Content
Over the past decades, scientists have been sounding the alarm. The number of allergic patients is growing year by year. Moreover, even substances that until recently were considered hypoallergenic are included in the list of allergens. Yes, this disease, as a rule, is not life-threatening, but it greatly interferes with life. Unfortunately, despite the huge flow of information, most people do not understand what the essence of allergies is. And the consequences of such ignorance can be catastrophic. Therefore, we suggest that you read this article. Such knowledge will obviously not be superfluous.
The essence and causes of the disease
According to many doctors, an allergy is an intolerance to certain substances. In essence, that's the way it is. But let's look a little deeper. The cause of the disease is the reaction of the human immune system to a particular allergen protein substance. Moreover, only protein can be an allergen. For example, with an allergy to sugar, the body does not react to sugar itself, which is a carbohydrate, but to sucrose, which is part of it.
The key point here is the atypical nature of the reaction. After all, the immune system attacks obviously harmless substances. Most scientists agree that the reason for this is the progress in the food industry, providing people with refined nutrition. As a result, any deviation from the norm is perceived by the body as a threat. This is the essence of allergies.
Another factor was the development of transport networks, which opened up a variety of exotic goods from all over the world for people. And if local residents have long developed immunity to them, for consumers from distant lands, the same substance or food can be deadly.
Not the last role is also played by bad ecology and heredity. According to scientists, if the father or mother has an allergic disease, the chances of such a child appearing increase by 1.7 times.
Allergy in children
Allergic diseases in children deserve special attention. It is believed that they are the most susceptible to allergies. On mothers' forums and on social networks, phrases like: “My baby is allergic to literally everything” constantly slip through. But the truth here is less than half.
The main cause of illness in babies is their growing body. Due to the small "experience" their immune system is simply unable to adequately respond to external threats. As a result, immunity can sound the alarm because of any trifle.
Another weak point is the child's digestive system. Most allergic reactions to food are due to simple overeating. As a result, beneficial substances turn into poison.
To answer the question: “Can a child have an allergy?” special studies are required. Only they are able to determine the culprit allergen and help parents protect the health of their child.
Diagnostics
Most diagnostic measures come down to confirming the fact of the disease and identifying a specific allergen. They include an examination by an allergist and a number of laboratory tests. Here are some of them:
- Blood test for immunoglobulin E. The most reliable method for detecting an allergic disease. The fact is that most of the symptoms of allergies are similar to acute respiratory infections and other diseases. And the analysis of the content of IgE antibodies allows you to give an accurate answer to this question;
- Blood tests for specific antibodies. This study is a variation of the immunoglobulin E test, but now doctors are interested not only in the total number of antibodies, but also in the concentration of antibodies of a particular type. Thanks to this, a specific allergen can be identified;
- Application (skin) tests. A proven and effective method that allows you to unambiguously answer the question: “Can a patient have an allergy?”. Here, samples of the allergen are applied to the patient's skin, after which the skin is scratched, and doctors observe the body's reaction. This method is accurate and quite safe. Although it takes some time.
- provocative tests. A very accurate method that allows you to give a conclusion with a probability of almost 100%. A side effect is its increased danger to the patient, because a concentrated dose of a potential allergen is introduced into his body.
But regardless of the chosen method, studies should be carried out by specialists, and the results should be analyzed by allergists. Otherwise, there is a high risk of data distortion and misdiagnosis.
Treatment
Most treatment measures are aimed at combating the effects of allergies. Fortunately, modern pharmaceuticals offer a wide range of medicines. Moreover, drugs are constantly being improved, getting rid of side effects.
Antihistamines
The most popular are antihistamine drugs .
They counteract the production of histamine, an active substance produced by the body in response to an allergen attack. In other words, these drugs attack the very essence of allergies. Third-generation antihistamines are considered the safest and most effective. They do not cause drowsiness and provide a long-term effect. True, the price of such drugs is somewhat higher.
Hormonal and steroid drugs
"Heavy artillery" in the fight against allergies are drugs based on corticosteroids and other hormonal drugs. They effectively fight edema, inflammation and shortness of breath, but have a number of contraindications and side effects. Therefore, their use is possible only as prescribed by a doctor, with strict adherence to the regimen.
Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy
Allergen-specific immunotherapy, also known as ASIT, stands apart in the list of allergy treatments.
The fact is that this therapy does not fight the symptoms, but the disease itself. With ASIT, the patient is regularly injected with small doses of the allergen, forcing the body to "get used" to it. The treatment process takes up to a year or more. But the efficiency is over 85%.
Prevention Tips
There are no effective measures to prevent the disease. Too many options for the question "Is it possible to be allergic to ...". However, there are a number of preventive measures that can make life easier for allergy sufferers, both real and potential.
- Pay more attention to healthy eating. Do not get carried away with semi-finished products and synthetics, and also be careful with exotic cuisine;
- Keep the house in order. Use air purifiers and regularly ventilate the premises. Try to maintain the necessary humidity in the house;
- Be careful with pets. Do not get pets if any of the household suspects an allergy;
- Use medicines only as prescribed by your doctor. Even a simple aspirin will cause serious consequences. And in any case, do not use drugs that have expired.
And most importantly, don't worry. After all, the fourth cause of allergies is the depletion of the nervous system. Therefore, live peacefully and happily.
