Now polyvalent allergy is widespread. What it is? This is a condition when one person may have several allergic factors at the same time. Many do not even suspect that they have unusual reactions to foods, drugs, chemicals. How does this disease appear?
Definition
Polyvalent allergy is an increased sensitivity of the body to several types of allergens at the same time. Triggers can be either similar in origin or chemical structure, or differ from each other.
If a person is in contact with several foreign antigens at the same time, then in the body in response to such an action, a complex of active substances is produced that provokes stereotyped reactions of tissues and fluids. As a rule, with multivalent allergies, several organ systems are affected at once.
Causes
Why does someone develop a polyvalent allergy, but someone does not? The opinions of scientists have not yet agreed on one option, so there are several options, each of which has a right to exist.
The genetic theory leads in the number of followers. It is based on the fact that allergic reactions are determined from the moment of birth and are associated with the sequence of nucleotides we received from our parents. This theory is supported by the fact that children whose parents are allergic are also more prone to hyperreactivity.
The second hypothesis states that the occurrence of allergies is associated with insufficient or pathological functioning of the immune system. Many people with hypersensitivity are prone to chronic infections, often take antibiotics or hormones, and generally do not crawl out of hospitals.
And finally, the third theory tells that the appearance of allergies is associated with the use of alcohol and smoking. Of course, these are bad habits, and the body does not benefit from them, but no evidence has yet been found that this is what provokes hyperreactivity.
In children, a polyvalent allergy may develop due to the early introduction of complementary foods or completely artificial feeding. In addition, helminths play an important role. They stimulate the immune system and contribute to allergies.
As a rule, there is no one reason why hypersensitivity has appeared. It is always a combination of factors.
Pathogenesis
A polyvalent allergy does not develop suddenly and in one day. What a person perceives as an unforeseen reaction of his body is actually a long-planned operation of your immune system. Whatever trigger factor may be, any hypersensitivity reaction goes through three stages of development:
- The first stage: acquaintance with the antigen. The body first encounters an alien chemical compound, whether it is pollen, perfume, medicine or a microorganism. The process of studying and remembering, as well as the production of immunoglobulins E, which are responsible for the reactivity of the body, is going on .
- The second stage: cytochemistry. Upon repeated contact with the allergen, activation of IgE located on mast cells occurs, and active substances such as histamine, serotonin, interleukins and others are released into the blood in large quantities.
- Third stage: the onset of symptoms. As a result of exposure to the body of a “cocktail” of chemically active substances, a person may have bronchospasm, swelling, itching, redness of the skin and rashes, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and much more.
Polyvalent allergy also develops. The third level of the process in the case of this disease can be delayed, take bizarre or mixed forms, but it still remains a stereotypical reaction of the body to the invasion of foreign components.
Symptoms
The above has already briefly described how a polyvalent allergy manifests itself. Symptoms may appear immediately after contact with an allergen, or be delayed in time. It depends on the dose and exposure (i.e. duration of exposure) of the trigger factor and individual characteristics. For example, dust and pollen irritate the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, and after swallowing a piece of peanuts, generalized edema develops.
On the part of the respiratory system with polyvalent allergies, symptoms such as rhinitis, shortness of breath, bronchospasm, asthma attacks can occur. It suddenly becomes difficult for a person to breathe, he gasps for air, begins to cough, and may even cry. If the patient knows about his illness, then he always has a pocket inhaler with a fast-acting medicine. The ability to quickly help yourself saved the lives of many allergy sufferers. As a rule, the allergens in this case will be volatile substances: dust, pollen, wool, perfumes and other aerosols, medicines.
From the intestines, after eating allergenic foods, dyspeptic symptoms are observed. The patient may attribute stool disorders, nausea and vomiting to poor-quality food or irregular nutrition, but over time, if the attacks are regular, there is no doubt about their nature.
Hives
Polyvalent allergy (ICD-10 assigned the code T78.4 to it) can occur in the form of rashes on the skin and mucous membranes. In this case, the mechanism of exposure to the allergen is fundamentally unimportant, but a much more intense reaction develops with direct contact, such as washing hands, cleaning rooms, picking flowers and fruits. Often, hives are caused by food or chemical allergens: alcohol, disaggregants, disinfectants, makeup, and the like.
Clinically, this type of polyvalent allergy appears in the form of redness of the skin as a burn, swelling and the appearance of small vesicles with transparent contents. In some cases, itching joins. Symptoms of urticaria are easily relieved by antihistamines, sprays and tablets (if rashes are very common). There are no changes on the skin, but once it appears, this type of allergy likes to relapse and harass patients.
Quincke's edema
Polyvalent allergy in contact with a large amount of allergen can manifest as swelling of the tissues of the neck, or Quincke's edema. Sometimes, in the case of insect bites in the face and oral cavity or food allergies, a large dose is not necessary. The mucous and subcutaneous tissue of the upper respiratory tract and organs of the neck are well vascularized, so the pathological agent quickly spreads throughout the area.
As a rule, Quincke's edema is an immediate allergic reaction and can become fatal to humans even when they first come into contact with the allergen. Because of the edema, a false croup occurs - a narrowing of the lumen of the larynx - and, as a result, a violation of the air flow and respiratory arrest. If the patient is not provided with urgent help, then the chances of a favorable outcome will drop sharply. That is why every doctor has a resuscitation kit at hand: Adrenaline, Ephedrine, Prednisolone and Eufillin. These are first aid drugs for angioedema.
Anaphylactic shock
The most dangerous condition for allergy sufferers is anaphylactic shock. Most often, it occurs with the oral administration of allergens: food or medicine. The amount of substance is unimportant, since to start the reaction immediately the type of the smallest particle is enough to trigger massive mast cell degranulation.
The symptom of this condition is a sharp drop in blood pressure, accompanied by loss of consciousness or coma, labored, superficial, rare breathing, convulsions and pallor. A man who felt fine just a second ago is now dying in front of frightened passers-by. With the development of such a scenario, you need to immediately call an ambulance and, if necessary, carry out emergency measures yourself (if you can, of course).
It is important for the doctor to be able to distinguish anaphylactic shock from massive pulmonary embolism (pulmonary embolism), acute heart attack, stroke, and other conditions accompanied by sudden collapse syndrome.
Polyvalent Drug Allergy
Recently, cases of the development of allergic reactions to drugs have become more frequent in clinical practice. More often for one, less often - for several at the same time. Experts believe that uncontrolled medication and regular cases of self-medication led to this situation.
At the first signs of OZ (acute respiratory illness), people do not go to the doctor, but go to the pharmacy, where they buy strong antibiotics or antiviral drugs. Then they are taken according to their own chosen scheme. This exacerbates the already existing resistance of microorganisms to treatment and provokes the development of allergic reactions.
Another reason is the painful, even pathological desire of modern man for purity. Everywhere you can find antibacterial soaps, wipes and sprays. It is, of course, good that there are similar means, but it is appropriate to use them in hospitals and other similar institutions, but not at home. By preventing the body from contacting microbes, we reduce its immune capabilities and provoke the development of allergies.
Pyobacteriophage is a multicomponent vaccine aimed at minimizing the consequences after bacterial infections of staphylococcal and streptococcal nature. An allergy to a polyvalent pyobacteriophage can occur if the dose of the drug is not observed or individual intolerance, but, as a rule, such cases are quite rare. Most often, drug allergies develop on antibiotics, local and general anesthetics, latex, drugs containing essential oils.
Food allergy
A polyvalent food allergy can be caused either by some kind of product, or by the substances that this product is processed in factories or in the field. There is a list of the most common food allergens:
- In the first place, of course, nuts. Even minor trace amounts of this product can cause Quincke's edema and anaphylaxis. Therefore, manufacturers must indicate such information on the package.
- Seafood, especially those that are not found in our latitudes. These include crustaceans, shrimp, red caviar.
- The eggs. Chicken protein can cause a rather violent allergic reaction, so some mothers with caution enter this product into the baby’s diet and begin, as a rule, with the yolk.
- Strawberries and other red fruits cause a rash like hives and facial swelling in children.
- Any exotic fruits, especially citrus fruits. Substances contained in the bones and peel of such fruits can be strong allergens.
- Cereals made from wheat: semolina, oatmeal, barley and others. They contain gluten, which is harmful to people with celiac disease (genetic bowel disease).
- Completes our top honey. This, of course, is a useful and extremely necessary product, but if a person already has an allergy to pollen, then there will also be honey and its derivatives.
Polyvalent food allergies can occur in both a small child and an adult. As a rule, children develop an allergy to food and may not even know about it after a long time.
Diagnostics
Polyvalent allergy (ICD-10 code is indicated above) is diagnosed quite simply, but also difficult at the same time. The difficulty is that it is impossible to conduct a screening for absolutely all allergens. It is quite expensive and often pointless. Doctors recommend that before such a procedure, make a list of alleged trigger factors yourself and check only them.
There are two ways to determine an allergen. The first is skin tests. Suspensions of allergens in strong dilution are applied to the inner side of the forearm with small strokes. Some (small) time later, the doctor checks the place of application. If redness or swelling appears, then this is a likely allergen.
The second method is the determination of antibodies in the blood. This is a painstaking and lengthy method that requires significant material costs. But it gives a more accurate result. They resort to it only if it is necessary to determine the level of reactivity to an already known allergen.
Treatment
Is polyvalent allergy amenable to therapy? Treatment, of course, is available, but it is lengthy and cumbersome. First of all, the effect of the allergen on the body is excluded. Have to part with your pets, change pillows, often do wet cleaning and ventilate the room. Follow a diet, refuse to take certain medications and use cosmetics.
In emergency cases, antihistamines are used. They block the receptors that capture histamine and prevent it from interacting with body tissues. This quickly eliminates the symptoms, but such drugs have an abundance of side effects, so they resort to such therapy only when necessary.
Prevention
Polyvalent allergy (the ICD code is already known to you) can develop in a healthy person, at first glance, so it’s difficult to prepare or avoid it. Doctors advise to adhere to the correct lifestyle, avoid exotic foods in food, be sure to conduct allergic tests before taking new drugs and, at the slightest sign of illness, consult a doctor, and not try to be treated on your own.