What to do with a severe allergic reaction. What to do if an allergy is taken by surprise? How to help a child

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Allergy is a very complex and serious disease, so it is very valuable to be able to provide assistance in time and correctly. By learning how to provide first aid, you can not only help yourself, but also those around you. In some cases, a person's life depends on timely assistance, the same anaphylactic shock can result in death.

Forms of manifestation

Light. As a rule, it is a common urticaria, conjunctivitis, rhinitis.

Heavy. Such manifestations can already end in death. For example, anaphylactic shock, which is characterized by a strong decrease in pressure, problems with microcirculation in the internal organs.

Quincke's edema is characterized by spasms of the respiratory system, and urticaria can develop into complete intoxication of the body.

First aid rules

Mild symptoms of allergy manifestations are removed simply: the direct place of contact with the allergen is immediately washed. If it is the nose or oral cavity, the skin, then they should be washed with water.

In cases where an allergy to insect bites, the bite site must be washed and the sting removed, then a cold compress should be applied. In case of severe consequences of a bite, it will be necessary to apply a tourniquet above the place of contact with insects and inject the medicine intravenously. Be sure to protect the bite sites from external factors, especially to prevent new insect bites.

Treatment of the same urticaria can be with the help of folk remedies, the main thing is that they stimulate the removal of swelling and redness.

If the patient is allergic to the sun, and he has lost consciousness, then the person should be protected from direct sunlight. Bring the person to consciousness and give a large amount of water. At a high body temperature, more than 38 degrees, you will need to apply a cold compress and give antipyretics to the allergy sufferer.

After all urgent measures, it is necessary to take antihistamines. The main condition is the complete exclusion of any contact with the allergen. If you have a drug allergy, then you will immediately have to abandon the drug, with hay fever - protect the patient from the center of flowering. You will have to flush the stomach if the allergy is caused by a food product. With mild manifestations of allergy symptoms, hospitalization is not required.

If the allergic condition worsens, it is better to go to the hospital on your own, or call an ambulance. Before arrival

help, the patient should be placed on a firm and even place, always on his back. Turn your head to the side so that in case of vomiting, the person does not choke, and the vomit does not block breathing. If the breathing of the allergic person has stopped, then resuscitation should be started.

If the patient at least once encountered anaphylactic shock or Quincke's edema, then he is recommended to carry medications with him.

Usually, to eliminate the effects of anaphylactic shock, adrenaline, mezaton or noradrenaline is administered. Prednisolone is also introduced, which is diluted with glucose, intravenously by stream, or by drip.

It also requires the introduction of a drug that will increase blood pressure. Prednisolone is also administered if the patient has Quincke's edema. In severe forms, it is effective to take sorbents in large doses in order to quickly remove the allergen from the body. In some cases, laxative and cleansing enemas are effective.

Every allergic person should monitor their health, protect themselves from contact with the allergen and carry medications that can quickly relieve the symptoms of the disease.

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Table of contents

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

What is an allergy?

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

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

Types and types of pathology

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

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

2. Non-specific. In this case, the body reacts instantly.

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

As for delayed reactions, several hours and even days may pass by the period of manifestation. It should be noted that there can be a lot of reasons for the manifestation of pathology, so each specific case must be considered individually. Naturally, there are symptoms that are non-specific.

There are also different types of allergic reactions.

Anaphylactic (urticaria, asthma). Cytotoxic (drug allergy, Rh conflict in newborns - cell membranes are damaged). .

This is an approximate list that includes the most common types of allergic reactions.

Reasons for the appearance

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

Bites by insects or other animals. Dust. Bed mites. Mold spores. Drugs. Animal hair or saliva. Some foods (especially honey).

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

The mechanism of development and symptoms of pathology

Now consider how the presented state arises. Whatever allergic reactions, they have the same mechanism of development.

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

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

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

As for the symptoms, it is different.

Allergic reaction on the skin: red spots, rash, blisters, itching. Swelling of the mucous membranes. Runny nose. Sneezing. Tearing. Redness of the eyes. .

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

Features of allergies in children

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

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

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

How is allergy defined?

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

Various methods are used for diagnosis.

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

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

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

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

What is an acute allergy?

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

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

First aid

An acute allergic reaction can be very dangerous and even fatal, so you need to deal with the pathology responsibly. Do not delay with the elimination of this rather serious condition. However, before the doctors arrive, you must perform certain manipulations that will prevent the appearance of the most severe symptoms. Consider the question of what should be the first aid for allergies, as well as how it should be treated.

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

Help with allergic reactions to medications should be instant. Especially if the medicine was administered intravenously. Naturally, before using the drug, one must read its instructions, although certain reactions were observed even to anti-allergic tablets.

The resistance of the body in this case can cause serious consequences. Most often, the symptoms of such a pathology are various skin rashes, bronchial asthma or rhinitis. In this case, self-medication cannot be done. Be sure to consult a doctor and undergo a thorough diagnosis using all the necessary tests. Also, do not take any more drugs after which you noted the onset of symptoms.

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

If you are allergic to dust, pollen or animal hair, you may experience a runny nose, cough, pain in the eyes, swelling of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, and Quincke's edema. In this case, it is urgent to eliminate the irritant, wash off the particles that cause the body's response from the body and clothing. You will definitely need to take antihistamines and call an ambulance (if the measures taken on your own did not work).

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

Features of treatment

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

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

If you have a stuffy nose or difficulty breathing, then you will need such drugs: Oxymetazoline, Pseudoephedrine. However, they have some contraindications (age up to 12 years, pregnancy and lactation, hypertension). In addition, these medicines should not be taken for a long time.

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

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

For the treatment of skin manifestations, ointments and creams are used with the simultaneous administration of oral agents. Timely treatment will reduce the strength of the manifestation of the reaction.

Folk remedies and allergy prevention

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

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

2. Activated charcoal will help remove some of the toxins from the body that can cause allergies. However, it is better to use white tablets as they are more effective. The medicine should be taken every morning. And it doesn’t matter how the reaction manifests itself. In addition, activated charcoal can be drunk regardless of the type of allergy. If you are having an acute attack, taking more pills will help reduce the severity of the reaction.

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

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

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

6. Decoction, infusion and lotions from chamomile are effective. They should be used to treat skin lesions.

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

Avoid any encounters with irritants;

Try to stick to the diet prescribed by the doctor;

Give up cigarettes and alcohol;

Engage in physical exercise or sports;

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

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

These tips will help you quickly cope with the reaction to the stimulus and significantly reduce its manifestation. Be healthy!

Timely first aid for allergies can save a person's life. After all, this is a fairly serious disease, which is often accompanied by dangerous symptoms.

Therefore, if any life-threatening signs appear, you should call an ambulance and take the necessary measures before it arrives.

Forms of manifestations

Allergies can have a different course, and this has a direct impact on the symptoms of the disease.

Light

Mild forms of allergies usually manifest themselves in the following forms:

limited urticaria- consists in the defeat of the mucous membranes and skin; allergic conjunctivitis- damage to the conjunctiva of the eyes; allergic rhinitis- damage to the nasal mucosa.

heavy

Severe forms of allergic reactions are a real danger to human health and life and require emergency medical care.

These include:

anaphylactic shock- consists in a sharp decrease in blood pressure and problems in microcirculation in the organs; angioedema- manifests itself in the form of a spasm of the respiratory muscles and the onset of suffocation, which is a real danger to life; generalized urticaria- accompanied by the development of intoxication syndrome.

How a mild form manifests itself, and what to do

With the development of mild allergic reactions, the following symptoms usually appear:

slight itching on the skin in the area of ​​​​contact with the allergen; lacrimation and slight itching in the eye area; unexpressed redness of a limited area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin; slight swelling or swelling; runny nose and nasal congestion; constant sneezing; the appearance of blisters in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe insect bite.

If these symptoms occur, you need to do the following sequence of actions:

thoroughly rinse with warm water the contact area with the allergen - nose, mouth, skin; avoid contact with the allergen; if the allergy is associated with an insect bite and a sting remains in the affected area, it must be carefully removed; apply a cool compress to the itchy area of ​​the body; take an anti-allergy drug - loratadine, zyrtec, telfast.

If the person's condition worsens, you should contact an ambulance or get to a medical facility on your own.

Common symptoms for which it is imperative to call an ambulance

There are allergy symptoms that require immediate medical attention:

respiratory failure, shortness of breath; spasms in the throat, a feeling of closing the airways; nausea and vomiting; pain in the abdomen; hoarseness, speech problems; swelling, redness, itching of large areas of the body; weakness, dizziness, anxiety; increased heart rate and strong heartbeat; loss of consciousness.

Symptoms of severe forms

In acute forms of allergies, there are very specific symptoms that require urgent medical attention.

Quincke's edema

This is a fairly common form of allergy in humans, while it is most often observed in young women.

The patient has swelling of the subcutaneous tissue and mucous membranes. When the throat swells, there are problems with breathing and swallowing.

If medical assistance is not provided in time, a person may die from suffocation.

The main symptoms of angioedema include the following:

respiratory failure; hoarseness and cough; epileptic seizure; asphyxia; swelling of the skin.

Hives

With the development of urticaria, bright pink blisters appear on the skin, which are accompanied by burning and itching.

After a few hours, they turn pale, and then completely disappear.

Simultaneously with the development of these symptoms, headaches and fever appear.

Such a process can continue continuously or have an undulating course over several days. In some cases, it lasts several months.

Anaphylactic shock

Symptoms of this condition can manifest themselves in different ways - it all depends on the severity of the allergic reaction.

As a rule, anaphylaxis is characterized by such manifestations:

red rash accompanied by severe itching; swelling around the eyes, lips and extremities; narrowing, swelling, spasms of the airways; nausea and vomiting; sensation of a lump in the throat; a taste of metal in the mouth; feeling of fear; a sharp drop in blood pressure, which can cause dizziness, weakness, loss of consciousness.

severe rash

Severe skin rashes can manifest as eczema.

This condition is characterized by inflammation of the upper layers of the skin. Usually, eczema is accompanied by severe itching and has a long course with periods of exacerbations.

Also, a pronounced rash can manifest itself in the form of atopic dermatitis.

This disease is characterized by the development of erythema with bright reddening of certain areas of the skin and severe swelling of the tissues.

Subsequently, such dermatitis can lead to the appearance of blisters, which, after opening, leave weeping erosions.

First aid for allergies at home with:

Quincke's edema

Treatment of this disease should never be delayed, as it may precede anaphylactic shock.

Ambulance for allergic reactions, which are accompanied by Quincke's edema, should consist in the implementation of the following measures:

stopping the entry of the allergen into the body. refusal to eat. administration of antihistamines. Orally, loratadine or cetirizine can be used, suprastin or diphenhydramine is usually prescribed intramuscularly. the use of sorbents. In this case, enterosgel, activated carbon, smecta are suitable. You can also give the person a cleansing enema.

Urticaria

When symptoms of urticaria appear, you need to act according to the following scenario:

stop taking medications; in case of an allergic reaction to food, take a sorbent - white coal or enterosgel. You can also drink a laxative and gastric lavage; when bitten by insects, the source of the poison should be disposed of; when a contact allergy appears, it is necessary to remove the irritant from the surface of the skin.

Intravenously, you can enter tavegil, suprastin or diphenhydramine.

If extensive areas of the skin are affected, intravenous administration of prednisone is indicated.

Anaphylactic shock

If the necessary medicines are not available, you need to wash the stomach, make a cleansing enema, give the patient activated charcoal.

Also, in the area of ​​​​contact with the allergen, you can lubricate the skin with an ointment containing hydrocortisone or prednisolone.

You should also carry out the following sequence of actions:

stop access to the allergen; lay the person in such a way as to prevent the tongue from falling and the ingestion of vomit; apply a tourniquet above the site of an insect bite or use a drug; intravenously or intramuscularly inject adrenaline, mezaton or norepinephrine; intravenously inject prednisolone with glucose solution; intravenously or intramuscularly inject antihistamines after normalization of blood pressure.

Video: All about anaphylactic shock

severe rash

Before identifying the allergen, you can resort to local remedies to treat allergic rashes.

Therapy should be aimed at eliminating swelling and reducing the sensation of itching of the skin.

To do this, you can moisten the affected areas with cold water or use a cool compress.

To avoid the spread of an allergic rash, you need to protect the affected skin from external factors.

You should also limit the contact of affected areas with water. It is very important that the skin is in contact only with natural cotton fabric.

What to do if you react to:

The sun

If an allergy to the sun has led to a loss of consciousness, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Before the arrival of doctors, it is necessary to provide assistance to the victim:

try to bring the person to consciousness. it is important to ensure that clothing is loose and does not irritate the skin. provide enough water to make up for the lack of fluid in the body. if the temperature exceeds 38 degrees, you need to apply a cool compress on the forehead, lower legs, groin. If possible, it is necessary to use antipyretic drugs - paracetamol or ibuprofen. when vomiting occurs, a person needs to be turned on his side.

Find out what are

types of allergies

Should Polysorb be used for allergies? The answer is here.

insect bite

An allergy to a bee sting occurs in about 2% of people. Moreover, at the first bite, the reaction may not appear.

If there is a tendency to allergies, with insect bites, a person may develop anaphylactic shock.

In this case, an urgent appeal to an ambulance is necessary, and before its arrival, the following measures must be taken:

lay down and cover a person; give the victim several tablets of an antihistamine; in the absence of swelling of the pharynx and tongue, you can give him strong sweet tea or coffee; if breathing or heartbeat stops, artificial respiration and closed heart massage should be done.

food allergen

The rules for helping with food allergies depend on the severity of the reaction. If life-threatening symptoms appear, you should immediately call an ambulance.

In other cases, you can:

use sorbents- white coal, enterosgel. take an antihistamine- cetirizine, desloratadine, loratadine. with significant skin damage and severe itching, first-generation antihistamines, suprastin, are used. in severe allergies, hormonal drugs are indicated- dexamethasone, prednisolone. ointments are used to eliminate skin manifestations- fenistil, bepanten, skin-cap. In difficult cases, local hormonal preparations can be used - hydrocortisone or prednisolone ointment.

How to help a child

First aid for allergies in a child is to implement the following measures:

seat the baby upright - this position usually helps to ease breathing. If dizziness occurs, it must be put on the bed. If nausea is present, the head should be turned to one side. give the child an antihistamine in any form - syrup, tablets, capsules. If the baby cannot swallow or is unconscious, the tablet must be crushed, mixed with water and poured into his mouth. if the child has lost consciousness, you need to constantly check his pulse, breathing, pupils. If the child is not breathing or his pulse is not felt, you should immediately start resuscitation measures - artificial respiration and heart massage.

What to do if there is a sharp reaction on the face

Emergency care for the appearance of rashes on the face is:

cleansing the affected area; then a cool compress based on a decoction of sage, calendula or chamomile should be applied to the cleansed skin; gauze should be changed every two minutes; the total duration of the procedure should be ten minutes; after that, the face can be dried and sprinkled with potato or rice starch - these remedies will help eliminate redness and swelling; the procedure must be repeated several times within an hour.

Do not neglect also antihistamines. If an allergy appears on the face, you can take tavegil, suprastin, loratadine. If the reaction does not go away, you should immediately consult a doctor.

What should always be in a first aid kit

In the first aid kit of a person prone to allergic reactions, the following medicines should always be present:

general antihistamine - cetirizine, loratadine, etc.; antiallergic agent for topical use - hydrocortisone ointment, elokom; hormonal anti-inflammatory drug for the relief of attacks of acute allergies - prednisolone.

Doctors recommend that people who have experienced anaphylactic shock at least once have a syringe with adrenaline with them.

This will allow others to help the person with the development of severe allergies.

What to do if there is no first aid kit at hand

With a mild allergic reaction, it is enough to exclude contact with the allergen.

To eliminate rashes and reduce swelling, you can use folk remedies:

decoction of sage; chamomile; calendula.

If there is a severe allergy, in no case should you self-medicate.

In such a situation, you should immediately contact an ambulance or take the victim to the hospital - any delay can be fatal.

What is strictly forbidden to do

With the development of anaphylactic shock and other severe allergic reactions, it is impossible:

Leave a person alone. Give him something to drink or eat. Place objects under the head, as this can lead to increased respiratory failure. Give antipyretics for fever.

If the allergy is associated with an intravenous drug, you do not need to remove the needle from the vein. In this case, it is enough to stop the administration of the drug, and use the syringe in the vein to administer the allergy remedy.

Properly and timely assistance with an allergic reaction can save a person's life.

So when it appears:

severe skin rashes; respiratory failure; drop in blood pressure

It is necessary to immediately call an ambulance and take all necessary actions before its arrival.

The main types of allergic reactions

One of the most severe allergic conditions is Quincke's edema. Its danger lies in the fact that swelling of the skin of the face and neck can lead to suffocation and death.

Symptoms of angioedema:

breathing becomes wheezing and labored; the skin of the neck, face and limbs are covered with severe hyperemia; the patient suffers from severe headaches; swelling is accompanied by hoarseness of voice; skin integuments turn blue and turn pale; the patient has a fever.

Slightly less dangerous compared to anaphylactic shock and Quincke's edema is urticaria. It is caused by the same allergens. When it is impossible to determine the allergen, then the urticaria could well be caused by nervous disorders, stress, feelings. Then they practice taking sedatives, which are based on natural herbs, until the symptoms disappear.

Urticaria symptoms:

bright pink blisters appear, due to which itching and burning are observed; after two or three hours of blisters, then they become paler and completely go away; fever and headache are observed in parallel;

Such a process can last or occur in periodic outbreaks for several days and, in some cases, several months.

First aid for allergies

Naturally, your first action, if one of your loved ones showed the above signs, should be to call an ambulance and call doctors. Panic in this situation is unacceptable, you must ensure that the victim remains conscious until the arrival of doctors.

Basic steps before the ambulance arrives

The patient should no longer be in contact with the allergen that caused the allergic reaction. If a person has been bitten by an insect, poison must be removed from the wound, most likely this will have to be done by squeezing or sucking, and the sooner the better. When the reaction is provoked by taking medications or food, then a gag reflex is needed, and a cleansing enema and gastric lavage will also help the patient. In those situations where the smell caused the allergy, the best way out is to ventilate the room.

The first manifestations of allergic reactions should be eliminated by some of the antiallergic antihistamines: in such cases, suprastin, diazolin, fencarol, telfast, loratadine, zirtek, tavegil and many others are used.

The patient urgently needs a comfortable comfortable position: most likely, the victim should be laid down with a pillow under his head or a small roller - this will give blood flow to the organs. In addition, it is important for the victim to ensure the maximum flow of air to the lungs. Applying cold to the area of ​​contact with the allergen will help slow down the immune response.

When breathing stops, the patient needs immediate artificial respiration.

If the heart stops, immediate chest compressions are needed.

First aid for food allergies

A feature of first aid for food allergies is that in order to eliminate the effect of the allergen on the victim, in addition to stopping the use of the product, it is also necessary to rinse the stomach. In addition, you need to drink plenty of water - water, tea, alkaline mineral waters will do. A useful solution would be to take a sorbent such as activated charcoal. It will help eliminate from the digestive tract and stomach those substances that caused allergic reactions.

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.

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, since no interactions with them have been found.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 adverse reactions disappear, however, with prolonged use of these drugs, adverse reactions such as nosebleeds or sore throats are possible in rare cases. 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 your body's sensitivity 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, hazelnuts, almonds and brazil nuts
• 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.
For instance:

• 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 be fatal, 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 research 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 dorsum of the 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. For 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 putting 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 body, it persists for a very long time, and the body, upon repeated contact with the allergen, will always respond with the appearance of appropriate 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 particular 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 do not enter the body with food, proper nutrition is of some importance. 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. Fresh milk and homemade fermented milk products should be completely abandoned. 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 colorings are found even in unscrupulously 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. Uniform standards do not exist due to the wide variety of forms of the disease and the various 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 to consult a doctor for medical help at the first manifestations of the disease. If the patient knows that she has an allergy, then it is possible to prescribe certain 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

form of allergy	Recommended drugs and treatment
Bronchial asthma	Inhalation forms of beclomethasone, epinephrine, terbutaline, theophylline. In severe cases, prednisone ( first daily, and after the removal of the main symptoms - every other day), methylprednisolone extended ( prolonged) actions.
Rhinitis	Diphenhydramine ( diphenhydramine), chlorpheniramine, beclomethasone intranasally ( baconase and its analogues).
Bacterial complications of rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis (including purulent forms)	Antibiotics to treat bacterial complications - ampicillin, amoxicillin, erythromycin, cefaclor. Ideally, an antibiogram is made to select the most effective drug and the most effective course. However, antibiotics are started even before the results are available ( then, if necessary, the drug is changed). Locally shown beclomethasone ( baconase) to eliminate an allergic reaction.
Angioedema	subcutaneous epinephrine ( urgently), restoration of airway patency, if there is swelling of the mucous membrane of the throat.
Hives	Diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, tripelenamin. In more severe cases, ephedrine and terbutaline. With a long course, prednisone may be prescribed.

A very important point in the management of pregnant women with allergies is 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 necessary). 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 functioning 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 the children's body is more sensitive in many respects than the 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 appropriate preventive recommendations 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 of mummy is dissolved in 1 liter of hot water ( high-quality product dissolves even in warm water quickly and without sediment). The solution is cooled to room temperature ( 1 – 1.5 hours) and taken orally once a day. It is advisable to take the 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 a 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 fact is that there are several different types of 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 remedies based on the action of medicinal herbs, which are the safest in this particular case.

Is there a human allergy?

In the classical sense, an allergy is an acute response of the immune system to the contact of the body with some foreign substance. In humans, as in a certain biological species, the structure of tissues 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 can regularly appear when communicating with the same person. However, this has a slightly different explanation.

Each person comes into contact with a very large number of potential allergens. At the same time, the carrier himself does not suspect that he is a carrier of allergens, since his body does not have 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 from their pets on their 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 a 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 in 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 has an expiration date and 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 occur with various types of contact with the allergen. When it comes to the use of alcoholic beverages, the allergen enters the gastrointestinal tract. This contributes to the development of a more intense and faster allergic reaction than if the allergen would get, say, on the skin.

In recent years, cases of allergies to various alcoholic beverages have become more frequent. 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 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 much more dangerous disorders come to the fore. This condition is called anaphylactic shock or anaphylaxis.

Anaphylactic shock is the most severe form of allergy and without special treatment can lead to the death of the patient within 10-15 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 an ambulance for hospitalization. Otherwise, anaphylactic shock can be fatal.

Another dangerous form of allergy is Quincke's edema. With it, the same mechanisms lead to 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?

An allergic reaction to medications is a fairly common problem in the 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;
• it is difficult to neutralize the effect of certain drugs and completely remove them from the body in a short time;
• 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 macromolecular compounds. They have a higher potential to provoke an allergy. In other drugs, the chemical composition is relatively simple. This makes them more secure.
);

local anesthetics ( lidocaine, novocaine, etc.).

Many other medicines can also cause 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 a 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 a 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 substances that are quite complex in chemical composition. Molecules of water or gases from the composition of 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 of ultraviolet radiation can be released, and the symptoms of photodermatitis sometimes strongly resemble the skin manifestations of 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).

These reactions to sunlight usually occur 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 allergies, 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.

The human immune system is a complex mechanism. Its main role is to produce various protective antibodies to fight infections. However, sometimes it fails, and instead of alien microbes, it tries to fight various completely harmless substances that surround a person. He perceives them as terrible enemies and begins to develop antibodies against them. The list of these substances can include anything: house dust, animal hair, plant pollen, various foods, medicines, household chemicals. The list of possible allergens is endless.

The epidemic of allergic diseases in the modern world

There are people who have grown up and lived their whole lives without knowing what an allergy is. However, unfortunately, they are becoming less and less. Pediatricians are sounding the alarm: today, every second child at least once in his life had episodes of allergies or he has any chronic allergic diseases.

"Allergic march" - this is the name of the gradual development of certain allergic diseases in children, depending on age. Most often, the debut of this problem begins with atopic dermatitis that occurs in children in the first months of life. After a year, allergic rhinitis joins him. After 3-4 years, such a child begins to attend kindergarten and often get sick with colds. During each acute respiratory disease, he has repeated episodes of bronchial obstruction (attacks of suffocation with wheezing in the chest), and this is the initial manifestation of bronchial asthma.

As they grow older, the baby can "outgrow" these diseases. And parents should make every possible effort for this. After all, if you let the allergy take its course, it will remain with the maturing child for the rest of his life.

The life of an allergy sufferer is very difficult. There are people who react to a limited list of allergens (for example, only certain foods). In this case, they can make themselves a menu of safe dishes and live a normal life.

Allergic people who react to house dust or animal hair have a harder time. Getting rid of dust at home is extremely difficult. To do this, it is necessary to remove all upholstered furniture and carpets, and replace pillows and blankets with hypoallergenic ones (based on bamboo). At home, it is desirable to carry out wet cleaning daily. In this case, a washing vacuum cleaner would be an ideal assistant.

With animals, wool, saliva or various excrement of which are strong allergens, you must say goodbye. No matter how painful and embarrassing. After all, their own health and a happy childhood of children without pills and hospitals is more important. However, even after the former pet leaves your apartment and moves to live in a new place, his hair, saliva, skin particles remain on furniture and in remote places for several more months. Therefore, for another year you need to wash the apartment, and the more often, the better.

With plant pollen or a reaction to poplar fluff, everything is more complicated. It is impossible to get rid of trees and plants on the street next to the house. If you secretly try to cut them down and take them out at night, you may be in big trouble with your neighbors. Therefore, the only way out is to move to another house or city. Or the constant use of antihistamine drugs for the flowering period, which is not entirely useful.

But the main problem of allergies is not how to get rid of dust, animals or pollen - these issues are more or less solvable. The difficulty is that the cause of allergies is a malfunction of the immune system. If the “object” that it attacks is eliminated, then it will continue to look for it among other external factors. Therefore, a strict hypoallergenic diet, living in an apartment without furniture, animals and plants are not an option. After a few months, there is a risk that the allergy will reappear, and other allergens will become provocateurs.

Allergy appears as a response to the contact of the human body with desensitizers - substances that cause a painful response from the immune system. The response to the penetration of an aggressive substance ranges from mild, in the form of peeling, reddening of the skin or slight itching, to a serious immune response of the body. The conditions that threaten the patient's life include Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock. Therefore, allergy first aid skills are important and may be needed in a variety of situations.

The peculiarity of an allergic reaction lies in its ability to accumulate information about the allergen, which leads to an increase in negative manifestations during subsequent contacts.

Allergy first aid basics

The order of manipulations that should be taken when providing first aid during an attack depends on the type of allergy and on the nature of the course. The algorithm of actions includes:

1. Elimination of exposure to the allergen;
2. Taking sensitizing agents;
3. Removal of symptoms.

Elimination of the pathogenic effect of the allergen

An acute attack is characterized by a violent reaction from the body, the first thing they do to alleviate the patient's condition is to stop exposure to the allergen (if possible). If the substance gets on the skin or in the nasopharyngeal cavity, rinse thoroughly with water. An allergy to an irritating aroma will weaken if you open windows in the room or transfer the victim to another room.

When the cause of the allergic condition was an insect bite, it is recommended to carefully pull out the sting, rinse the wound with water and make a cold compress. With severe edema, ice is applied locally, lowering the temperature prevents the development of the reaction.

If an allergy has arisen to food, drinks, drugs taken orally, this requires the earliest possible cessation of exposure to the allergen on the body. It is necessary to induce an attack of vomiting, after which the stomach is washed with plenty of water. It would be correct to take sorbents that will reduce the concentration of the desensitizer in the intestine. Common dosage forms are activated charcoal, white charcoal, smectin.

Body sensitization

The second step in helping with allergies at home is to reduce the negative response of the immune system with the help of drugs. The patient is given antihistamines, which reduce the negative manifestation of allergies and alleviate the patient's condition. Such funds reduce swelling, relieve spasm, reduce the likelihood of complications.