Allergies: Species and Forms

Allergy types and forms are diverse. Given that over the past decades, allergic diseases have become a real threat to human health, an epidemic, a variety of forms, clinical symptoms knows no boundaries.

Conditionally allergists divide this disease into three large categories, which in turn are divided into species and subspecies.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5]

Medicinal allergy

Drug allergies, the types of which have been studied quite well. This species is named so because the main provocateur of an allergic reaction are medications. Drug allergy has developed so rapidly over the last century that sometimes scientists already doubt the advisability of developing new and more perfect forms and types of medicines. The immune system reacts to them also roughly, with the same intensity and speed with which they appear on the pharmaceutical market.

The pathogenesis of a medicinal species of an allergy is directly related to the mechanism of the immune system response to complete antigens or to haptens - incomplete antigens. Any of the antigens binds to the protein and forms a circulating immune complex. They, in turn, provoke allergic pathologies, quite serious, such as, for example, bronchial asthma. The main role is played by the allergenic activity of the drug, to a lesser extent its dose and method of administration (oral, external, injective) is important. Especially distinguished in the sense of provocation of allergic reactions antibiotics of all classes and generations. Reactions to medicines are often group, cross, they depend on the chemical composition and pharmacodynamics of the drug.

The medicinal kind of allergy is observed even in newborn babies if the mother suffered from allergies during child bearing or had constant contact with a drug that caused a periodic allergic reaction. The clinical picture of a medicinal species of an allergy can not be unified, since it depends on the severity of the disease. If the body is affected by several types of allergens (this can be a combination of food and drug antigens), then the symptomatology is evident and fraught with serious consequences up to anaphylactic shock. Diagnosis includes the collection of anamnesis, in vitro laboratory tests, but skin tests are not recommended. Preventive measures are the doctor's attentive attitude to anamnestic information. In the presence of allergic manifestations in the past, care should be taken in planning and selecting drug therapy taking into account possible risks. Also, all patients should be informed of possible side effects after taking medications and ways to neutralize them.

Atopic allergy

Allergy species is diverse and manifests itself not only as a runny nose or asphyxiation, but dermally, that is, on the skin.

Atopic allergic dermatitis is a dull chronic disease, accompanied by periodic exacerbations. The etiology of many subspecies of allergic dermatoses has not been fully studied, but almost all atopic dermatitis is provoked, as a rule, external allergic antigen. Dermatitis can start in early childhood, it is often called diathesis exudative-catarrhal, less often eczema and neurodermatitis. Pediatricians explain allergic dermatitis in children with heredity, and indeed the statistics partially confirm this opinion. If the parents observed even a single case of an allergic reaction, then most likely the child will have a corresponding immune response to allergic antigens. Up to 80% of children inherit allergies in the event that both parents are allergic. In addition to the hereditary version, there are also environmental factors. Any risk factors, such as smoking a future mother, drinking alcohol and other unhealthy habits, can subsequently have a disastrous effect on the health of the baby. Also, the risk factors for the development of allergic dermatitis in children can be infectious, viral diseases of parents and various pathologies that accompany the period of pregnancy. Drug therapy during pregnancy greatly increases the risk factors for the occurrence of allergies in children, in addition, the seemingly non-serious violations of the regime and nutrition of the mother, can seriously affect the allergic status of the child who is in the womb subjected to the invasion of food allergens. As a rule, in such cases the baby suffers not only atopic dermatitis, but also enteral form of allergy.

In adults, the allergy, the types of which can be attributed to atopic dermatitis, can be caused by the following reasons: 

• Pollen of plants and the use of berries, fruits (especially stone); 
• Chlorinated water; 
• Cosmetics, creams, household chemicals; 
• Linen, including bedclothes, clothing made of synthetic materials; 
• Products containing fluff, feathers, carpet products; 
• Dust of all kinds - household, industrial, natural; 
• Contact with animals, including domestic animals; 
• Helminthiasis, lamblia.

Atopic dermatitis is treated hard and long, but subject to strict adherence to the recommendations of the doctor, the disease can be controlled and minimized its manifestations.

[6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11]

Respiratory Allergies

Does not exclude allergy types and respiratory. This allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, hay fever, hives. The most severe consequence of chronic respiratory allergy is bronchial asthma. Respiratory types can be permanent or seasonal. Seasonal allergies are directly related to the season and antigen, it is easier to calculate it. It is, as a rule, pollen of flowering plants, grasses. Constant respiratory allergy is diagnosed more difficult, and is treated also. Therefore, with the first symptoms of respiratory allergies, which are very similar to the classic symptomatology of respiratory diseases, but do not lend themselves to standard treatment, one should consult an allergist.

Food allergy

Includes allergic food types, which manifest symptoms, similar to other types of allergies. Edema, nausea, suffocation, epigastric pain, hyperemia, dermatitis, upset of the stool - this is an incomplete list of signs of reactions to a food allergen. The only way to differentiate this kind of allergy is skin tests, a RAST (radioallergosorbent test) test or an immunoenzymaticogram. Food intolerance is treated first of all by an exception provoking reaction of products, observance of a specific diet and reception of a course of antihistamines by appointment of the doctor.

Allergy species demonstrates a variety of, often allergies are cross-linked, connecting several species - food together with respiratory. In any case, differential diagnosis is the work of an allergist, as well as drawing up a plan for therapeutic measures. Self-medication for any kind of allergy is unacceptable, because it is fraught with dangerous for health, and sometimes for life consequences.

[12], [13], [14]