolone, beclomethasone, etc.). Drugs in this group have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. The effect of their use comes much faster. Also, to maintain the functioning of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, it is necessary to administer adrenaline or its analogues ( epinephrine). This will dilate the bronchi and restore breathing during an asthma attack, and increase blood pressure ( important for anaphylactic shock).

With any allergies in children, it is important to remember that the child’s body is more sensitive in many ways than an adult. Therefore, even ordinary manifestations of allergies cannot be ignored ( watery eyes, sneezing, rash). You should immediately consult a doctor who will confirm the diagnosis, give appropriate preventive recommendations and determine the appropriate course of treatment. Self-medication is always dangerous. The growing body's response to an allergen can change with age, and the risk of developing dangerous forms of allergy if not treated correctly is very high.

What are some folk remedies for allergies?

Folk remedies for allergies should be selected depending on the location of the symptoms of this disease. There are a number of medicinal plants that can partly affect the immune system as a whole, reducing the symptoms of allergies. Another group of agents can interrupt the pathological process at the local level. These include ointments and compresses for skin manifestations.

Of the folk remedies that affect the immune system as a whole, the following are most often used:

• Mumiyo. 1 g mummy dissolves in 1 liter of hot water ( high-quality product dissolves even in warm water quickly and without sediment). The solution is cooled to room temperature ( 1 – 1.5 hours) and taken orally once a day. It is advisable to take the product in the first hour after waking up. The course lasts 2 – 3 weeks. Single dose for adults – 100 ml. Shilajit solution can also be used to treat allergies in children. Then the dose is reduced to 50 - 70 ml ( depending on body weight). This remedy is not recommended for children under one year of age.
• Peppermint. 10 g of dry peppermint leaves are poured with half a glass of boiling water. Infusion lasts 30 - 40 minutes in a dark place. The product is taken three times a day, 1 tablespoon for several weeks ( if the allergy does not go away for a long time).
• Calendula officinalis. 10 g of dried flowers are poured into a glass of boiling water. Infusion lasts 60 – 90 minutes. The infusion is taken twice a day, 1 tablespoon.
• Swamp duckweed. The plant is collected, washed well, dried and ground into a fine powder. This powder should be taken 1 teaspoon three times a day, washed down with plenty of boiled water ( 1 – 2 glasses).
• Dandelion root. Freshly picked dandelion roots are well scalded with boiling water and ground ( or rub) into a homogeneous paste. Pour 1 tablespoon of this slurry into 1 glass of boiling water and mix thoroughly. The mixture is drunk, shaking before use, 1 glass per day in three doses ( one third of a glass morning, afternoon and evening). The course can last 1 – 2 months if necessary.
• Celery root. 2 tablespoons of crushed root should be poured into 200 ml of cold water ( approximately 4 - 8 degrees, temperature in the refrigerator). Infusion lasts 2 – 3 hours. During this period, you should avoid direct sunlight on the infusion. After this, the infusion is taken 50–100 ml three times a day, half an hour before meals.

The above remedies are not always effective. The fact is that there are several different types of allergic reactions. There is no universal remedy that suppresses all these types. Therefore, you should try several treatment regimens to determine the most effective treatment.

As a rule, these recipes relieve symptoms such as allergic rhinitis ( for allergies to pollen), conjunctivitis ( inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes), asthma attacks. For skin manifestations of allergies, preference should be given to local treatment methods. The most common are compresses, lotions and baths based on medicinal plants.

For skin manifestations of allergies, the following folk remedies best help:

• Dill juice. The juice is best squeezed from young shoots ( in the old ones there is less of it, and more dill will be needed). After squeezing out approximately 1 - 2 tablespoons of juice, they are diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 2. Gauze is moistened in the resulting mixture, which is then used as a compress. You need to do it 1 - 2 times a day for 10 - 15 minutes.
• Mumiyo. Shilajit can also be used as a lotion for skin allergies. It is diluted in a concentration of 1 to 100 ( 1 g of substance per 100 g of warm water). Clean gauze or a handkerchief is generously moistened with the solution and the affected area of ​​skin is covered. The procedure is done once a day, and it lasts until the compress begins to dry out. The course of treatment lasts 15–20 procedures.
• Pansies. Prepare a concentrated infusion of 5 - 6 tablespoons of dried flowers and 1 liter of boiling water. Infusion lasts 2 – 3 hours. After this, the mixture is shaken, the petals are filtered and poured into a warm bath. Baths should be taken every 1 to 2 days for several weeks.
• Nettle. Mash freshly picked nettle flowers into a paste and pour boiling water over them ( 2 – 3 tablespoons per glass of water). When the infusion has cooled to room temperature, moisten gauze in it and apply lotions to the area of ​​allergic eczema, itching or rash.
• Hop cones. A quarter cup of crushed green hop cones is poured with a glass of boiling water. The resulting mixture is mixed well and left for at least 2 hours. After this, gauze is soaked in the infusion and compresses are applied to the affected area. The procedure is repeated twice a day.

The use of these remedies in many patients gradually eliminates itching, redness of the skin, and eczema. On average, for a noticeable effect you need to carry out 3–4 procedures, and then until the end of the course the goal is to consolidate the result. However, treatment with folk remedies for allergies has a number of tangible disadvantages. It is because of them that self-medication can be dangerous or ineffective.

The disadvantages of treating allergies with folk remedies are:

• Nonspecific action of herbs. Not a single medicinal plant can compare in strength and speed of effect with modern pharmacological drugs. Therefore, treatment with folk remedies, as a rule, lasts longer, and the chances of success are less.
• Risk of new allergic reactions. A person who is allergic to something is usually predisposed to other allergies due to the way the immune system works. Therefore, treatment with folk remedies can lead to contact with new allergens that the patient’s body cannot tolerate. Then the manifestations of allergies will only worsen.
• Masking symptoms. Many of the above folk remedies do not affect the mechanism of allergy development, but only its external manifestations. Thus, the state of health when taking them can only improve externally.

Based on all this, we can conclude that folk remedies are not the best choice in the fight against allergies. With this disease, it is advisable to consult a doctor to determine the specific allergen that the body cannot tolerate. After this, at the request of the patient, the specialist himself can recommend any remedies based on the action of medicinal herbs, which are the safest in this particular case.

Is there a human allergy?

In the classical sense, an allergy is an acute response of the immune system to the body’s contact with any foreign substance. In humans, as a certain biological species, the structure of tissues is very similar. Therefore, there cannot be allergic reactions to the hair, saliva, tears and other biological components of another person. The immune system simply will not detect the foreign material, and the allergic reaction will not start. However, in medical practice, allergies in very sensitive patients may regularly appear when communicating with the same person. However, this has a slightly different explanation.

Each person comes into contact with a very large number of potential allergens. At the same time, the carrier himself does not suspect that he is a carrier of allergens, since his body does not have increased sensitivity to these components. However, for a patient with an allergy, even a tiny amount of a foreign substance is enough to cause severe symptoms of the disease. Most often, such cases are mistaken for “human allergies.” The patient cannot figure out what exactly he is allergic to, and therefore blames the carrier.

Most often, sensitivity to the following allergens is mistaken for human allergies:

• Cosmetics. Cosmetical tools ( even on a natural basis) are strong potential allergens. Contact with lipstick, inhalation of perfume, or tiny particles of powder can be taken as an allergy to a person. Of course, during everyday contact these substances enter the environment in negligible quantities. But the problem is that for people with specific hypersensitivity, even this is enough.
• Industrial dust. Some people who work in manufacturing are carriers of specific allergens. The smallest particles of dust settle on the skin, clothes, linger in the hair, and are inhaled by the lungs. After work, a person, coming into contact with his friends, can transfer dust particles to them. If you are allergic to its components, it may cause a rash, redness of the skin, watery eyes and other typical symptoms.
• Animal fur. The problem of “human allergies” is well known to people with allergies to pets ( cats or dogs). Owners usually have a small amount of their pet's hair or saliva on their clothes. If you are allergic ( person with allergies) comes into contact with the owner, a small amount of the allergen may come into contact with him.
• Medications. Not many people think about what happens in the human body after taking any medications. Having fulfilled their therapeutic function, they are usually metabolized by the body ( bind or split) and are output. They are mainly excreted in urine or feces. But a certain amount of components can be released during breathing, with sweat, tears, sperm or secretions of the vaginal glands. Then contact with these biological fluids is dangerous for a person with an allergy to the medications used. In these cases, it is very difficult to detect the allergen. It is misleading if the patient believes that the rash occurred after, say, contact with the sweat of another person. Indeed, it is easier to mistake this for a human allergy than to trace the path of a specific allergen.

There are other options when a very specific person is a carrier of a specific allergen. Even an allergist is not always able to understand the situation. In these cases, it is important to temporarily stop contact with the “suspect” ( so as not to provoke new manifestations of the disease) and still contact a specialist. An extensive skin test with a large number of different allergens usually helps to identify what exactly the patient is sensitive to. After this, you need to talk in detail with the potential carrier to find out where the allergen could have come from. Changing your perfume or stopping any medications usually solves the problem of “human allergies.”

In rare cases, human allergies can occur in some mental disorders. Then symptoms such as coughing, sneezing or watery eyes are not caused by contact with any allergen, but by a certain “psychological incompatibility.” At the same time, manifestations of the disease sometimes appear even when a person is mentioned, when physical contact with him is excluded. In these cases, we are not talking about allergies, but about mental disorders.

Is there an allergy to alcohol?

There is a common misconception that some people are allergic to alcohol. This is not entirely true, since ethyl alcohol itself, which is meant by alcohol, has a very simple molecular structure and practically cannot become an allergen. Thus, allergies to alcohol, as such, practically do not exist. However, cases of allergies to alcoholic beverages are not uncommon. However, here it is not ethyl alcohol that acts as an allergen, but other substances.

Typically, an allergic reaction to alcoholic beverages is explained as follows:

• Ethyl alcohol is an excellent solvent. Many substances that are insoluble in water dissolve easily and without residue in alcohol. Therefore, any alcoholic drink contains a very large amount of dissolved substances.
• A small amount of allergen sufficient to trigger a reaction. The amount of allergen is not critical for the development of an allergic reaction. In other words, even negligible impurities of any substance in alcohol can cause an allergy. Of course, the more allergen enters the body, the stronger and faster the reaction will appear. But in practice, even very small doses of an allergen sometimes cause anaphylactic shock - the most severe form of an allergic reaction that threatens the patient’s life.
• Low quality control. High-quality alcoholic products always indicate the composition of the drink and the number of ingredients. However, currently the production and sale of alcohol is a very profitable business. Therefore, a significant proportion of products on the market may contain some kind of impurity that is not listed on the label. A person may be allergic to these unknown components. Then it is very difficult to determine the allergen. Alcoholic drinks produced at home are even more dangerous for people with allergies, since the composition is simply not carefully controlled.
• Incorrect storage conditions. As mentioned above, alcohol is a good solvent, and only a small amount of the substance is needed to develop an allergy. If an alcoholic drink is stored incorrectly for a long time ( Usually we are talking about plastic bottles), some components of the material from which the container is made may get into it. Few buyers know that plastic packaging also has an expiration date and must also be certified. Low-quality plastic or plastic that has expired begins to gradually deteriorate, and complex chemical compounds gradually pass into the contents of the vessel in the form of a solution.
• Drinking alcohol internally. Allergies can occur through various types of contact with an allergen. When it comes to drinking alcoholic beverages, the allergen enters the gastrointestinal tract. This contributes to the development of a more intense and faster allergic reaction than if the allergen came into contact with, say, the skin.

In recent years, cases of allergies to various alcoholic beverages have become more frequent. People with hereditary predisposition or allergies to other substances should be very careful when choosing drinks. It is advisable to exclude those products that contain various natural flavors or additives. As a rule, components such as almonds, some fruits, and barley gluten in beer are strong potential allergens.

Patients may experience the following manifestations of allergies to alcoholic beverages:

• attack of bronchial asthma;
• redness of the skin ( spots);
• hives;
• angioedema ( Quincke's edema);
• anaphylactic shock;
• eczema.

Some doctors note that alcohol may not itself lead to allergic reactions, but rather stimulate their occurrence. According to one theory, in a number of patients, after drinking alcohol, the permeability of the intestinal walls increases. Because of this, more microbes can enter the blood ( or their components), which normally inhabit the human intestine. These microbial components themselves have a certain allergenic potential.

You should consult a doctor if there are any signs of an allergic reaction after drinking alcohol. The fact is that in this case we are often talking about a bad habit ( alcoholism), which is a drug problem, and about allergies that can pose a threat to the health and life of the patient. Therefore, the allergist should, if possible, identify the specific allergen and notify the patient about his sensitivity to this component. The patient will definitely be advised to undergo a course of treatment for alcoholism ( if such a problem exists). Even if in the future he drinks drinks that do not contain the detected allergen, the very influence of alcohol will only aggravate the situation, further disrupting the functioning of the immune system.

Can you die from allergies?

Allergic reactions are an increased response of the immune system to contact with any foreign body. This activates a number of different cells in the human body. It is very difficult to predict the manifestations of an allergic reaction in advance. Often they come down to fairly “harmless” local symptoms. However, in some cases, the increased immune response can affect vital systems of the body. In these cases, there is a risk of death of the patient.

Most often, allergies manifest themselves with the following symptoms:

• runny nose with “watery” nasal discharge;
• the appearance of spots or rashes on the skin;
• dry cough;
• inflammation of the mucous membranes.

All these manifestations can seriously worsen the patient’s quality of life, but they are not life-threatening. In this case, there is a local release of a special substance from the cells - histamine ( as well as a number of other, less active substances). They cause local expansion of capillaries, increased permeability of their walls, spasm of smooth muscles and other pathological reactions.

In some patients the reaction is more severe. Biological mediators released during allergies disrupt the functioning of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Symptoms typical of ordinary allergies simply do not have time to develop, as much more dangerous disorders come to the fore. This condition is called anaphylactic shock or anaphylaxis.

Anaphylactic shock is the most severe form of allergy and without special treatment can lead to the death of the patient within 10 to 15 minutes. According to statistics, the probability of death without first aid reaches 15–20%. Death during anaphylactic shock occurs due to the rapid expansion of capillaries, a drop in blood pressure, and, as a consequence, a cessation of oxygen supply to tissues. In addition, a spasm of the smooth muscles of the bronchi often occurs, which causes the airways to narrow and the patient practically stops breathing.

The main distinguishing features of anaphylactic shock from ordinary allergies are:

• rapid spread of redness or swelling at the site of contact with the allergen;
• breathing problems ( noisy breathing, shortness of breath);
• drop in blood pressure ( disappearance of pulse);
• loss of consciousness;
• sharp paleness of the skin, sometimes blueness of the fingertips.

All these symptoms are not typical for a local allergic reaction. If possible, the patient is given assistance on the spot ( if necessary medications are available) or urgently call an ambulance for hospitalization. Otherwise, anaphylactic shock can be fatal.

Another dangerous form of allergy is Quincke's edema. With it, the same mechanisms lead to rapidly increasing swelling of the subcutaneous tissue. Swelling may appear in various parts of the body ( on eyelids, lips, genitals). This reaction in rare cases can also lead to the death of the patient. This happens mainly in children when the swelling spreads to the mucous membrane of the larynx. The swollen mucous membrane closes the airway, and the patient simply suffocates.

Are there any allergies to medications?

Allergic reactions to medications are a fairly common problem in the modern world. Almost 10% of all side effects from various drugs are allergic in nature. This high frequency is also facilitated by the fact that nowadays people receive a large amount of pharmacological products from childhood. Because of this, there is a higher chance that the body will develop pathological sensitivity to certain components of the drugs.

Allergies to medications are considered a very dangerous phenomenon. It often takes serious forms ( Quincke's edema, anaphylaxis), threatening the patient's life. If contact occurs at home, there is a risk of death. In medical institutions, the risk is less, since any department must have a special first aid kit for anaphylactic shock.


The danger of allergies to medications is due to the following reasons:

• many medications are administered intravenously in large quantities;
• modern medications have a high-molecular structure and a strong potential for provoking allergic reactions;
• patients who are allergic to a certain drug are already sick ( because the drug is prescribed for a disease), therefore they suffer an allergic reaction even more severely;
• frequency of anaphylactic shock ( the most dangerous form of allergy) higher than with allergies to other substances;
• many doctors neglect special tests for drug tolerance and immediately administer large doses of drugs to patients;
• It can be difficult to neutralize the effect of some drugs and completely remove them from the body in a short period of time;
• Much of today's pharmaceutical products come from the so-called black market and may therefore contain various impurities ( which cause allergic reactions);
• It is difficult to immediately diagnose an allergy to a drug, since it can give other side effects of a non-allergic nature;
• sometimes patients are forced to take medications to which they are allergic, simply because there are no effective analogues against the underlying disease.

According to modern research, it is believed that the risk of developing hypersensitivity to a particular drug after its first use is on average 2 - 3%. However, it is not the same for different pharmacological groups. The fact is that some medications contain natural components or high molecular weight compounds. They have a higher potential to trigger allergies. Other drugs have a relatively simple chemical composition. This makes them safer.
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Many other drugs can also cause allergic reactions, but much less frequently. Sometimes even drugs with low molecular weight can cause allergies due to the impurities they contain.

Manifestations of drug allergies can be very diverse. Immediate reactions include anaphylactic shock, acute urticaria or angioedema ( Quincke's edema), which may appear within the first minutes after administration of the drug. Within 3 days after contact, so-called accelerated reactions may occur. Their manifestations range from a minor rash or spots on the body to a fever with severe general condition. The latter is more common if the drug is taken regularly. There are also cases of delayed reactions that develop only a few days after administration of the drug.

The severity of allergy symptoms to medications is very difficult to predict. It is also almost impossible to predict in advance a patient's sensitivity to a particular drug. The fact is that some drugs do not detect their allergic activity in reactions in vitro with the patient’s blood. Intradermal tests can also be false negative. This is due to the influence of many different factors ( both external and internal).

The likelihood of an allergy and the severity of its manifestations may depend on the following factors:

• patient's age;
• patient's gender;
• genetic factors ( hereditary predisposition to allergies in general);
• accompanying illnesses;
• social factors ( place of work - doctors or pharmacists are more likely to come into contact with drugs, and the likelihood of developing specific sensitivities is higher);
• simultaneous use of several medications;
• duration of first contact with a certain medication;
• quality of medicine ( largely depends on the manufacturer);
• shelf life of the drug;
• method of drug administration ( on the skin, subcutaneously, orally, intramuscularly, intravenously);
• drug dose ( does not play a decisive role);
• metabolism of the drug in the body ( how quickly and by what organs it is normally excreted).

The best way to avoid drug allergies is good health. The less sick a person is, the less often he comes into contact with various medications, and the less likely he is to develop allergies. Additionally, before using a potentially dangerous drug ( especially serum and other drugs containing complete antigens) a special skin test is performed, which most often allows one to suspect an allergy. Small doses are administered fractionally intradermally and subcutaneously. In case of hypersensitivity, the patient will experience severe swelling, pain, and redness at the injection site. If the patient knows that he is allergic to certain drugs, he must notify the doctor about this before starting treatment. Sometimes patients, not hearing a familiar name, are not worried about this. However, there are many analogues of drugs with different trade names. They can cause serious allergic reactions. Only a qualified doctor or pharmacist can figure out which drugs are best to prescribe.

Are there allergies to water, air, sun?

Allergic reactions by their nature are a consequence of activation of the immune system. They are triggered by contact of certain substances ( allergens) with specific receptors in the skin, mucous membranes or blood ( depending on how the allergen entered the body). Therefore, there cannot be an allergic reaction to the sun, for example. Sunlight is a stream of waves of a certain spectrum and is not associated with the transfer of matter. We can talk about allergic reactions to water or air conditionally. The fact is that allergens, as a rule, are substances that are quite complex in their chemical composition. Molecules of water or gases from the atmospheric air cannot cause allergic reactions. However, both air and water usually contain a large number of different impurities, which cause allergic reactions.

Over the past decades, several reports have been made of cases of allergies specifically to water molecules. However, most experts question their reliability. Perhaps the researchers simply could not isolate the impurity that causes the allergy. Be that as it may, there are very few such cases, so there is still no reliable information on them. More often we are talking about allergies to substances dissolved in water. In city water supplies this is usually chlorine or its compounds. The composition of well, spring, or river water depends on the specific geographic area. There are, for example, areas with a high content of fluorine and other chemical elements. People who are allergic to these substances will experience symptoms of illness after contact with plain water. At the same time, contact with water in other geographical areas will not cause such a reaction.

An allergy to impurities in water usually manifests itself with the following symptoms:

• dry skin;
• peeling of the skin;
• dermatitis ( skin inflammation);
• the appearance of red spots on the skin;
• the appearance of a rash or blisters;
• digestive disorders ( if the water was drunk);
• swelling of the mucous membrane of the mouth and pharynx ( rarely).

An allergy to air is simply impossible, since it is necessary for breathing and a person with such a disease would not survive. In this case, we are talking about any specific air or the impurities contained in it. It is their exposure that usually causes allergic reactions. Additionally, some people are very sensitive to dry or cold air. Exposure to it can cause allergy-like symptoms in them.

Allergic reactions to air are usually explained by the following mechanisms:

• Impurities in the air. Gases, dust, pollen or other substances that are often present in the air are the most common cause of such allergies. They get on the mucous membrane of the nose, larynx, respiratory tract, skin, and mucous membrane of the eyes. Most often, the patient's eyes become red and watery, a cough, sore throat, and nasal discharge appear. In severe cases, there is also swelling of the mucous membrane of the larynx and an attack of bronchial asthma.
• Dry air. Dry air cannot cause an allergic reaction in the generally accepted sense. Most often, such air simply causes dryness and irritation of the mucous membranes of the throat, nose, and eyes. The fact is that normally ( at humidity 60 – 80%) cells of the mucous membranes secrete special substances that protect tissues from the effects of harmful impurities in the air. Due to dry air, these substances are released in smaller quantities, and irritation occurs. It can also manifest itself as a cough and sore throat. Patients often complain of dry eyes, a feeling of a foreign body in the eye, and redness.
• Cold air. Allergies to cold air exist, although there is no specific allergen that triggers the reaction. It’s just that in some people, exposure to cold air causes the release of histamine from special cells in the tissues. This substance is the main mediator in allergic reactions and causes all the symptoms of the disease. Allergy to cold air is a very rare disease. People suffering from it usually have allergies to other substances. Often they also have some kind of hormonal, nervous or infectious diseases. In other words, there are third-party factors that explain such a non-standard reaction of the body to cold.

Sun allergy is often called photodermatitis. With it, the patient's skin is too sensitive to the sun's rays, so various pathological changes appear. By and large, talking specifically about an allergic reaction in this case is not entirely correct due to the absence of an allergen. But histamine can be released under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, and the symptoms of photodermatitis sometimes closely resemble the skin manifestations of allergies.

Increased sensitivity to sunlight may manifest itself in the following ways:

• the appearance of a rash;
• rapid redness of the skin;
• thickening of the skin ( its coarsening, roughness);
• peeling;
• rapid appearance of pigmentation ( tan, which is usually unevenly distributed in patches).

Such reactions to sunlight usually occur in people with serious congenital diseases ( then this is an individual feature of the body due to a lack or excess of any cells or substances). Photodermatitis can also appear in people with diseases of the endocrine or immune system.

Thus, allergies to water, air or sunlight, by and large, do not exist. More precisely, exposure to these factors under certain conditions can cause symptoms similar to allergies. However, these manifestations do not cause severe attacks of asthma, anaphylactic shock, Quincke's edema and other life-threatening situations. If there is a severe allergic reaction to water or air, it is most likely due to the impurities they contain.

Are allergies inherited?

It is currently believed that the characteristics of the immune system that predispose to the development of allergic reactions are genetically determined. This means that certain people have special proteins, receptors or other molecules ( more precisely - an excess of certain cells or molecules), responsible for the development of immune reactions. Like all substances in the body, these molecules are a product of the implementation of genetic information from chromosomes. Thus, a certain predisposition to allergies can indeed be inherited.

Numerous studies conducted around the world show in practice the importance of hereditary factors. Parents who are allergic to anything have a very high chance of having a child with similar immune system characteristics. However, it should be noted that the correspondence of allergens is not always observed. In other words, both parents and children will suffer from allergies, but one of the parents may have it, for example, to pollen, and the child may have it to milk proteins. Hereditary transmission of hypersensitivity to any one substance over several generations is quite rare. This is because in addition to genetic predisposition, other factors also play a significant role.

The following factors may predispose to the development of allergies:

• artificial ( not breastfeeding) feeding in childhood;
• early contact in childhood with strong allergens;
• frequent contact with strong chemical irritants ( strong detergents, industrial toxins, etc.);
• life in developed countries ( It has been statistically shown that natives of third world countries are significantly less likely to suffer from allergies and autoimmune diseases);
• the presence of endocrine diseases.

Under the influence of these external factors, allergies can appear even in people who do not have a hereditary predisposition. In people with congenital defects of the immune system, they will lead to more severe and frequent manifestations of the disease.

Despite the fact that the occurrence of allergies is influenced by hereditary factors, it is almost impossible to predict it in advance. Often parents with allergies give birth to children without this disease. Currently, there are no special genetic tests that can determine whether the disease is inherited. However, there are recommendations prescribing what to do in case of allergies in a child.

If a child shows signs of an allergy to something, and his parents also suffer from this disease, the situation should be approached with the utmost seriousness. The fact is that a child can be hypersensitive to a number of different substances. In addition, there is a risk of an extremely strong immune system response called anaphylactic shock, which is life-threatening. Therefore, at the first suspicion of an allergy, you should consult an allergist. He can perform specific tests on the most common allergens. This will allow you to promptly identify the child’s hypersensitivity to certain substances and avoid contact with them in the future.

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What to do if an allergy takes you by surprise?

Allergic reactions are one of the most common problems affecting almost every third person. First aid for allergies is extremely important, since this disease is not always harmless, and sometimes can be life-threatening.

Anaphylactic shock

This symptom is considered the most serious because it threatens human life. Allergen penetration into the body can occur by any means. This includes food, medicine, inhalation of any vapors, and insect bites.

This allergic reaction can be distinguished, first of all, due to its sudden and rapid development. It is accompanied by severe symptoms:

• strong increase in temperature;
• vomit;
• bradycardia;
• nausea;
• decreased blood pressure;
• tachycardia;
• loss of consciousness;
• allergic rashes.

Anaphylactic shock requires special and consistent measures.

1. Instillation of drops that have a vasoconstrictor effect into the nose. For this, it is optimal to use xylometazoline, for example;
2. Applying cold to the bite site (if it is the cause);
3. It is also necessary to take antihistamines;
4. If a person was initially seen by an allergist, pre-prescribed anti-allergenic drugs should be used.

If a person has previously experienced an allergic reaction, the first aid kit should initially contain some means to help bring the victim to his senses. Only a doctor should administer serious medications to the victim, but glucose, prednisolone, and other drugs with antihistamine effects should always be available. It is important to note that in the latter case, the drugs should not be taken exactly until the sharply dropped pressure is raised again to the optimal point.

Since anaphylactic shock can cause not just loss of consciousness, but respiratory and cardiac arrest, you need to be prepared, if necessary, to begin immediate massage and the process of performing artificial respiration.

As soon as help is provided and the person is brought to his senses, he must be immediately delivered to the clinic.

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Quincke's edema

The main danger of such symptoms is manifested in sudden swelling of the neck and face. It develops as rapidly as the previous reaction to the allergen and can lead to suffocation. In addition, swelling is accompanied by a number of symptoms. This may include hyperemia, hoarseness, fever, blue discoloration of the skin, headache and significant difficulty breathing.

The cause of swelling can be a bite or the administration of any medicine. In the first case, you can try to remove the poison, but in many of them such measures are useless. Therefore, at the first signs of edema, it is necessary to call an ambulance immediately, and provide first aid as quickly as possible. Initially, you need to put the person down and ask him to raise his limbs. Cold is applied to the injection or bite site, and a tight tourniquet is applied above this place.

Drinking plenty of fluids in this case is the most important helper. You can add activated carbon to it, which will help remove the remaining sorbent from the body. Additionally, the victim must take any anti-allergy drug. At the first sign of edema, intravenous prednisolone should be immediately administered. Even after the ambulance arrives and all symptoms are relieved, hospitalization is indicated.

Hives

It is less dangerous than the previous two symptoms, but it can cause many additional problems. With urticaria, a number of the following symptoms are observed:

• burning and itching;
• many blisters;
• recurrence of rashes after a month or a week;
• headache;
• fever.

Of the medications in this case, glucose will significantly help. An intramuscular injection will give the best results, but a few tablets will be enough.

Self-medication, even just for urticaria, should not be done. It is better to consult your doctor first. First aid measures in this case will be as follows:

1. The allergen, which caused the sharp deterioration of the condition, should be isolated if possible. If you are bitten, you can try to squeeze out the poison, but if it is caused by taking any food or medication, you should immediately induce vomiting. If possible, then ideally you should give an enema, as well as rinse the stomach. But in some cases, gastric lavage measures are completely useless. For example, if the allergy was not caused by food. When allergies are caused by smell or pollen, first aid should begin with airing the room.
2. It is acceptable to rinse the mouth to cleanse the mucous membrane. In this case, you should never swallow.
3. The victim should be given a special drug to drink to eliminate the allergy. Its action should be antihistamine. You can take fenkarol, suprastin, diazolin.
4. In order to initially relieve the symptoms of an allergic reaction, it is necessary to provide the victim with an influx of fresh air. The body position should be horizontal. The best option is to lay the person on his side. In case of possible vomiting, this arrangement will be the best. Also in this case, the best blood flow is ensured.

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The occurrence of a rash requires the use of certain remedies that will help get rid of itching and somewhat reduce the manifestation of other skin symptoms. In this case, compresses made from lemon balm, green tea or mint are excellent. Ointments that have a hormonal effect also have a good effect. But lotions made from diluted vinegar or alcohol products should be avoided altogether.

Allergy- This is the increased sensitivity of the immune system to the effects of certain substances, which are commonly called allergens. They can enter the body in different ways - through the respiratory tract, through the digestive system, skin, or when drugs are injected into a vein or muscle. The tendency to allergies is inherited, and even young children, starting from newborns, can suffer from it. Allergies can manifest themselves in different forms, but acute and severe allergic reactions that require emergency care are especially dangerous: anaphylactic shock, angioedema and urticaria. These conditions are dangerous for the health and even the life of the child; in case of them, it is important to properly and quickly provide assistance to the baby. help before the ambulance arrives !

Anaphylactic shock

An acute general allergic reaction with a sharp disruption of all vital functions is associated with a large release of special substances - allergy mediators (histamine and its analogues). Shock is possible when eating highly allergenic foods - exotic dishes, citrus fruits, strawberries. If you have a food allergy or take medications by mouth, a reaction may occur in about 15-30 minutes. Products such as cheeses, eggs, sauerkraut, fish and seafood, tomatoes, chocolate and strawberries, and citrus fruits are especially dangerous.

When taking or administering medications, stinging insect bites, or inhaling allergens, an almost instantaneous reaction of the body develops with a sharp decrease in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, nausea and vomiting, breathing problems and skin rashes. When medications are administered or insect bites, reactions develop so quickly that the child may not even have time to report that he is feeling ill.

At the first sign of shock, you should call an ambulance immediately and begin providing emergency care. The life and health of the child sometimes depends on the speed and correctness of this assistance. It is important that the child ends up in a hospital setting as soon as possible.

What to do before the ambulance arrives?

• calm down and calm the child as much as possible if he is conscious;
• lay the child on the ground or floor with his legs raised so that blood flows to the body from the legs;

• limit the intake of the allergen: you can apply ice to the injection site; when bitten by an insect, apply ice to the bite site and immediately remove the sting; when taking food or medicine - rinse the stomach and give activated charcoal, do not let the child drink until the stomach is lavaged;
• in case of loss of consciousness, lay on the side so that the tongue does not sink in with suffocation, control the pulse and breathing, in their absence - artificial respiration and chest compressions. Hospitalization.

Quincke's edema

Local tissue swelling that occurs in the face and eyelids, ears, hands, genitals and soft palate, neck and larynx, and digestive tract. Due to strong compression of tissues, swelling can lead to dysfunction of organs and suffocation. It lasts from a couple of hours to a day and gradually disappears; it can cause fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and, as swelling increases, loss of consciousness.

First aid for Quincke's edema:

- immediately call an ambulance, calm the child,

- give activated charcoal, do an enema.

-Hospitalization to hospital.

Hives

This is an acute allergic reaction with a profuse rash on the skin in the form of dense red spots of varying sizes on any surface of the body. The areas of the rash are 1-3 cm in size, raised above the surface of the skin, and when pressed on the elements, they form white dots. The rash lasts up to two days, disappearing without a trace, and lesions of the mucous membranes with Quincke's edema, difficulty breathing, vomiting and diarrhea may occur.

First aid for hives

-immediately call an ambulance, calm the child,

- before the doctors arrive, stop the intake of the allergen,

- do not feed or give water to the child,

- give activated charcoal, do an enema