Allergic reactions can occur under the influence of many different factors. For example, they sometimes arise under the influence of such an important substance as water. Aquagenic urticaria is a pathology that until recently was considered quite rare. However, today it has become more common. This article describes the causes of the ailment, its symptoms, detection and methods of therapy.
How dangerous is the disease?
Experts say that aquagenic urticaria is not a pathology that poses a threat to human life and health. After contact with water, rashes occur on the surface of the patient’s skin, which quickly decrease in size.
Soon they pass completely. In exceptional cases, the bubbles persist for several hours. Pathology does not require urgent medical care. Aquagenic urticaria does not provoke the development of complications.
Features of the disease
Many doctors believe that such a thing as an allergic reaction to water simply does not exist. The explanation for this statement is the fact that the body of any person contains at least eighty percent of the fluid. Therefore, the substance is not able to provoke individual intolerance. Experts believe that aquagenic urticaria develops as a result of compounds that are present in water.
Pathology occurs in both adult and minor patients. In exceptional cases, intolerance is observed only for certain types of fluid. As a rule, the symptomatology of the disease develops when bathing in a pond, bathtub, washing in the shower, and contact with thawed snow. There are situations when a person’s own sweat provokes a similar reaction. The disease is accompanied by severe discomfort and interferes with the normal life of the individual.
Aquagenic urticaria: pathogenesis
What causes a disease? Experts say that specific factors that provoke the development of the disease do not exist. Compounds contained in running and drinking water cannot cause individual intolerance. Salts and chemicals dissolved in liquids have a negative effect on the human epidermis. After all, it is known that on the surface of an individual’s skin, moisture in its pure form never enters without impurities. Even if the patient uses distilled water for washing, the compounds found in the secretions of the sweat glands mix with it and cause irritation.
Various cosmetics (shower gels, soaps) may also contain substances that can provoke signs of pathology. However, this phenomenon is not hydrogenic urticaria, but another type of allergic reaction.
Possible prerequisites for the development of the disease
The greatest likelihood of pathology is present in the following categories of individuals:
- People who have impaired immune system function. A similar disorder can occur against the background of the use of medicines such as antibiotics or after a serious illness.
- Individuals with pathologies of the liver and urinary organs (usually chronic).
- Persons with a lack of immunoglobulin type E.
- People suffering from imbalances in the microflora of the digestive tract.
- Individuals who have chronic infectious processes.
- Persons who have parasitic pathologies. In the presence of this circumstance, manifestations of the ailment occur after water procedures (shower, bath).
Characteristic symptoms of the disease
Signs of this pathology have much in common with other types of allergies. For this reason, the patient cannot always immediately understand that it is precisely the chemical compounds that make up the water that cause individual intolerance. This fact also significantly complicates the diagnosis of the disease. With aquagenic urticaria, the symptoms are as follows:
- Dryness and irritation of the epidermis.
- Sensation of itching of the skin, inflammation.
- Headache.
- Difficulty breathing.
- The appearance of small rashes and vesicles on the surface of the skin.This sign of aquagenic urticaria in the photo is clearly shown.
- Red tint and discomfort of the mucous membranes.
- Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
The above symptoms are observed in the patient immediately or in the interval from 30 to 90 minutes after contact with the liquid. The development of signs of pathology occurs regardless of the properties of water. It can be marine, fresh, running, clean or contaminated. Sometimes a person develops manifestations of an ailment, even if sweat or lacrimal glands are excreted on the surface of the epidermis.
How does pathology develop?
The disease begins with a sensation of itching in the area of the site that came into contact with moisture. This symptom has been present for a long time. Sometimes it is the only sign of pathology. In many patients, spots similar to burns form on the surface of the epidermis. Their occurrence is accompanied by a feeling of pain. With prolonged contact with water, for example, during swimming, rashes are observed in the neck, arms, knees, elbows. Bubbles also appear on the surface of the skin of the face, wrists. There is dryness of the epidermis, which makes the itching sensation even stronger. Small cracks may form in different parts of the body.
Sometimes the patient does not have all the manifestations of the pathology, but only some of them. For example, if a substance that provokes individual intolerance penetrates the respiratory tract, a person has difficulty breathing and suffers from coughing attacks.
As a rule, this happens when swimming in the pool, walking near the fountains. In the case of drinking water, which provokes urticaria, the patient disrupts the digestive system. The images presented in the article allow you to see what the aquatic urticaria looks like. In the photo, the symptoms of this disease are presented in several sections.
Pathology detection
There are several types of this ailment. The disease can be acute and chronic. The second variety is diagnosed in only thirty percent of individuals and requires long-term treatment. Pathology can provoke severe discomfort, and to reduce unpleasant symptoms, a person should consult a dermatologist. The specialist can make the correct diagnosis based on the examination and the results of medical measures.
Indicators of laboratory tests in people with such an ailment are within normal limits. The doctor conducts an ultrasound scan to make sure that there are no inflammatory processes in the body of the individual. In addition, the patient should be checked for parasites.
With aquagenic urticaria, the following diagnostic test is carried out: a lotion with warm water (35 degrees Celsius) is placed on the surface of the skin and left for about half an hour. If a person has a disease, he develops a rash. In order for this procedure to show the correct result, it is necessary to stop the use of allergy medications 5 days before its implementation.
Therapies
Unfortunately, effective methods to completely eliminate the ailment have not been developed to date. However, if you follow a few recommendations, you can improve your well-being and avoid the appearance of unpleasant symptoms. These tips include the following:
- Refusal of liquid of poor quality. To clean running and drinking water, filters must be used.
- You can use moisture from natural sources (wells, wells). She is the safest.
- Reduce the duration of swimming, bathing in the shower or bath.
- For washing, use boiled water. It lacks a substance such as chlorine. You can wipe your skin with wet wipes.
- As a hygiene product, use baby soap that does not contain harmful compounds.
- Use only cosmetics that do not cause allergy symptoms.
- Take medication prescribed by a doctor.
- Gloves should be worn before wet cleaning or contact with chemicals.
Alternative methods of therapy
Treatment of aquagenic urticaria is aimed at eliminating the symptoms of the disease. One of the popular methods is the use of lotions from pharmacy chamomile.
It is necessary to pour one large spoon of this product with boiling water in the amount of 1 cup and leave for half an hour. After this, remove excess moisture from the infusion. Make a gauze lotion and hold it on the surface of the skin for about 60 minutes. Another remedy for dealing with the problem is honey. This product helps relieve inflammation. In addition, during water procedures, you can add a decoction of bay leaves to the bath.