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How allergies develop: Why Adults Aren’t Immune From First-Time Allergies

by alexxlab

Why Adults Aren’t Immune From First-Time Allergies

Those lucky enough to skate through childhood and adolescence without itchy, watery eyes aren’t immune from allergies for life. Developing adult-onset allergies — from seasonal allergies to food allergies — is possible no matter how old you are.

Allergies develop when your immune system mistakenly identifies a substance such as pollen, mold, animal dander, or food as harmful. That substance is referred to as an allergen. The allergen stimulates immune system cells to release certain chemicals, such as histamine, which then lead to allergy symptoms.

Depending on the allergen, allergy symptoms can involve the nasal passages, eyes, sinuses, airways, skin, and digestive system. Reactions can vary from mild to severe and, in some cases, cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition.

Why Allergies Now?

There’s a lot experts still don’t know about allergies, including what triggers them. They do know, however, that the prevalence of allergic rhinitis, also called hay fever, is increasing in the United States and around the world.

Most theories as to why allergy symptoms have increased focus on “higher concentrations of airborne pollutants, rising dust mite populations, less ventilation in homes and offices, dietary factors, and sedentary lifestyles,” says Deborah Pockross, MD, a physician at Kenilworth Medical Associates in Kenilworth, Illinois, and staff doctor at Northshore University Health System in Evanston.

Another theory is the so-called hygiene hypothesis — meaning “a more sanitary environment [and less exposure to bacteria] increases susceptibility to allergic disease by suppressing the natural development of the immune system,” Dr. Pockross explains. In other words, our living conditions and food are so clean they don’t offer our immune systems enough to do, so our systems overreact to allergens instead.

Who Is at Risk for Adult-Onset Allergies?

Most people who are diagnosed with allergies as adults probably had an allergic episode earlier in life that they don’t remember. Often allergies follow a predictable course: eczema and food allergies in babies and toddlers, then hay fever symptoms in mid-to-late childhood. Allergy symptoms may fade during the teen years, only to return when you’re an adult.

Some people, however, do experience allergy symptoms for the first time in adulthood. This most often happens in your twenties, thirties, and forties rather than in later years. “As we age, our immune system does weaken — that is why more seniors get pneumonia than 20-year-olds,” says Anthony J. Weido, MD, president of Allergy & Asthma Associates in Houston, Texas, and the Gulf Coast area. “As the immune system weakens, the hyper-allergic reaction also weakens,” he says.

Any type of allergy can occur in adulthood, including hay fever, pet allergies, and dust mite and mold allergies as well as insect bite, drug, and food allergies. Again, experts aren’t entirely sure why this happens, but theories include:

  • being exposed to allergens when the immune system is weakened, such as during an illness or pregnancy
  • not being exposed to a high enough level of the allergen as a child but reaching that threshold in adulthood
  • moving to a new location with different trees, plants, and grasses
  • getting a pet

Managing Allergy Symptoms

If you’re bothered by mild allergy symptoms from hay fever and the like, it’s fine to try over-the-counter antihistamines. If this doesn’t help, consult your doctor to rule out other conditions and possibly get a referral to a specialist. An allergy expert can help determine specific triggers, suggest ways to avoid them, and perhaps offer medications.

If you suspect you have a food allergy, take it very seriously, as it can be life-threatening. Be sure to work closely with a board-certified allergist who will teach you about avoiding unexpected sources of the food and managing your allergy symptoms.

Allergies can be unpleasant no matter how young or old you are, but your medical team can help you identify your allergy triggers and find solutions.

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What Causes a person to develop Allergies

Posted on: April 15, 2021

Allergies can come in many shapes and sizes. While some people can enjoy beautiful weather, others avoid going outdoors at all costs. The same situation may occur for people watching others enjoy an endless variety of foods while they must be very selective. Those people who suffer from the incessant symptoms of food or environmental allergies may wonder, why?

Have you ever wondered what causes your stuffy nose and sneezing? It’s not just a string of bad luck; whether your allergy symptoms occur in direct result to the local pollen count, different types of food or your neighbor’s cat, there are certain responses from our immune system that lead to our level of reaction.

In this article, we’ll explain exactly what causes a person to develop allergies, when this can happen, and whether allergic symptoms are worse in adulthood or childhood.

What Causes a Person to Develop Allergies?

The body’s immune system generates different antibodies to protect us from illnesses. For allergies, the immune system generates Immunoglobulin E, also known as IgE, to aid in combating your allergy symptoms. IgE is a chemical messenger that travels to cells to relay information that a chemical defense against a foreign invader is needed. Allergic individuals have high IgE levels against benign environmental exposures such as pollen or dander. Food can also cause high levels of IgE.

With time, the immune system develops what’s known as immunological memory. Normally this is a helpful immune response which can enable your body to respond more quickly.  This is what allows vaccines to work. In allergy, however, this response is magnified, and your repeat exposures cause recurrent overreactions of the immune system.  This produces an allergic response that may include sneezing, coughing, sniffling and congestion or increased asthma symptoms. IgE antibodies are custom made for each type of allergen. This is why you can be allergic to one or two specific foods or pollens and tolerate others without a problem.

When Does a Person Develop Allergies?

Allergies can develop at any point in a person’s life. One factor that increases your chance is your family history. If one parent is allergic there is a 30-50% chance of their offspring developing allergies. This jumps to 60-80% if both parents are allergic.

In many cases, allergies first present early in life, during infancy or the toddler years. Most of these allergies will be lifelong concerns, although some can resolve on their own.

Can You Develop Allergies Later in Life?

It is certainly possible to develop allergies in adulthood. Adult-onset allergies can occur seemingly out of nowhere due to exposure to new allergens in the environment, family history and changes in the immune system. The most common food allergies in adults are peanuts, fish, shellfish such as shrimp, lobster and tree nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans and cashews).

There’s no way to avoid getting adult-onset allergies if you’re susceptible to them, since you can’t reasonably expect to know every trigger that could cause an allergic reaction and then avoid it. In addition, there is some recent research that indicates avoiding allergens can make it more likely for an individual to develop allergies, because the immune system is unfamiliar with more substances.

What Are Adult Onset Allergies?

Adult-onset allergies are those allergy symptoms that manifest later in life. This could be anywhere from younger adulthood, such as in a person’s 20s, to a person’s senior years, when they are 70 or 80 years old. Typically, if you lived through your 20s and your 30s without any new allergies, the chances of getting adult-onset allergies diminishes.

The strangest part about adult-onset allergies is that you can wake up today irritated by an allergen that didn’t bother you yesterday. You could have been in contact with said allergen every single day for years with no adverse effects. Now, you have a runny nose, itching eyes and uncontrollable sneezing around that allergen.

               See related: How to Keep Your Charlotte Seasonal Allergies in Check

How Do Adult Onset Allergies Develop?

If you’re predisposed to a certain type of allergy, but you’ve never been around that allergen before, it can seem like your symptoms have materialized out of nowhere. Say, for instance, you never had pets growing up. You’re allergic to pet dander, but you’d never know it. Then, your roommate decides to get a dog, and your allergies start going crazy.

So yes, even though it may seem like you just woke up with allergies one day, there’s usually a medical explanation for why it’s happened. Unfortunately, that explanation can be difficult to pinpoint, especially when you’re simply becoming aware of an allergy you may have had for some time.

In other cases, allergies do develop on their own. You may notice changes suddenly, or monitor a gradual shift in your reaction to a specific substance. Adult onset allergies typically develop differently in different people.

What Causes Allergies Later in Life?

Just like childhood allergies, we do not completely understand why some people develop allergies and others don’t. We do know there are complex genetic and environmental factors involved.  Scientists have proposed theories about why allergies occur, including the “hygiene hypothesis” that attributes allergic disease in part to the use of antimicrobials and the high standard of cleanliness in modern societies.

Adults can also present with new-onset environmental allergies. In some cases, the patient may have had a tendency to develop allergies all along, but their environment changed, putting them in more contact with the triggering allergen (for example, a new pet in the home).

What Should I Do if I Develop Adult Onset Allergies?

If you believe you have developed allergies as an adult, avoid any suspected allergens while you are waiting to see your allergist. Your allergist may order some tests such as blood or skin tests to further evaluate your allergies.

If allergy testing confirms a diagnosis of allergy, your allergist will work with you to develop a treatment plan including avoidance measures, medications, and/or other treatment options such as immunotherapy (allergy shots or allergy drops) for environmental allergies.

Are Allergies Worse in Childhood or Adulthood?

Per the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) and 2013 data, 28 million kids across the United States have allergies. As many as 50 million adults may get reactions to allergens as well.

While more adults have allergies in the United States than children, is there an age group that has it worse? Research that appeared in a 2012 article at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in Massachusetts suggests that adults may be the most at risk for intense, serious symptoms. Adult behaviors such as taking certain medications (like ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and NSAIDs, even aspirin) and drinking alcohol may increase risk for severe anaphylaxis. Exercise and having asthma can also increase reaction severity.  Of course, young children who cannot communicate symptoms can also have severe reactions which go unnoticed and progress to dangerous levels.

A severe allergic reaction, which can be triggered by foods or venom (insect stings), is called anaphylaxis. This is a life-threatening emergency condition in which the patient goes into shock, cannot breathe, and may have vomiting, nausea, and skin rashes. Anaphylaxis symptoms can occur instantaneously or sometimes minutes after eating an allergen or being stung. Epinephrine can control cases of anaphylaxis that are caught immediately. The longer the patient goes without treatment, the greater the likelihood that death can occur. For this reason patients with a history of severe anaphylaxis are encouraged to always have an in date epinephrine injector available.

Which Allergies Are Most Common?

While we’ve talked about allergies to things like dander and pollen, these are not the most frequent adult-onset allergies.  Per the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology or ACAAI and data published in 2017 from their Annual Scientific Meeting, the most frequent adult-onset allergies are those to food. In fact, food comprised nearly 50 percent of these allergies!

Which foods triggered the most allergies? Peanuts, shellfish, and tree nuts. The study discovered that Caucasian people were less likely to have peanut and shellfish allergies compared to Hispanic, Asian, and black people of adult age (18 years old or more).

While, back in 2008, the rate of tree nut allergies among adults was only 0.5 percent, it’s jumped by 260 percent. As of 2017, when the study was published, that rate was now 1.8 percent.

In addition, in 2004, only 2.5 percent of adults were allergic to shellfish. Today, that number has seen a 44-percent spike, as 3.6 percent are affected by this seafood allergy in the United States alone.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology or AAAAI added that younger children aged one through three years old were also getting more food allergies. That said, they had fewer instances of shellfish allergies specifically.

               See related: New Recommendations for Exposing Children to Peanuts

Why does this happen? The verdict is still out. Medical and scientific researchers alike are still working on figuring out why adults have a higher likelihood of getting a shellfish allergy compared to children. One purported reason could be that the allergy is always present, just sitting dormant, like we mentioned above. Another is that since the average person doesn’t eat shellfish in childhood but may in adulthood, their eating habits could lead to allergies.

Can Allergies Be Prevented?

Unfortunately, you cannot prevent the manifestation of adult-onset allergies. As we mentioned, these allergies sometimes spring up where none existed before. Other times, exposure to the allergen triggers a reaction. For those reasons, it’s difficult to say with certainty which triggers you should avoid.

While you can’t always prevent adult-onset allergies, you can treat them as they develop. If, for instance, you notice you get an adverse reaction after eating shellfish or peanuts, you should refrain from eating these foods right away. Instead, set up an appointment with an allergy provider who can test your to see what is causing your symptoms

In the case of food allergies, the best treatment is avoidance. For pet dander, pollen, and other standard allergy triggers, you can try medications, including steroid nasal sprays and antihistamines, to alleviate uncomfortable symptoms. You can also try to keep yourself away from these allergens via lifestyle adjustments.

Can Allergies Stop on Their Own?

A question commonly asked at diagnosis is how likely is it that my allergy will improve with time? The severity and types of symptoms you had at your initial reaction and the number of foods to which you are allergic can help predict your chances of “outgrowing” the allergy. In addition, we know that milk, egg and soy allergies most often improve with time while peanut, tree nut, fish and shellfish are less likely to improve.

It’s not recommended you simply assume that you’ve outgrown a reaction to an allergen; instead, you should visit an allergist for testing. For food allergies, if your test results indicate that it is safe, you will participate in an in office oral food challenge to determine if you still have symptoms.

How Do You Treat Allergies?

Most allergy treatment involves prescription or over-the-counter antihistamines, which treat allergy symptoms. As mentioned, Epinephrine is also used to treat severe allergic reactions.

Other allergy treatments include various forms of immunotherapy, most commonly allergy shots and allergy drops. Both allergy shots and allergy drops expose the immune system to small amounts of one or more allergens at predetermined intervals. Allergen doses start small, then gradually increase. The goal of the treatment is to retrain the immune system to recognize the allergen as not dangerous, decreasing the frequency or severity of allergy symptoms.

Allergy shots and allergy drops are the only current treatment methods that reduce sensitivity to an allergen itself, instead of just treating the allergy symptoms. If you’re interested in either option, speak to an experienced allergist.

Know Where to Go for Allergy Care: Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center

Allergies can begin in childhood, adulthood and anytime in between. If you’re dealing with a new or persistent case of allergies, we encourage you to reach out to us at Carolina Asthma & Allergy. We serve patients throughout North and South Carolina and work with traditional allergy treatment methods as well as allergy shots and allergy drops.

Our board-certified doctors are experts in food allergies, asthma, insect bite allergies and other uncommon, yet often serious allergies that require specialized care. We even offer anaphylaxis prevention and treatment, immunotherapy care and treatments for the lungs, skin, throat, nose, ears, and eyes. To set up your appointment today, contact us today!

 

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Understand allergies

Allergist-immunologist page

Allergy is an abnormal (incorrect) reaction to substances that are usually considered harmless. These substances can be inhaled, ingested, or even penetrate the skin and are referred to as allergens. Allergens can be hundreds, maybe thousands of the most common substances. The most common allergens include: pollen, mold fungi, house dust, food, dander and animal hair, and many drugs. Why does the body react abnormally to these substances? In essence, this is his “mistake”. Allergies occur when the body’s immune system, designed to attack harmful foreign bodies such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, mistakes a harmless substance for a harmful one and attacks it to protect the body. This loss of control leads to the launch of destructive reactions. These destructive reactions are called hypersensitivity reactions or allergic , and the antigens responsible for the development of allergic reactions – allergens.

Allergy is a disease of equal opportunity: it can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or socioeconomic factors. Children are more likely to develop it than adults, but the first attack can occur at any age. Allergic diseases can affect any human organ, but the most common are diseases of the respiratory tract and skin.

The main causes of respiratory allergies are allergies to plant pollen, house dust and mold, pet hair and dander. Pollinosis is a disease caused by plant pollen. Allergy to pollen most often manifests itself in the form of rhinitis, conjunctivitis and pollen bronchial asthma. Pollen is a tiny grain containing a large amount of allergenic proteins. Pollen from wind pollinated plants is produced in large quantities, can travel long distances, and is the main cause of hay fever. Plants with large and bright flowers and a strong smell are usually pollinated by insects. They produce pollen in much smaller quantities, it is practically absent in the air, and allergies to it are not so common. In dry, hot and windy weather, the concentration of pollen in the air, as a rule, increases, which favors the development of exacerbations of hay fever. Rain, on the contrary, “nails” pollen to the ground and reduces the risk of developing allergic manifestations. Pollinosis most often develops with sensitization to the pollen of trees, cereals and weeds.

Any house dust is a complex set of allergens, the main of which is house dust mite. These mites feed on the stratum corneum of human skin. Ticks live in beds and bedding – where a person loses the most horny scales when rubbing the skin during sleep. The body of a sleeping person is able to warm the bed up to 20 – 30? C and additionally create humidity – ideal conditions for the life of ticks, as well as mold, with which they live in symbiosis and which they feed. Mold is a type of microscopic fungus that, as it grows, produces spores that are allergens. Mold fungi are found both outside (in the air or on plants) and inside the house. Just as in the case of pollen, the number of spores per unit volume of air depends on weather conditions and seasons (maximum concentrations are observed in late summer and early autumn).

Pets are one of the strongest sources of allergens. Allergy can develop on animal fur (dogs, cats, horses, guinea pigs, etc.), their saliva, urine and excrement, horny scales and skin epithelium, serum (blood proteins). This type of allergy is very widespread, it can significantly worsen the course of its other manifestations.

Non-specific factors (not allergens) may play a significant role in asthma. While not a direct cause of asthma, in individuals with increased bronchial reactivity, they provoke an asthma attack. Most often, such factors are: chalk dust, fiberglass, tobacco smoke, household chemicals, exhaust fumes, strong-smelling perfume, the smell of new furniture and finishing materials, as well as cold air, smog, physical activity and even emotions. In the absence of bronchial sensitization, when patients come into contact with these factors, an exacerbation of rhinitis, conjunctivitis, or urticaria may develop.

The term “true food allergy” means only an immune reaction with a specific clinical picture. Symptoms can be varied: gastrointestinal (abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea), respiratory (rhinitis, laryngeal edema, bronchospasm), ocular (eyelid edema, conjunctivitis), skin (urticaria, angioedema, atopic dermatitis) and occur immediately after allergen exposure or with a short delay. Food substances with high allergenic activity include: cow’s milk, chicken eggs, fish and seafood, fruits, grains. Allergies to fruits and vegetables are almost always associated with pollen allergies. Food allergies can develop when even a very small amount of a product is consumed – an allergen, for example, to an egg in the composition of the dough.

Pseudo-allergy – clinical symptoms, most often skin, developing when eating a large number of foods containing and / or releasing histamine when they are split in the gastrointestinal tract under the action of secretions of glands and bacteria. Histamine is one of the leading biochemical substances in the development of allergic symptoms (in particular, itching and inflammatory elements on the skin). The reasons for the development of pseudo-allergic reactions are often associated with the presence of various concomitant diseases in a person, in particular, gastrointestinal, liver, nervous and endocrine systems. Complaints appear after a certain time after eating, their nature changes over time, the reactions depend on the amount of food taken. The most common of these foods are: cheeses and wines that have undergone fermentation during preparation, sauerkraut, chocolate, spinach, tomatoes, ham, salami, sausages, canned foods, tuna, sardines, pickled herring, avocados, brewer’s yeast, pineapples, walnuts nuts. Often the reason for the development of pseudo-allergic reactions is not the product itself, but various chemical additives introduced to improve the taste, smell, color, which ensure the duration of storage and are used in the process of growing crops (pesticides; fluorine-containing, organochlorine, sulfur compounds, aerosols of acids, products of the microbiological industry and etc.). Eating genetically modified foods can also lead to the development of allergic reactions. Pseudo-allergic reactions are much more common than true food allergies, therefore, in the presence of itchy dermatosis, it is necessary first of all to carefully examine the condition of the internal organs and adjust the diet.

True drug allergy is also relatively rare. It is a consequence of the body’s immune response to drugs or their metabolites (products resulting from the transformation of drugs in the body). Drug allergy should not be confused with other adverse reactions that have a similar clinical picture: side effects of drugs, their overdose, secondary reactions (superinfection, dysbacteriosis, etc.), drug interactions, individual intolerance and pseudo-allergy. Drug allergy accounts for less than 10% of all types of adverse drug reactions. They occur in about 2-3% of adults taking medications. Its development is caused only by those medicines that the patient received earlier. Drug allergy arises from the minimum amount of the drug, cannot develop to many drugs with different chemical structures and manifests itself with classic symptoms of allergic diseases (urticaria, Quincke’s edema, bronchial asthma, anaphylactic shock, serum sickness, allergic vasculitis, etc. ). A reaction to drugs that cause the release of biochemically active substances in a non-immune way (pseudo-allergic reactions) may occur already at the first dose of the drug, depends on the dose and route of administration, may decrease or disappear with time. These drugs include muscle relaxants, general and local anesthetics, antibiotics, radiopaque agents, plasma substitutes and blood products, B vitamins, antispasmodics, ATP, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, analgin, etc.), ACE inhibitors (captopril, enalapril, etc. ).

The first principle of allergy treatment is to exclude contact with the allergen (of course, after establishing a clear diagnosis). In the case when this is an impossible condition (for example, to avoid contact with pollen or house mites), specific allergovaccination is carried out in order to create tolerance (resistance) of the patient to causally significant allergens. Its mechanisms are based on the impact on systemic immune-regulatory processes, which ensures a lasting effect after the completion of treatment. Timely specific treatment prevents the transition of diseases from mild to more severe forms. Treatment is based on the systematic introduction of the allergen, first in increasing, and then in sufficiently high doses. The composition of a specific vaccine depends on the set of allergens to which you are sensitized. If you are sensitized to many allergens, your doctor will select those that are most important as causative factors. The effectiveness of the treatment is 80% – 90%. I would like to emphasize that specific allergovaccination is the only pathogenetic method for the treatment of allergic diseases aimed at modifying the abnormal immune response in a sensitized patient.

Drug therapy consists of the use of pharmacological agents aimed at eliminating the main symptoms of rhinitis, conjunctivitis, bronchial asthma, dermatitis or urticaria. It must be remembered that drugs do not give a lasting effect that persists after their withdrawal. Histamine is the main mediator involved in the development of allergic inflammation. Antihistamines are the main pathogenetic therapy for allergies during an exacerbation. Their action is associated with the blockade of h2-histamine receptors.

It must be remembered that allergies are chronic diseases, often with an undulating course. It is aggressive and insidious: affecting various organs, during life it can manifest itself under the guise of various diseases, including disguised as acute respiratory infections. From a small problem in the form of periodically appearing rhinitis, bronchial asthma can develop over the years. And the sooner treatment is started, the better the prognosis will be.

Allergist-immunologist, doctor of the highest category

c.m.s. Victoria Nikolaevna Eremenko

What is allergy – causes, exacerbation, treatment of allergies

Promotion! 20% discount on the initial doctor’s appointment for new patients of the clinic using the promo code “FIRST20”.

Allergy is a pathological reaction of the immune system in which the body perceives substances that are safe for most people as dangerous. It can be food, plant pollen, wool, dust, and more. Upon contact with the allergen, a pronounced skin, respiratory or other reaction occurs, which in some cases can be life-threatening.

To avoid unpleasant allergy symptoms, it is important to accurately identify the irritant and select supportive therapy. This can be done at the Kutuzovsky Medical and Diagnostic Center with the help of an experienced allergist.

How an allergic reaction occurs

Simplistically, the mechanism of allergy can be described as follows. If a person has a genetic predisposition to allergic reactions, under certain conditions, a substance is perceived by the body as an “aggressor”. There will be no immediate reaction to it, however, the next time you come into contact with this irritant substance, the immune system will try to counteract it.

The body will secrete antibodies and launch a protective immune response – these are the unpleasant symptoms of an allergy that a person feels. With each new contact with the allergen, the reaction force may increase.

Allergies can occur at any time of the year, but many people experience exacerbations regularly during the warm season – spring and summer. During this period, plants bloom and bear fruit, it becomes dusty on the street – all this can cause an allergic reaction.

In addition, sometimes allergies acutely make themselves felt in the autumn, because mold and cold can also act as allergens.

What is allergy

Depending on the cause, there are several types of allergies. The main ones:

  • Food – this allergy is caused by food.
  • Household – caused by contact with animals, house dust mites or mold.
  • Pollen – associated with a reaction to pollen.
  • Medicinal – occurs when taking medications.
  • Insect – caused by the stings of insects (mainly wasps and bees).

Respiratory, skin and other allergic reactions

Each type of allergy has its own set of symptoms that occur when exposed to the allergen. All these symptoms are a reason to consult an allergist at the Kutuzovsky Medical Center. There are a lot of potential allergens, and only a specialist will be able to determine what exactly the body produces an inadequate reaction to.

The following groups of allergy symptoms are distinguished, depending on its origin:

  • Respiratory: sneezing, watery nasal discharge, nasal congestion, coughing, hoarseness, wheezing in the chest, feeling short of breath, noisy breathing, difficulty inhaling and/or exhaling. This is how seasonal allergies usually manifest themselves during the flowering period of plants (its other name is hay fever) and angioedema of the larynx.
  • Ocular (signs of conjunctivitis:): redness of the eyes, itching in the eyes, watery eyes.
  • Skin: itching, redness and peeling of the skin, swelling of individual and large areas of the skin.
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms: colic, nausea, stool disturbance and other manifestations. They are usually associated with food allergies.
  • Systemic manifestations: a combination of symptoms from several body systems, such as skin and respiratory, or respiratory and cardiovascular. These manifestations are especially dangerous, so emergency medical care is required. They develop, as a rule, very quickly – up to several minutes after contact with the allergen.
  • Anaphylactic shock: shortness of breath, convulsions, syncope, pressure drop, bronchospasm, sometimes coma. These symptoms are especially dangerous, so urgent medical attention is required. They develop, as a rule, very quickly – within a few minutes after eating or contact with the allergen.

Most common allergens

The causes of allergies are not fully understood, and the reaction can be caused by any, the most unpredictable substances. However, there are a number of irritants that provoke an allergic reaction most often. People with a predisposition to allergies need to be more careful with them and obviously try to avoid contact.

Among the most common allergens:

  • Cat or dog hair;
  • Street and house dust;
  • Mold;
  • pollen;
  • Bee or wasp venom;
  • Washing powder and other household chemicals;
  • Latex;
  • Penicillins and certain other drugs;
  • Dairy products;
  • Eggs;
  • Wheat;
  • Fish;
  • Soy;
  • Nuts;

An allergen is not always a substance. For example, there is a cold allergy, in which the skin reacts with redness and itching to a decrease in air temperature.

Diagnosis: what tests determine the allergen

In order to avoid irritating substances in everyday life and to experience allergic reactions as little as possible, it is important to know the cause of the allergy. The first step in diagnosis is a conversation with a doctor, during which the specialist will collect an anamnesis and suggest several possible irritants. It is important to talk in detail about the symptoms of an allergy and the circumstances in which an allergic reaction usually occurs.

Further, various laboratory tests are carried out in the clinic:

  • Skin tests. They allow you to quickly and safely track the body’s reaction to several different allergens. For testing, samples of substances are applied to the skin – potential irritants, selected in advance. A scarifier can be used to make micro-scratches. Skin tests are safe because they use a negligible amount of each allergen. These tests can be done on both adults and children. Allergy test results can be ready within 20 minutes after the procedure.
  • Application tests. Unlike the classical skin test, in this case the surface of the skin is not damaged. A potential allergen is applied to the skin and covered with a special bandage for a day or more, and then the reaction is evaluated. In this way, it is possible to determine the cause of atopic dermatitis and other skin reactions that occur upon tactile contact with an irritant.
  • Blood test for antibodies. The laboratory measures the amount of specific antibodies that are produced during allergies – specific immunoglobulins class E .. These antibodies are unique for each allergen. Immunoglobulin testing is done instead of skin tests or in addition to them to clarify the results. For the test, a small amount of blood is taken from a vein into a test tube.
  • Provocative tests. In this case, a certain amount of the allergen is injected directly into the human body, the doctor fixes the reaction and helps to quickly stop it. This method of testing is carried out only in a hospital under the supervision of physicians. The advantage of such an analysis is accuracy, because it allows you to determine 100% if there is a reaction to a specific substance. A provocative test is carried out if other diagnostic methods were not informative enough.

In addition, some general clinical tests may be required, for which the doctor will write a referral if necessary.

How allergies are treated

The main principle during the treatment of allergies is to avoid contact with a substance that causes an undesirable reaction. It is important, if possible, not to provoke the immune system to produce antibodies, because each episode of an exacerbation of an allergy is a stress for the body and the risk of a severe reaction. Based on laboratory tests, your healthcare provider will recommend which substances to avoid.

In parallel, the allergist may prescribe:

  • Taking antihistamines – constantly or only when forced into contact with allergens. Such medications significantly alleviate most of the symptoms of allergies.
  • Additional medicines to relieve symptoms. To reduce the manifestations of allergies, individual preparations in the form of ointments, sprays, inhalers may be required.
  • Allergen-specific immunotherapy. This is a modern method of treating allergies, the purpose of which is not just to relieve the symptoms of the disease, but to reduce the body’s susceptibility to a specific irritant. You can compare this method with preventive vaccinations. Its essence is that a dose of an allergen is introduced into the body for a long time, which gradually increases. Immunotherapy is carried out according to a certain scheme for several years and requires patience from the patient: the intensity of the allergic reaction will decrease gradually. Such treatment is prescribed in a situation where the allergen is precisely known.

Book an allergy treatment in Moscow

If you are experiencing symptoms of an allergy for the first time, or if you regularly experience exacerbations, it is advisable to consult an allergist. The doctor will help determine the cause of the allergy, mitigate its manifestations or reduce the body’s sensitivity to the allergen.