Symptoms and treatment of allergies are discussed in this article. What it is?
Allergy is an acute reaction of the immune system to harmless and completely ordinary substances. Symptoms can occur in various parts of the body. As a rule, it is observed for several days and may vary in degree of severity. Let's talk about the symptoms of allergies, and also find out what are the consequences of this phenomenon.
general information
Allergies in humans, as a rule, occur on the coat of certain animal species, and also on various products, drugs, chemicals, dust and insect bites, as well as pollen. The following are symptoms and treatments for cold allergies.
Substances that cause pathology are called allergens. In some situations, such reactions can manifest themselves so weakly that a person may not even suspect that he generally suffers from allergies.
But despite this, the symptoms of allergies, on the contrary, can be extremely dangerous, life-threatening. People who suffer from allergies can develop anaphylactic shock, which is a serious pathological condition associated with an extremely acute reaction to an allergen. Anaphylactic shock can be caused, as already noted, by various allergens: medications, insect bites, and in addition, food. In addition, anaphylactic shock can occur as a result of skin contact with a specific allergen, for example, latex.
Allergic reaction to cold
Symptoms of a cold allergy:
- skin changes occur quickly, within 1-5 minutes;
- the pathology is characterized by urticarian manifestations, similar to nettle burns;
- itching, burning, tingling;
- in the place of touching a cold object, edema is formed;
- severe redness (erythema);
- flat whitish or bright pink blisters, a small red rash is also possible;
- peeling;
- bruises in the areas of rashes in a day or two.
Symptoms manifest themselves as much as possible when warming the affected areas, when a person returns to a warm place, and allergies can occur not only in frost, but also in wet weather.
Manifestations subside within a couple of hours. Symptoms and treatment of cold allergies are often interrelated.
Cold Response Therapy
To mitigate the manifestations of a cold attack, a comprehensive treatment is carried out, which involves the use of medications that eliminate various symptoms.
Itchy rash, severe redness, blisters, swelling, and ointments, gels, sprays, and creams (“Fenistil-gel”, “Protopic,” “Gistan,” “Elidel”) well remove. Hormonal ointments with severe edema, painful itching are allowed in short courses (Hydrocortisone, Flucinar, Sinaf Ointment, Gistan N, Akriderm GK, Celestoderm).
Food allergy
A food allergy is an immune response caused by certain foods. Such an allergy is accompanied by well-known symptoms. A food type of allergy occurs when the body mistakenly takes a product as a threat to itself and, in order to protect itself, launches the immune system to develop antibodies. At a second meeting with the allergen, the immune system quickly recognizes the “dangerous” substance, immediately reacting, and again produces the antibodies, in her opinion, necessary. It is because of these substances that allergy symptoms in adults are caused. As a rule, the food form is almost always formed in this way.
It happens that in adults can pass allergies that were observed in childhood. But in the event that the reaction arose in an adult, it will be very difficult to get rid of it.
Runny nose
An allergic rhinitis, which experts call rhinitis or hay fever, is observed in one out of ten people, and often this phenomenon turns out to be hereditary. Symptoms of allergies in adults (photo presented in the article) are not limited to this.
People with bronchial asthma or eczema can also often suffer from allergic rhinitis. Similar allergies are mainly observed in women than in men. Against the background of an allergic rhinitis, symptoms may appear in the form of itching in the eyes and throat, and in addition, in the nose and in the sky, sneezing and nasal congestion are also possible. In addition, people can watery eyes, which will be accompanied by discharge from the nose, and in some cases conjunctivitis occurs. In more severe situations, an allergic rhinitis can provoke an attack of asthma or eczema. Symptoms of a cold allergy are also quite unpleasant.
What are the causes of allergies?
In some people, immunity can react sharply to certain substances, because of which the production of various chemicals begins. One of them is histamine, which causes allergic symptoms. A similar reaction from the body can occur when inhaled, and in addition, as part of skin contact or ingestion of an allergen. In addition to the allergens already listed, they can also be fluff, cosmetics or cigarette smoke.
Common Allergy Symptoms
Allergic reactions can occur on completely different parts of the body, and the symptoms themselves can be present up to several days. As a rule, the following symptoms are observed as a result of an allergy:
- The condition of the upper respiratory tract is complicated by hay fever or asthma.
- There is redness and tearing in the eyes.
- The appearance of pain and inflammation of the joints.
- The occurrence of urticaria and eczema.
- The occurrence of diarrhea, vomiting, and indigestion.
What complications can allergy symptoms cause?
Complications
The appearance of a particular allergy can be complicated by the following reactions of the body:
- The development of anaphylactic shock (an extremely severe allergic reaction).
- The appearance of labored or wheezing.
- The appearance of a rapid pulse.
- The appearance of cold sweat.
- Skin stickiness.
- The development of urticaria.
- The appearance of stomach cramps.
- The appearance of dizziness and nausea.
- The development of collapse (acute vascular insufficiency).
- The appearance of seizures.
It is important to note that the lack of medical care during the observation of a severe form can lead to death of the patient. Symptoms of a cold allergy are discussed above.
Effects
The consequences of an allergy are more than serious. An allergic reaction as a whole negatively affects the body and its legal capacity. Against the background of this condition, a person may increase fatigue, irritability appears, and in addition, the working capacity of the immune system decreases. As such, the consequences suggest the transition of allergic reactions to diseases in the form of hemolytic anemia, serum sickness, eczema, bronchial asthma, otitis media, chronic bronchitis or rhinitis, and much more. The reason for the appearance of such consequences is most often the untimely diagnosis of an allergic reaction or its incorrect treatment. For example, suppressing food allergies with drugs can lead to the emergence of a chronic pathology such as atopic dermatitis.
In order to avoid symptoms of allergies in adults, it is necessary to consult a doctor in a timely manner and conduct the correct therapy of a particular reaction. It is important to note that the negative consequences are most often caused by the fact that patients self-medicate. Worst of all, this “treatment” is usually symptomatic, within the framework of which the symptoms of an allergy to cold are removed, for example, but their main cause is not revealed.
Anaphylactic shock
Anaphylactic shock appears to be especially severe, and at the same time a dangerous consequence of allergies, which is, however, a rather rare, but rapidly developing phenomenon. Anaphylaxis is a combination of several symptoms that develop rapidly rapidly:
- The occurrence of severe pain and itching as a result of contact with an allergen.
- The appearance of difficulty breathing.
- The appearance of seizures.
- Low blood pressure.
- Loss of consciousness.
- The appearance of Quincke's edema.
Reaction to an insect bite or medicine
Most often, anaphylaxis is observed as a result of an insect bite, and in addition, against the background of the administration of a drug that causes an allergic reaction in the patient. Less commonly, anaphylaxis may occur due to a food allergen. It is important to note that such a phenomenon as anaphylaxis is a dangerous consequence, threatening a fatal outcome. In this regard, when the first symptoms appear, an ambulance should be called. Especially dangerous are the symptoms of allergies in a child (a photo of the manifestations of the disease is presented in the article).
These or other consequences can often be caused by the fact that the body’s susceptibility to an allergic reaction was not taken into account, and therefore there was no correct and timely therapy. Or this may be due to the fact that the wrong diagnosis of the disease was chosen along with self-medication. Given all of the above factors, it is important to note that each person must take care of their health without waiting for dangerous allergic consequences, which can be much more difficult to deal with than what they provoked.
What should a person do when an allergy occurs?
In the presence of mild allergic reactions, a runny nose may occur, eyes are watery, and in addition, other symptoms resembling colds appear. The appearance of a small rash is not excluded. In the event that a person often notes such reactions in himself or his relatives, it will be useful to consult a doctor.
It is important to know that in the event of anaphylactic shock, the resulting allergy affects the entire body. Anaphylactic shock, as a rule, occurs within fifteen minutes after taking the allergen, in this regard, urgent measures are required, namely calling an ambulance. You should also avoid foods, medicines and other substances that have ever been allergic to.
The development of allergies must be known to all friends and family members. This information should be communicated to all specialists, including dentists, dermatologists and so on. This also applies to prescription drugs, and also to over-the-counter drugs. Always, before taking this or that medicine, an allergy sufferer should carefully read the packaging and the attached instructions.
Decongestant drops
With a mild allergic rhinitis, decongestant drops should be used along with sprays designed to relieve symptoms. In the event that the allergy was caused by a drug, you must immediately stop using it and consult your doctor.
Antihistamines should also be taken, but only those prescribed by a specialist. In the case of taking antihistamines, which have a sedative effect, it is necessary to avoid driving a car, as these medicines can cause drowsiness.
What can the attending physician do?
The doctor must exclude the likelihood of other diseases, as well as perform tests aimed at identifying an allergen. After this, as a rule, patients are prescribed antihistamines and, if necessary, also steroids. In situations where an allergen has been determined, and contact with it is unavoidable due to certain circumstances, the doctor should give the patient a special vaccine in order to prevent and treat deviation. Among other things, the doctor can recommend a special diet for patients who suffer from the development of food allergies.
What should preventative measures be?
As already noted, first of all, it is necessary to determine the substances that cause the symptoms of allergy (the photo of which is presented in the article), after which, of course, always avoid them. It is equally important to ensure that the house is constantly clean and does not fly dust or fluff, and besides that there are no ticks. In those periods when people sweep, vacuum, knock out dust from furniture, change linens and other such contacts, you should close your nose using a gauze bandage or a special mask. If you have an allergic reaction to pets, you cannot keep them in your home.
Medical record
In the event that a person is allergic to medications, it is advisable to always have a special card with him on which it will be indicated which drugs there is a corresponding reaction to. Thanks to this, even when a person becomes unconscious or cannot remember the names of the drugs, he will be insured against the introduction of one or another allergen. Among other things, if a person has a severe allergy, he should inform his whole family about it, and besides his colleagues, and do not forget to inform the attending physicians about this fact.
We examined a disease such as allergies. Photos, symptoms and treatment are presented.