Allergy statistics. Statistics and the real situation with allergies and its manifestations are very different. How to reduce the risk of developing allergies

Any manifestation of an allergy is a reaction of our immunity to external stimuli. According to statistics, over the past decade in the Russian Federation, the number of manifestations of allergies of various etiologies has almost doubled. Currently, 30-40% have one or more allergic diseases. Such a rapid increase in the incidence causes the consideration of allergies as one of the main health problems. At the same time, the medical community is most concerned about the especially high growth rate of this pathology among children.

What is the mechanism of action of allergens on the human body?

Elena Valerievna Tivanova, expert of the Center for Molecular Diagnostics (CMD), Head of the Analytical Planning Department of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor, will help us answer these and many other questions of concern to our readers.

An allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction to certain substances that is triggered by the body's immune system. “During the first contact with a particular allergen, activation of immune mechanisms occurs, accompanied by the production of specific substances - immunoglobulins (IgE), which bind to immune system cells (mast cells) and begin to circulate with the blood in the human body. Upon repeated contact, the formed complex binds to the corresponding allergen, resulting in the death of mast cells, followed by the release of a large amount of biologically active substances - histamine, serotonin, leukotrienes, which, in turn, cause allergic reactions in the form of skin redness, lacrimation, sneezing, itching, swelling, bronchospasm, ”explains Elena Valerievna. However, other diseases can have similar symptoms.

Laboratory tests can confirm or, conversely, refute the presence of an allergy: a general blood test familiar to everyone with a leukocyte formula, an alarm signal, the results of which are an increase in the number of basophils and eosinophils, as well as an analysis of the concentration of total IgE. However, this information is often not enough to make a diagnosis, since elevated values ​​of these indicators may also indicate other pathologies, including helminthic invasion. Moreover, in 30% of patients suffering from allergic manifestations, the level of total IgE fluctuates within the normal range. Therefore, the doctor may prescribe additional studies: skin tests or a blood test for specific IgE.

Skin tests, despite their simplicity and availability, have a number of disadvantages, such as:

• Subjectivity of the evaluation of the result;
• The possibility of carrying out only during the period of remission;
• The risk of developing severe allergic reactions (bronchospasm, Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock);
• The need to discontinue anti-allergic drugs.

A blood test for specific IgE is safer, especially in childhood, and is highly informative and reliable.

“Skin tests are usually carried out by prick testing (prick) or prick test (scratch). The difference between these methods is not very significant, but the first method is considered to be safer. No more than 15 samples can be placed at a time,” notes an expert from the Center for Molecular Diagnostics.

When conducting a prick test using a special prick-lancet, an injection of a standardized depth (1.0 - 1.5 mm) is made through a drop of allergen and control liquid. Results in the form of no skin changes, hyperemia or papules can be assessed after 15-20 minutes.

When carrying out scarification tests, a histamine solution, a control liquid and an allergen are applied to the forearm treated with a 70% alcohol solution, through which parallel scratches (4–5 mm) are applied. The results are taken into account after 10 - 20 minutes.

The size of hyperemia and papules indicates the severity of an allergic reaction.

However, prick tests quite often give false positive results.

In the case of a blood test, the following rating scale is used:

• No immune response
• An ambiguous immune response, often without clinical manifestations - 0.35 - 0.69 (it is worth avoiding contact with the allergen if possible);
• Weakly positive - 0.70 - 3.45 (it is necessary to exclude contact with the allergen);
• Positive, with severe clinical manifestations -> 3.50 (any contact with the allergen must be completely excluded).

It should be noted that with the help of this analysis it is possible to determine the effectiveness of the therapy.

When are tests ordered?

• the patient has the above symptoms of unknown origin (lacrimation, sneezing, skin rash, etc.);
• therapy of chronic bronchitis, rhinitis, conjunctivitis does not give a positive result;
• there is a hereditary predisposition;
• it is necessary to determine the effectiveness of the therapy.

According to Elena Valerievna, the success of the treatment of allergic diseases mainly depends on the correct diagnosis and selection of an adequate course of therapy.

The main allergic diseases include rhinitis, asthma, anaphylaxis, angioedema, food and drug allergies, urticaria, eczema. Many of the above diseases pose a real threat to human life. According to the WHO, about 250,000 people die of asthma each year.

So, you have been diagnosed with an allergy to a particular substance, or possibly to several at once.

How to treat, and most importantly, can it be cured?

The World Allergy Organization (WAO) identifies three main ways to counteract the disease: pharmacotherapy, immunotherapy and elimination of allergens.

To date, pharmacotherapy plays a key role in the treatment of allergy manifestations, allowing you to control the clinical manifestations of the disease and improve the patient's quality of life. After the diagnosis, the allergist selects the optimal treatment regimen for the patient and regularly monitors the results.

Great popularity in modern medicine acquires allergen-specific immunotherapy, which is the only method of treatment of allergic diseases that affects all components of the allergic process. The ASIT standard is considered to be subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), which has a prolonged clinical effect and contributes to the disruption of the natural course of allergy development through the introduction of appropriate allergens with a gradual increase in doses. This type of therapy can prevent, for example, the development of asthma in patients with a history of allergic rhinitis. When conducting SCIT, the allergist prescribes subcutaneous injections according to the scheme according to the required therapy.

As a rule, in 80-90% of cases, an improvement in the clinical picture is achieved, followed by a weakening of the allergen's effect on the human body.

An alternative to SCIT is sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), which involves the introduction of an allergen in the form of drops under the tongue. After an allergological examination and an accurate diagnosis, the patient is given a ready-made allergen or an appropriate mixture of drops is prepared. So far, only the first option is practiced on the territory of the Russian Federation - the issuance of a ready-made allergen.

Sublingual immunotherapy is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a possible alternative to injection. The action algorithms of SCIT and SLIT are similar.

"It is important to understand that ASIT is preceded by another diagnostic stage - the determination of specific IgE for various allergen components, the so-called molecular allergodiagnostics," the expert explains.

For example, when receiving a positive IgE immune response to birch, it is necessary to identify the presence of an allergy to various protein structures of pollen, which are divided into major and minor. The presence of an allergy to the main component is an indication for ASIT, because. only in this case the therapy will be successful.

Primary prevention of allergic diseases is difficult, because. a complete picture of the causes of the body's sensitivity to certain allergens has not yet been formed.

After diagnosis in an efficient way prevention is elimination - the elimination of allergens from the patient's daily environment, which can significantly reduce the manifestations of the disease. For example, complex interventions to change environmental conditions can produce positive results in children with asthma.

A patient suffering from any manifestations of allergies must clearly understand that the prognosis of the treatment of the disease depends, first of all, on a high-quality diagnosis, which allows to make an accurate diagnosis and select effective scheme therapy. A clear follow practical recommendations, formulated on the basis of evidence-based medicine, provides the best results.

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 expand and blood flow increases, this is a kind of immune system defense system. A large influx of blood causes swelling of the mucosa and provokes an abundant secretion of mucus. Decongestants act on the walls of the 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. Rarely, they can cause hallucinations or an anaphylactic reaction.

It is necessary to consult with your doctor before using these drugs.

Enterosorbents In case of food allergies, doctors must prescribe enterosorbent Enterosgel as a course to remove allergens. The preparation is a gel saturated with water. It gently envelops the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, collects allergens from them and removes them from the body. An important advantage of Enterosgel is that allergens are firmly bound to the gel and are not released in the intestinal calves located below. Enterosgel as a porous sponge absorbs mainly harmful substances, without interacting with beneficial microflora and trace elements, so it can be taken for more than 2 weeks.

Leukotriene inhibitors(Montelukast (Singular) - 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 taken together with others drugs, as no interactions have been found with them.Adverse reactions are extremely rare and may manifest as headache, earache, or sore throat.

Steroid sprays(Beclomethasone (Beconas, Beclazone), Flukatison (Nazarel, Flixonase, Avamys), Mometasone (Momat, Nasonex, Asmanex)) - these drugs, in fact, are 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 side effects disappear, however, with prolonged use of these drugs, in rare cases, side effects such as nosebleeds or sore throats are possible. Before using these drugs, it is advisable to consult with your doctor.

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

This procedure is the introduction of small doses of the allergen in the form of a subcutaneous injection. Initially, you will be injected with an interval of a week or less, while the dose of the allergen will be constantly increased, this regimen will be observed until the “maintenance dose” is reached, this is the dose at which there will be a pronounced effect of reducing the usual allergic reaction. However, upon reaching this "maintenance dose", it will be necessary to administer it every few weeks for at least another 2-2.5 years. This treatment is usually given when a person has a severe allergy that does not respond well to conventional treatment, and for certain types of allergies such as allergies to bee stings, wasp stings. This type of treatment is carried out only 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)

It is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. The most commonly affected by anaphylaxis are:

• Respiratory tract (provokes spasms, and pulmonary edema)
• The 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 ten times more pronounced than with ordinary, even fairly strong allergic reactions.

Reasons for the development of anaphylaxis

The causes are basically similar to ordinary allergic reactions, but it is worth highlighting the causes most often causing anaphylactic reactions:

• Insect bites
• Certain types of food
• Some types of medicines
• Contrast agents used in diagnostic medical research

Insect bites- despite the fact that the bite of any insect can cause an anaphylactic reaction, the stings of bees and wasps are the cause of anaphylactic shock in the vast majority. According to statistics, only 1 out of 100 people develop an allergic reaction to a bee or wasp sting, and only a very small number of people can develop an allergic reaction 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, hazelnut, almond and Brazil nut
• Milk
• Shellfish and crab meat

Less likely, but still can cause an anaphylactic reaction, the following products:

• Bananas, grapes and strawberries

Medications - there are a number of medications that can provoke the development of anaphylactic reactions:

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

In people taking any drugs from the above groups, other than angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, they can cause an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis at the first dose, which will manifest itself in 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 developing 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 with 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 study of any part of the body or vessels of any organ. Contrast agents are used in diagnostic medicine most often in such studies as computed tomography, angiography and x-rays.

The risk of developing an anaphylactic reaction with the use of contrast agents is approximately 1 in 10,000.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis

The time it takes for any symptoms to appear depends on the way the allergen enters your body, so an allergen ingested through food can cause symptoms from minutes to hours, while an insect bite or injection can cause symptoms from 2 to 30 minutes. Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the reaction, some people may experience mild itching and swelling, and some may be fatal if not treated promptly.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis include the following:

• Red rash with intense itching
• Edema in the eye area, swelling of the lips and extremities
• 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
• Sudden drop in blood pressure, which can lead to severe weakness, dizziness, and loss of consciousness

Diagnosis of anaphylaxis

At this stage in the development of medicine, it is not possible to determine in advance whether you will develop anaphylaxis. The diagnosis of anaphylaxis should be made already at the time of 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, therefore, treatment should be started immediately at the first signs of this disease.

Already after the course and treatment of an anaphylactic reaction, studies are carried out aimed at detecting the allergen that caused this reaction. If you have this first manifestation of anaphylaxis and allergy in general, you will be assigned a range of tests used in the diagnosis of allergy, including some of the following specific tests:

• Skin tests
• Blood test for IgE
• Skin or application 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 research to to avoid re-reaction. The safest study is:

Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) this study allows you to determine the allergen that caused the anaphylactic reaction as follows: a small amount of blood is taken from the patient, then small amounts of alleged allergens are placed in this blood, in the event of a reaction, namely the release of a large amount of antibodies, the identified allergen is considered the cause of the reaction.

Treatment of anaphylactic shock

Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention.

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

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

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

• EpiPen
• Anapen
• Jext

If any of these are 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, since then there will be no effect. It is necessary to carefully read the instructions before use for the correct implementation of the introduction. After the introduction, it is necessary to fix the injector in the same position in which the medicinal substance was introduced within 10 seconds. In most people, the condition should improve within a few minutes after the drug is administered, if this does not happen, and if you have another auto-injector, you need to re-inject another dose of the drug.

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 his hand on which he lies under his head. Thus, it will be protected from the ingress of vomit into the respiratory tract. If a person is not breathing or has no pulse, resuscitation is necessary, but only if you know how to do it, resuscitation is carried out until breathing and a pulse appear or until an ambulance arrives.

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

Usually 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 refers to the hypersensitivity of the patient's body to certain substances. Since such sensitivity is an individual feature of the organism, it remains very long time, and the body, upon repeated contact with the allergen, will always respond with the appearance of the corresponding symptoms. Sometimes allergies can only be in childhood or during a period of serious disorders in the immune system. Then it passes within a few years, but the risk of a reaction with repeated contact in the future still remains. Sometimes, with age, the intensity of the manifestations of the disease simply decreases, although the increased sensitivity of the body still persists.

If by allergy we mean its symptoms and manifestations, then it is very difficult to predict their duration, since many different factors influence this. 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 disappear.

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

• Contact with an allergen. Everyone knows that an allergic reaction occurs as a result of contact of the body with a specific substance - an allergen. The first contact in life does not cause an allergic reaction, as the body, as it were, “gets acquainted” and recognizes a foreign substance. However, repeated contact leads to the appearance of pathological changes, since the body already has a set of the necessary antibodies ( substances that react with an allergen). The longer the exposure to the allergen, the longer the symptoms will be. For example, a pollen allergy will last the entire flowering period of a certain plant if the 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.
• form of allergy. Allergic reactions after exposure to an allergen can take many forms. Each of these forms has a specific duration. For example, hives can last from a few hours to several weeks. Lachrymation, coughing and irritation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, as a rule, are caused by the ingestion of an allergen and disappear after a few days after cessation of contact with it. An asthma attack caused by allergens can last a few more minutes ( less than hours) after termination of contact. angioedema ( angioedema) occurs upon contact with the allergen and is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the subcutaneous fatty tissue. After the start of treatment, it ceases to increase, but completely resolves only after a few days ( sometimes hours). Anaphylactic shock is the most severe, but the most short-term allergic reaction of the body. Vasodilation, a 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 manifestation of an allergy largely depends on what drugs the disease is treated with. 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 life of the patient. Slightly slower acting antihistamines ( suprastin, erolin, clemastine). The effect of these drugs is weaker, and the manifestations of allergies will disappear gradually. But more often, antihistamines are prescribed for allergies, since glucocorticoids are similar in action to a number of hormones, which can cause serious side effects. The sooner treatment is started, the sooner it will be possible to eliminate the manifestations of allergies.
• The state of the immune system. A number of diseases of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands and other endocrine glands ( endocrine glands), as well as some pathologies of the immune system can affect the duration of allergy manifestations. With them, systemic disorders are observed that enhance the body's immune response to the effects of various substances. Treatment of such pathologies will lead to the disappearance of allergic manifestations.

To quickly get rid of allergies, the first thing to do is to consult an allergist. Only a specialist in this field can determine the specific allergen or allergens and prescribe the most effective treatment. Self-treatment for allergies not only leads to a longer course of the disease, but also makes it impossible to avoid repeated contact with the allergen. After all, the patient can only assume 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 should be feared.

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 an allergen ( a substance to which the body is pathologically sensitive) symptoms usually do not appear. Allergy itself occurs after repeated ( second and all subsequent) contact with the allergen. It is very difficult to predict the time of onset of symptoms, as it depends on many different factors.

Upon repeated contact with the allergen in the body, special substances begin to be released, class E immunoglobulins ( IgE). They act on 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 action of histamine, the permeability of the vascular walls is disturbed, part of the fluid exits the dilated capillaries into the intercellular space. This causes swelling. Histamine also stimulates smooth muscle contraction 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 proceed quickly. In one, the so-called delayed-type immune reaction takes place.

The following factors influence the rate of occurrence of various manifestations of allergies:

• type of allergic reaction.There are 4 types of allergic reactions. Usually reactions of immediate type prevail.
• Allergen amount. This dependence is not always visible. Sometimes even a small amount of an allergen causes certain symptoms 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, sometimes rash and itching. In general, however, it is fair to say that the more the allergen enters the body, the faster the symptoms will appear.
• Type of contact with the allergen. This factor is very important, since different tissues of the body have a different number 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 with the allergen on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract) can almost instantly cause an attack of bronchial asthma or a rapidly increasing swelling of the mucous membrane. When an allergen is introduced into the blood ( e.g. contrast in some diagnostic procedures) anaphylactic shock also develops very quickly.
• Clinical form of allergy. Each of the possible symptoms of allergy is a consequence of exposure to mediators. But it takes a different time for symptoms to appear. For example, the redness of the skin is due to the expansion of capillaries, which can occur very quickly. The smooth muscles of the bronchi also contract rapidly, causing an asthma attack. But edema 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 immediately manifest themselves. This is due to the fact that 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 organism has a different number of cells, mediators and receptors that take part in an allergic reaction. Therefore, exposure to the same allergen at the same dose in different patients can cause different symptoms and at different time 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. With the introduction of a large dose of the allergen intravenously ( contrast, antibiotic, other drugs) the reaction develops almost instantly. Sometimes it takes several days for an allergic reaction to develop. This applies most often to the skin manifestations of food allergies.

What can not be eaten with allergies?

Nutrition and proper diet are an essential component of food allergy treatment. However, even with allergies to substances that enter the body not with food, proper nutrition has a certain meaning. The fact is that most people suffering from allergies have a hereditary predisposition to this disease and certain individual characteristics in the immune system. Because of this, it is likely that their body has hypersensitivity to several different allergens ( substances that cause disease). Following a diet allows you to avoid eating foods that are potentially strong allergens.

It is advisable for patients with any form of allergy to exclude the following foods from their diet:

• Most seafood. Seafood contains a very large number of various trace elements and vitamins. This explains their benefits for most people. However, it should be remembered that contact with new substances is a burden on the immune system, and for people with allergies - an additional risk of exacerbation of the disease. Limit fish consumption especially maritime), and it is better to refuse caviar and seaweed completely.
• Dairy products. They should be consumed in moderation. From fresh milk and fermented milk products home cooking should be abandoned completely. They contain a large amount of natural proteins, which are potential allergens. Factory 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 food. 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 the 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, pineapples. Sometimes it manifests itself even when eating dishes from these products ( compotes, jams, etc.). Very strong potential allergens are citrus fruits ( oranges, etc.). In this case, it will be regarded as a full-fledged food allergy. However, even for people with, say, allergies to bee stings or pollen, eating these foods is undesirable due to the burden on the immune system.
• Products with a lot of nutritional supplements. A number of products already in their production technology involves a wide range of different chemical food additives. These include sweetened carbonated drinks, marmalade, chocolate, chewing gum. All of them contain a large amount of dyes, which in themselves can be allergens. Sometimes sweeteners and colorants are found even in dishonestly prepared dried fruits.
• Honey. Honey is a fairly common allergen, so it should be consumed with caution. With the same caution should be treated with nuts and mushrooms. These products contain many unique substances with which the body rarely comes into contact. 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. Just patients should carefully monitor their condition after consuming them and not eat them often and in large quantities. A more strict diet with the complete exclusion of this range of products is recommended for exacerbations of allergies ( especially after angioedema, anaphylactic shock and other dangerous forms of the disease). This will be a kind of precautionary measure.

In case of a food allergy, it is necessary to completely exclude those products in which a specific allergen occurs. For example, if you are allergic to strawberries, you 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 a small amount of the allergen. In this case, we are talking about pathological sensitivity to a previously known substance. Modern methods of treatment can help to gradually get rid of this problem ( such as immunotherapy). But for preventive purposes, the diet should still be followed. More precise instructions regarding the permitted products for a particular patient can only be given by an allergist after all the necessary tests have been carried out.

Is there an allergy 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, the diagnosis and treatment of allergic reactions during pregnancy are completely safe for both the mother and the fetus. Moreover, if the mother is allergic to any drugs that are used to eliminate serious problems, treatment may well be continued. It’s just that additional medications will be added to the course to eliminate the manifestations of such an allergy. In each individual case, doctors determine separately how to manage the patient. common standards does not exist 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 allergic in nature. It usually occurs when the allergen is inhaled, but it can also be the result of skin or food contact. The cause of the disease and the main problem is the spasm of smooth muscles in the walls of the bronchioles ( small airways in the lungs). Because of this, breathing difficulties arise, which in severe cases can result in the death of the patient. In the case of pregnancy, holding your breath for a long time 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 abdomen, less often on the limbs, which cause a lot of inconvenience. This form of allergy is usually easily removed with antihistamines and does not pose a serious threat to the mother or fetus.
• angioedema ( angioedema). 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 edema 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. Especially often this form occurs in the II - III trimester. Rhinitis is caused by contact with the allergen on the nasal mucosa. As a result, its edema occurs, fluid begins to exit from the dilated capillaries, and discharge from the nose appears. In parallel, there are difficulties with breathing.

Thus, some forms of allergies in pregnant women can be dangerous for the fetus. That is why it is recommended at the first manifestations of the disease to consult a doctor for medical help. If the patient knows that she has an allergy, then it is possible to prescribe certain drugs prophylactically in order to prevent an exacerbation of the disease. Of course, contact with known allergens should be avoided 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

Very important point in the management of pregnant women with allergies are directly childbirth. The fact is that for the successful implementation of this procedure ( or caesarean section, if it is planned in a particular case) will require the introduction of a large number of drugs ( including anesthesia if needed). Therefore, it is important to notify the anesthetist of the previous intake 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 is manifested by severe 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, most often anaphylaxis in pregnant women is caused by the introduction of any pharmacological drug. This is quite natural, since at different stages of pregnancy a woman receives a significant amount of various medications.

Anaphylaxis in pregnancy is most often caused by the following medications:

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

Treatment of anaphylactic shock in pregnant women is practically the same as in other patients. Epinephrine must be administered to restore blood flow and quickly eliminate the threat. It will narrow the capillaries, dilate the bronchioles and raise the pressure. If anaphylaxis occurs in the third trimester, the possibility of a caesarean section should be considered. This will avoid danger to the fetus.

Why is allergy dangerous?

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

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

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

The most dangerous forms of allergic reactions are:

• Bronchial asthma. Bronchial asthma is a disease in which the patient narrows the small bronchi in the lungs. Often this happens precisely after contact with allergens, if the patient has hypersensitivity. An asthma attack is a very serious and dangerous condition, as breathing is disturbed. Air does not enter the lungs in sufficient quantities, and a person can suffocate.
• angioedema ( angioedema) . With this disease, the ingress of allergens into the body causes swelling of the subcutaneous fatty tissue. In principle, edema 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 localization close to the windpipe. In this case, due to edema, the airways will close, and the patient may die.
• Anaphylactic shock. This form of an allergic reaction is considered the most dangerous, as various organs and systems are affected. Of greatest importance in the development of shock is a sharp expansion of small capillaries and a drop in blood pressure. Along the way, breathing problems may occur. Anaphylactic shock often ends in the death of the patient.

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

What to do with allergies in a child?

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 an allergy, 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 an allergy, but there is an intolerance to any food. Such pathologies develop according to a different mechanism ( it is a lack of certain enzymes), and their treatment is carried out by pediatricians and gastroenterologists. If allergy is confirmed, treatment is prescribed taking into account all age characteristics.

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

• young children are unable to complain of subjective symptoms ( pain, burning in the eyes, itching);
• the immune system of a child is different from the immune system of adults, therefore there is a higher risk of allergies to new foods;
• due to 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, the same mechanisms are involved in allergic reactions in children as in adults. Therefore, priority should be given to the same drugs in appropriate dosages. The main criterion for calculating the dose in this case will be the weight of the child, and not his age.

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

The most common antihistamines are:

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

These funds are prescribed mainly for allergic reactions that do not threaten the life of the child. They gradually eliminate urticaria, dermatitis ( skin inflammation), itchy, watery eyes, or a 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 action.

In emergency situations ( angioedema, anaphylactic shock, asthma attack) requires urgent administration of corticosteroids ( prednisolone, beclomethasone, etc.). This group of drugs has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. The effect of their use comes much faster. Also, to maintain the work of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, it is necessary to administer adrenaline or its analogues ( epinephrine). This will expand the bronchi and restore breathing during an asthma attack, and increase blood pressure ( important in anaphylactic shock).

With any allergy in children, it is important to remember that children's body more sensitive in many respects than an adult. Therefore, even ordinary manifestations of allergies cannot be ignored ( tearing, sneezing, rash). You should immediately consult a doctor who will confirm the diagnosis, give the appropriate preventive advice and determine the appropriate course of treatment. Self-medication is always dangerous. The reaction of a growing organism to an allergen can change with age, and the risk of developing the most dangerous forms of allergies with improper treatment is very high.

What are folk remedies for allergies?

Folk remedies for allergies should be selected depending on the localization of the symptoms of this disease. There are a number of medicinal plants that can partially affect the immune system as a whole, weakening the manifestations 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:

• Mummy. 1 g mumiyo is dissolved in 1 l 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 remedy in the first hour after waking up. The course lasts 2 - 3 weeks. A single dose for adults is 100 ml. A mummy solution can also be used to treat allergies in children. Then the dose is reduced to 50 - 70 ml ( depending on body weight). Children under one year of age are not recommended.
• Peppermint. 10 g of dried peppermint leaves are poured with half a glass of boiling water. Infusion lasts 30 - 40 minutes in a dark place. The remedy 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 with a glass of boiling water. Infusion lasts 60 - 90 minutes. The infusion is taken twice a day, 1 tablespoon.
• Marsh duckweed. The plant is harvested, washed well, dried and ground into a fine powder. This powder should be taken 1 teaspoon three times a day 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 slurry. 1 tablespoon of such gruel is poured with 1 cup of boiling water and mixed thoroughly. The mixture is drunk, shaking before use, 1 glass per day in three divided doses ( one third of a glass in the morning, afternoon and evening). The course can last, if necessary, 1 - 2 months.
• Celery root. 2 tablespoons of chopped root should be poured with 200 ml of cold water ( about 4 - 8 degrees, the temperature in the refrigerator). Infusion lasts 2 - 3 hours. During this period, direct sunlight should be avoided on the infusion. After that, the infusion is taken 50 - 100 ml three times a day, half an hour before meals.

The above remedies are not always effective. The point is that there are several various types allergic reactions. There is no universal remedy that suppresses all these types. Therefore, several treatment regimens should be tried to determine the most effective remedy.

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

The following folk remedies are best for skin manifestations of allergies:

• dill juice. 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 about 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.
• Mummy. Shilajit can also be used as a lotion for skin manifestations of allergies. It is diluted at a concentration of 1 to 100 ( 1 g of substance per 100 g of warm water). The solution is abundantly moistened with clean gauze or a handkerchief and cover the affected area of ​​the skin. 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 that, the mixture is shaken, the petals are filtered and poured into a warm bath. Baths should be taken every 1 - 2 days for several weeks.
• Nettle. Mash freshly picked nettle flowers into a pulp and pour boiling water ( 2-3 tablespoons per glass of water). When the infusion has cooled to room temperature, gauze is moistened in it and lotions are applied 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 well mixed and infused for at least 2 hours. After that, gauze is soaked in the infusion and compresses are made on the affected area. The procedure is repeated twice a day.

The use of these drugs in many patients gradually eliminates itching, redness of the skin, eczema. On average, for a tangible effect, 3-4 procedures are needed, and then until the end of the course, the goal is to consolidate the result. However, the treatment of 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 folk remedies for allergies are:

• Nonspecific action of herbs. Not a single medicinal plant can be compared in strength and speed of effect with modern pharmacological preparations. Therefore, treatment with folk remedies, as a rule, lasts longer, and there is less chance of success.
• Risk of new allergic reactions. A person who is allergic to something, as a rule, has a predisposition to other allergies due to the peculiarities of the immune system. Therefore, treatment with folk remedies can lead to contact with new allergens that the patient's body does not tolerate. Then the manifestations of allergies will only get worse.
• 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 does not tolerate. After that, at the request of the patient, the specialist himself can recommend any means based on the action 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 contact of the body with some foreign substance. In people, as in a certain species, tissue structure is very similar. Therefore, there can be no allergic reactions to hair, saliva, tears and other biological components of another person. The immune system simply will not detect foreign material, and the allergic reaction will not start. However, in medical practice Allergies in very sensitive patients may occur regularly 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 an increased sensitivity to these components. However, for an allergic patient, even a negligible amount of a foreign substance is enough to cause the most serious symptoms of the disease. Most often, such cases are taken for “human allergy”. The patient cannot figure out what exactly he is allergic to, and therefore blames the carrier.

Sensitivity to the following allergens is most often mistaken for an allergy to people:

• Cosmetics. Cosmetical tools ( even on a natural basis) are strong potential allergens. For an allergy to a person, you can take contact with his lipstick, inhalation of perfumes, the smallest particles of powder. Of course, during everyday contact, these substances enter the surrounding space in negligible amounts. But the problem is that for people with specific hypersensitivity, even this is enough.
• Industrial dust. Some people working 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 acquaintances, can transfer dust particles to them. If you are allergic to its components, it can 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 hair or saliva left on their pets' clothes. If allergic person with allergies) comes into contact with the owner, a small amount of the allergen may be exposed to it.
• Medications. Not many people think about what happens in the human body after taking any medication. Once they have completed their therapeutic function, they are usually metabolized by the body ( bind or split) and output. They are mainly excreted in urine or feces. But a certain amount of components can be released during breathing, with sweat, tears, semen or the secretion of the vaginal glands. Then contact with these biological fluids is dangerous for a person with an allergy to the drugs used. In these cases, it is very difficult to detect the allergen. It is misleading that, in the opinion of the patient, he developed a rash, say, after contact with the sweat of another person. Indeed, it is easier to mistake this for an allergy to a person 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. Understanding the situation is not always possible even with an allergist. In these cases, it is important to temporarily stop contact with the “suspect” ( not to provoke new manifestations of the disease) and still contact a specialist. An extended skin test with a wide variety of allergens usually helps to identify what exactly the patient has a pathological sensitivity to. After that, it is necessary to talk in detail with the potential carrier in order to find out where the allergen could have come from. Changing perfumes or stopping any medications usually resolves the "person's allergy" problem.

In rare cases, human allergy can occur with certain mental disorders. Then symptoms such as coughing, sneezing or tearing 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 at the mention of a person, 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, allergic reactions to alcoholic beverages are not uncommon. However, here it is not ethyl alcohol that acts as an allergen, but other substances.

Usually an allergic reaction to alcoholic beverages is explained as follows:

• Ethyl alcohol is an excellent solvent. Many substances that do not dissolve in water dissolve easily and without residue in alcohol. Therefore, any alcoholic beverage contains a very large amount of dissolved substances.
• A small amount of the allergen, enough to trigger a reaction. The amount of the allergen is not critical for the development of an allergic reaction. In other words, even negligibly small impurities of any substance in alcohol can cause allergies. Of course, the more the allergen enters the body, the stronger and faster the reaction will manifest itself. 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. In high-quality alcoholic products, the composition of the drink and the amount of ingredients are always indicated. However, at present, the production and sale of alcohol is very profitable business. Therefore, a significant proportion of products on the market may contain some impurities that are 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 beverage is stored incorrectly for a long time ( usually talking about plastic bottles ), some of the components of the material from which the container is made can get into it. Few buyers know that plastic packaging also have an expiration date, and they must also be certified. Poor-quality plastic or plastic with an expired shelf life begins to gradually break down, and complex chemical compounds gradually pass into the contents of the vessel in the form of a solution.
• Ingestion of alcohol. Allergies can appear when various types contact with an allergen. When it comes to the use of alcoholic beverages, the allergen gets into gastrointestinal tract. This contributes to the development of a more intense and faster allergic reaction than if the allergen would get, say, on the skin.

IN last years cases of allergies to various alcoholic beverages are on the rise. People with a hereditary predisposition or allergies to other substances should be very careful about the choice of drinks. It is advisable to exclude those products, which include various natural flavors or additives. As a rule, components such as almonds, some fruits, barley gluten in beer are strong potential allergens.

Patients may experience the following manifestations of an allergy to alcoholic beverages:

• an attack of bronchial asthma;
• skin redness ( spots);
• hives;
• angioedema (angioedema) angioedema);
• anaphylactic shock;
• eczema.

Some doctors note that alcohol may not itself lead to allergic reactions, but stimulate their appearance. 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) that normally inhabit the human intestine. These microbial components themselves have a certain allergenic potential.

A doctor should be consulted if there are any signs of an allergic reaction after drinking alcohol. The fact is that in this case we are often talking about addiction ( alcoholism), which is a drug problem, and about an allergy that can pose a threat to the health and life of the patient. Therefore, the allergist should, if possible, establish a specific allergen and inform the patient about his sensitivity to this component. The patient must be advised to undergo treatment for alcoholism ( if such a problem exists). Even if he continues to drink 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 a 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, an enhanced immune response can affect vital body systems. In these cases, there is a risk of death of the patient.

Most often, allergies are manifested by the following symptoms:

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

All these manifestations can seriously impair the patient's quality of life, but they are not life threatening. In this case, there is a local release from the cells of a special substance - 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 far 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 10-15 minutes. According to statistics, the probability of death without first aid reaches 15 - 20%. Death in anaphylactic shock occurs due to the rapid expansion of capillaries, a drop in blood pressure, and, as a result, the cessation of tissue oxygen supply. In addition, spasm of the smooth muscles of the bronchi often occurs, due to which the airways 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 ( loss of pulse);
• loss of consciousness;
• a sharp blanching of the skin, sometimes blue fingertips.

All these symptoms are not typical for a local allergic reaction. The patient is assisted, if possible, right on the spot ( if necessary medicines are available) or urgently call 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 a rapidly growing edema of the subcutaneous tissue. Edema 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 edema spreads to the mucous membrane of the larynx. The swollen mucous membrane closes the lumen of the respiratory tract, and the patient simply suffocates.

Is there an allergy to medicines?

Allergic reactions to medications are a fairly common problem in modern world. Almost 10% of all side effects from various drugs are of an allergic nature. Such a high frequency is also facilitated by the fact that today 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.

Allergy to medicines is considered a very dangerous phenomenon. It often takes serious forms ( angioedema, anaphylaxis) threatening the life of the patient. If contact occurred at home, then 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 medicines is due to the following reasons:

• many medicines are administered intravenously in large quantities;
• modern medicines have a high molecular structure and a strong potential for provoking allergic reactions;
• patients who are allergic to a certain drug, and so sick ( because the drug is prescribed for any disease), so they endure an allergic reaction even harder;
• frequency of anaphylactic shock ( the most dangerous form of allergy) higher than with allergies to other substances;
• many doctors neglect special drug tolerance tests and immediately administer large doses of drugs to patients;
• neutralize the effect of certain drugs and completely remove them from the body for short term it is difficult;
• a significant part of modern pharmaceutical products comes from the so-called black market, therefore, it may contain various impurities ( that cause allergic reactions);
• it is difficult to immediately diagnose an allergy to a drug, since it can also 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 current 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 drugs contain natural ingredients or high molecular weight compounds. They have a higher potential to provoke an allergy. In other drugs, the chemical composition is relatively simple. This makes them more secure.
);

A lot others medicines can also give allergic reactions, but much less frequently. Sometimes even drugs with a small molecular weight can cause allergies due to the impurities they contain.

Manifestations of allergy to drugs can be very diverse. Of the immediate reactions, anaphylactic shock, acute urticaria, or angioedema should be noted ( angioedema), which may appear in the first minutes after the 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 the administration of the drug.

The severity of drug allergy manifestations is very difficult to predict. Predicting in advance the sensitivity of a patient to a particular drug is also almost impossible. The fact is that some drugs do not detect their allergic activity in reactions in a test tube with the patient's blood. Intradermal tests are also 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;
• gender of the patient;
• 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 sensitivity is higher);
• simultaneous intake of several drugs;
• the prescription of the first contact with a certain medication;
• quality of medicine largely depends on the manufacturer.);
• expiration date of the drug;
• method of drug administration on the skin, subcutaneously, orally, intramuscularly, intravenously);
• drug dose ( does not play a decisive role);
• drug metabolism in the body how quickly and by what organs it is normally excreted).

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

Is there an allergy to water, air, sun?

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

Over the past decades, several reports have been made of cases of allergy specifically to water molecules. However, most experts question their reliability. Perhaps the researchers simply could not isolate the impurity that causes allergies. 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 urban water supply, this is usually chlorine or its compounds. The composition of well, spring or river water depends on the specific geographical area. There are, for example, areas with a high content of fluorine and other chemical elements. People who are allergic to these substances will develop symptoms of the disease after contact with plain water. At the same time, contact with water in other geographical areas will not cause such a reaction.

Allergy to impurities in water is usually manifested by 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. Also, 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 an allergy. They get on the mucous membrane of the nose, larynx, respiratory tract, on the skin, mucous membrane of the eyes. Most often, the patient's eyes turn red and watery, cough, sore throat, and nasal discharge appear. In severe cases, there is also swelling of the mucous membrane of the larynx, an attack of bronchial asthma.
• dry air. Dry air cannot cause an allergic reaction in the conventional sense. Most often, such air simply causes dryness and irritation of the mucous membranes of the throat, nose, and eyes. The point is that normal at a humidity of 60 - 80%) cells of the mucous membranes secrete special substances that protect tissues from exposure to harmful impurities in the air. Due to the dryness of the air, these substances are released in smaller quantities, and irritation occurs. It can also be manifested by coughing, sore throat. Often patients complain of dry eyes, sensation of a foreign body in the eye, redness.
• Cold air. Cold air allergy exists, 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 specific 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 who suffer from it tend to be allergic to other substances as well. Often they also have some hormonal, nervous or infectious diseases. In other words, there are external factors that explain such a non-standard reaction of the body to cold.

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

Hypersensitivity to sunlight can manifest itself in the following ways:

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

Such reactions to sunlight usually appear in people with serious congenital disorders ( then it is an individual feature of the organism due to a lack or excess of any cells or substances). Also, photodermatitis can 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 the manifestation of an allergy. However, these manifestations do not cause severe asthma attacks, anaphylactic shock, angioedema, and other life-threatening situations. With a pronounced allergic reaction to water or air, it is most likely about the impurities that they contain.

Are allergies hereditary?

It is now believed that the features of the immune system that predispose to the development of allergic reactions are genetically determined. This means that certain people have specific proteins, receptors, or other molecules ( more precisely, an excess of certain cells or molecules), responsible for the development of immune responses. Like all substances in the body, these molecules are the 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 with an allergy to something have a very high chance of having a child with similar immune system characteristics. True, it should be noted that the correspondence of allergens is far from always observed. In other words, both parents and children will suffer from an allergy, but one of the parents may have it, for example, to pollen, and the child to milk proteins. Hereditary transmission of hypersensitivity to any one substance in several generations is quite rare. This is due to the fact that in addition to genetic predisposition, other factors also play a significant role.

The following factors may predispose to the appearance of allergies:

• artificial ( not breastfeeding) feeding in childhood;
• early childhood contact with strong allergens;
• frequent contact with strong chemical irritants ( strong detergents, toxins at work, etc.);
• life in developed countries It has been statistically shown that natives of Third World countries are much 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 in the immune system, they will lead to stronger and more frequent manifestations of the disease.

Despite the fact that hereditary factors influence the appearance of allergies, it is almost impossible to predict it in advance. It is not uncommon for parents with allergies to have children without the disease. Currently, there are no special genetic tests that can determine whether the disease is inherited. However, there are recommendations that prescribe what to do in case of an allergy 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 all 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 response of the immune system - anaphylactic shock, which poses a threat to life. Therefore, at the first suspicion of an allergy, you should consult an allergist. He can conduct special tests with the most common allergens. This will allow timely identification of the child's hypersensitivity to certain substances and avoid contact with them in the future.

Probably, at least once, but every person has heard the phrases “I am allergic to cats!”, “I am allergic to ragweed!” or "I'm allergic to you!" Or maybe this phenomenon itself found you in various spheres of human life. As everyone could already understand, today our conversation will be about allergies.

According to statistics, every fifth person on earth suffers from one or another type of allergy. True, doctors console: its signs may not appear throughout a person’s life. For example, a person who is allergic to platypus hair may not visit Australia, the natural habitat of these animals, in their lifetime.

So, what is meant when we say "allergy". Allergy is a high level of human sensitivity to substances, factors, temperature conditions etc., which is the cause of inadequate reactions of the body to the action of the pathogen. Moreover, in a person who does not suffer from allergies, the reaction to this pathogen is quite normal. The substance that causes such reactions is called an allergen.

The term "allergy" itself was proposed by the Austrian pediatrician Clemence Percke in 1906. Around the same time, the strong spread of allergies, its active study by leading experts in the field of medicine led to the emergence of a whole science called allergology.

The most common allergens are pet dander, plant pollen, certain medicines, food products. Alas, complete list Allergens do not exist, as well as methods to find out in advance which substances you are allergic to and which you are not. To do this, you need to contact in the laboratory with all possible allergens in the world, which is clearly unrealistic.

The consequences of the influence of allergies are of varying degrees of danger. For example, if you are allergic to a certain smell, say, the smell of a rose, then a person who finds himself in a rose garden somehow (or passing by a rose bush) will simply begin to sneeze, he will have symptoms of a runny nose. But if there is an allergy to wasp stings, and, even more dangerously, to bees (due to their possible accumulation), then in the event of massive bites of these insects, a person has a fever, he can lose consciousness or even die! Allergy to food products can also bring no less harm, especially if the allergy is not to a certain product, but to its component (dairy products, honey, some types of coffee).

Despite the fact that the first cases of allergies were recorded a long time ago, the phenomenon reached wide distribution only in the 70s of the twentieth century. The process of industrialization, which significantly worsened the state of the environment on the entire planet, also contributed to the development of allergenic processes in the population. In areas with high level industrialization, allergies can be observed in 25% of the number of residents. Moreover, allergic diseases in this case can become more complicated and “grow” into bronchial asthma, persistent rhinitis and dermatitis. Of particular concern to physicians are diseases of the respiratory tract, in particular asthma. Since allergens that are in the environment become the cause of this disease in 80% of children of preschool and school age who suffer from it! The indicator of the adult population who fell ill with bronchial asthma after an exacerbation of allergic diseases is slightly less and amounts to 50%, but, as we can see, the figure is absolutely not encouraging.

Despite modern development medicine and science in general, scientists still find it difficult to give an unambiguous answer to the question of why allergic diseases continue to develop at such a rapid pace. The most truthful versions related to human activities. Since allergy is an immunological disease, and the environment has a very negative effect on the human immune system. Control over the situation is also difficult due to distorted statistics, which show only the number of people who seek help from doctors.

Vaccination is one of the most promising methods of treatment. It is she who becomes the salvation for millions, although it does not guarantee a 100% positive result in all cases. Again, let's say that at the moment in the world not a single universal remedy has been invented that has cured a person from allergenic diseases forever! But work on its creation is being successfully carried out in countries such as the USA, Denmark, France, Great Britain, etc.

It is possible that in the near future there will come a moment when people suffering from allergies will calmly walk on the street at any time of the year, despite flying poplar fluff or ragweed pollen. With the invention of a universal remedy for allergies, millions of pets will find new owners, and bronchial asthma will allow even more more patients breathe to the fullest!

In recent decades, a large increase in allergic diseases has been observed all over the world, which is largely due to the pollution of the human environment with various chemicals, waste from the chemical and engineering industries, transport gases, pesticides, food products. household chemicals. These substances not only pollute the air, but also penetrate into the roots of plants and water, and through them into the body of animals. These substances enter the human body with plant products, drinking water, as well as with milk and animal meat. Excessive and often unsupervised use medicines also contributes to an increase in the number of allergic diseases.

For the early development of allergies in children, a reduction in the duration of breastfeeding and a transition to early artificial feeding are of great importance. It is important to use in Food Industry preservatives and dyes. In the USSR, the incidence of allergic diseases per 1,000 population varies and depends both on climatic and geographical conditions and on the development of industry. It ranges from 11.4 per 1,000 population in rural areas to 152 per 1,000 in some industrial areas.

The number of allergic diseases is higher in areas with a humid subtropical climate and lower in the middle and high mountains. Big specific gravity bronchial asthma ranks among allergic diseases. Its prevalence also depends on climatic and geographical conditions. It is higher in humid zones (the Baltic states, Abkhazia), lower - in dry, hot and high-mountain regions. Skin allergic diseases (allergodermatosis) are more common in areas with a hot climate.

The most valuable is the study of morbidity by the expeditionary method when examining the entire population of the studied point. First, door-to-door rounds are carried out with a study of the entire composition of the population and filling out special questionnaires developed by the Research Allergological Laboratory of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, which are uniform for the whole country. After that, persons with a suspected allergic disease are examined in allergy rooms. With this method, the main incidence rates in our country were established. So, for example, adult patients with allergic diseases in the non-industrial region of the Krasnoyarsk region were identified 143.4 per 1000 population, and in the industrial - 233.8 per 1000 [Pats AI, 1973]. Among the children of the same region, the prevalence of allergies was 62.5 per 1000, and in its industrial area it was 5-9 times higher [Stepanenko et al., 1978]. Similar values ​​were obtained by A. G. Shamova for the Tatar ASSR. In Saratov, the prevalence of allergic diseases was 62.05 per 1000 population [Gorchakov L. G., 1974], in Stavropol - 167.0 per 1000 population [Larionov A. D., 1981], in the Lithuanian SSR from 18.33 to 35 ,9 per 1000 in different areas [Ado A. D., Bogova A. V., 1975]. In Minsk, allergic diseases were detected in 196.8 per 1000 children [Kalyuzhin G.A., 1970].

A significant part of allergic diseases are, in particular, bronchial asthma, especially in regions with high air humidity, such as some areas of the Baltic States, Western Georgia, Belarus, Lithuania. In these areas, the incidence of bronchial asthma reaches 7.2 per 1,000 adults and 7.1 per 1,000 children [Sukovatykh T. II., 1975; Gurgenidze G.V., 1977]. Hypersensitivity to pollen (hay fever) is most common in the steppe southern regions (, Stavropol).

Drug allergies have become very common over the past decades. Its prevalence, according to A.V. Bogova, ranges from 1.7 to 4.6 per 1000 population.

Drug allergic reactions are more often caused by antibiotics (especially penicillin groups, tetracyclines, streptomycin), sulfa drugs, acetylsalicylic acid and other antipyretic and antirheumatic drugs, as well as radiopaque substances, vaccines and serums. The number of allergic reactions associated with the use of pesticides in agriculture and everyday life, as well as with household chemicals, perfumes.

In some types of production (paint and varnish industry, textile, leather, chemical) there is a higher incidence of allergies.

It should be noted that more often allergic diseases are also observed in medical staff who, by the nature of their service, are constantly in contact with antibiotics and other medications.

At the end of the twentieth century, scientists from all countries simultaneously started talking about a new type of epidemic that arose suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere and began to spread at a catastrophic rate across the planet. Not swine flu or Zika virus, allergy is called a pandemic of the 21st century.

This mass phenomenon causes serious concern and poses a threat to human health and even life. The reasons for concern are indeed significant. Judge for yourself: some thirty years ago, cases of the disease were quite rare, and statistics ... so they were not kept at all. What about today?

According to studies by the World Health Organization (WHO), only about 300 million people on the planet suffer from bronchial asthma, while in 2000 this figure was two times lower! Allergic rhinitis has become a common occurrence; according to international statistics, today they occur in every fifth person. In the West, about 35% of adults have some form of allergy.

Official statistics do not reflect the real situation

In our country, the situation is hardly more optimistic: every third adult Russian and fourth child is already allergic; The most common allergic diseases are pollinosis - 18-20% of the population, allergic rhinitis - 7-12% and bronchial asthma - 7-11%.

The inaccuracy of the given data is explained, first of all, by significant discrepancies between registered cases and actual ones. So, if we rely on official information, then the incidence of allergies in our country does not exceed 1.5%, while according to the Institute of Immunology of Russia, this figure reaches 30%. Judging by the number of visits to medical institutions, no more than 0.4% of the population suffers from allergic rhinitis, and asthma occurs only in every 100 Russians.

It turns out that official statistics do not reflect the real situation at all. This is partly due to our mentality: not everyone will go to the clinic with a runny nose, albeit chronic, but prefer to self-medicate at home. In addition, in practice, there is a place for medical incompetence when an allergy patient is diagnosed with ARVI and prescribed the wrong treatment. As a result, neglected cases of an allergic reaction not detected in time lead to aggravation of symptoms over time, and in some cases, allergies take on more severe forms: for example, a seemingly harmless allergic cough can turn into bronchial asthma.

According to WHO, over the past ten years, the incidence of allergies in Russia has increased by 20% and, according to forecasts, the situation will only worsen every year due to the fact that the main factors that cause allergies are what each of us faces in our lives. Everyday life. Namely: bad ecology, stress, harmful labor factors, unhealthy lifestyle, poor quality food, living conditions.

The main cause of pollinosis

Until now, scientists cannot come to a consensus about the true causes of allergies. However, it is known that almost anything can cause a reaction. And even such a common phenomenon as hay fever - an allergy to plant pollen - in each region of our country has its own specifics.

Plant pollen is a strong allergen: sensitization to it is recorded in 30-75% of cases. At the same time, in the center of Russia, allergy sufferers most often suffer when trees and cereals bloom, residents of the Krasnodar Territory and Stavropol Territory cause the most trouble with ragweed, in the Amur Region, about 90% of the population “sneeze” on wormwood. In the Urals, every fifth complains of feeling unwell when the first vegetation appears; in Vladivostok, about 11 thousand people suffering from allergies seek medical help every year.

At the same time, there are much fewer allergic people among the villagers, while in Moscow one in three suffers from hay fever, in Berlin - one in four, in New York - one in six. The reason is that allergies are caused not so much by the plants themselves as by their pollen, which absorbs all harmful emissions and polluting particles that are present in catastrophic quantities in the air of the metropolis.

Allergy in children

Allergies are very common in children. Some are already born with a certain type of it. Scientists have no doubt - heredity matters. So, if one of the parents is allergic, then the probability that the child will inherit the predisposition is 30%. When both parents are allergic, the risks increase to 50%. But even if the parents are healthy, the child is still born with allergies in 10-15% of cases. And this is only according to optimistic forecasts.

It happens that a child was born with a predisposition, but an allergy may not develop. Everything depends on external factors. For example, in the Kuban, where a very dangerous and strong allergen grows - ragweed and this weed grows everywhere, it is very difficult to fight it, the main allergy sufferers are just children.

How to reduce the risk of developing allergies?

Unfortunately, many allergy sufferers in our country do not consider allergies as a disease and do not seek medical help. However, it is the lack of proper and timely treatment that often leads to disastrous consequences. So, in 65% of cases, ignoring allergic rhinitis, which affects 20% of office workers in Moscow alone, leads to complications in the form of bronchial asthma. More severe consequences of an allergic reaction include anaphylactic shock and death.

Allergists do not stop repeating: the sooner the patient consults a doctor, the lower the risk of complications. The effectiveness of these warnings is as follows: 18% of conscious citizens seek help in the first year of an allergy, 30% after 2 years, 43% after 3 and 10% after 4 years or more.

Despite the fact that the exact mechanisms of the appearance of an allergic reaction in the body have not yet been identified, there are facts and observations that make it possible to understand the nature of the phenomenon and use this information in everyday life. For example, daily TV viewing for more than 2 hours a day increases the risk of developing asthma in children by 2 times. But communication with pets, on the contrary, is welcome, but only if the animal has been in the house since the birth of the baby. Fish is a strong allergen, and therefore an allergic attack can be caused by licking postage stamps, the glue for which is made on the basis of fish bones. Useful vitamins that reduce the risk of allergies are B, C, E. A good sleep is considered a prerequisite for the formation of good immunity in general.