Cold Allergy

Low ambient temperatures, as usual, are associated with a high likelihood of the appearance of colds. It is with this cause-effect relationship, an allergy to cold, is perceived as a symptomatic manifestation of cold or viral diseases - rhinitis, conjunctivitis, urticaria. However, there is one significant difference - the symptoms of cold allergy pass almost immediately after the cessation of cold temperatures, and colds continue to manifest themselves regardless of the temperature of the air or water.

Allergy, from the end of the last century, occupies one of the leading positions among the most frequent diseases that occur in people in different age periods. A large number of allergens that can provoke a human organism to stormy responses, sometimes complicates the precise determination of the true cause of an allergic reaction. For a long time, low temperatures in no way could be reconciled with the appearance of allergic reactions, and in fact an allergy to cold occurs quite often.

Why is there a cold allergy?

It is impossible to predict all possible reactions that may occur to the action of certain external factors, in an organism in which all protective functions are weakened. Allergy to cold, like any other type of allergy, develops for reasons of weakening the immune system, chronic disorders in the gastrointestinal tract, thyroid gland. The presence in the body of small foci of infection, which has a small but constant impact, for example, carious areas in the teeth, chronic, often and reluctantly recurring cholecystitis or pyelonephritis, can become an excellent platform for joining, in the future, allergic reactions.

To the reasons, in the presence of which it is possible to suspect with a high degree of predisposition the organism to allergies, in particular to such a state as allergy to cold, include vascular diseases, problems with the heart muscle, the presence in the anamnesis of acute virus infections, such as lupus erythematosus. Frequent interaction with chemicals, in the domestic environment, includes various cleaning and washing agents - open areas of the body, especially the skin of the hands, become incredibly sensitive to strong irritants, including low temperatures of air and water.

Symptoms of cold allergy

Allergy to cold has similar symptoms with many diseases of infectious etiology. In connection with this factor, several types of allergies are distinguished, which proceed according to the principle:

• urticaria;
• conjunctivitis;
• rhinitis;
• dermatitis.

Allergic cold urticaria is more common than other manifestations of cold allergy. Under the influence of cold, open areas of the body: hands, face, neck, - begin to become covered with reddish spots and slightly itch. Rapid attachment of the itch promotes strong combs and the appearance of blisters. Blisters are single, in severe cases are prone to fusion, the skin, all over the affected areas, is strongly hyperemic. Similarity with the nettle burn resulted in the birth of the name of this symptomatic manifestation of an allergic reaction.

Allergy to cold, flowing on the principle of urticaria, passes, after the cessation of the effect of low temperatures, for several hours. In severe cases, in the presence of serious concomitant diseases, an allergic reaction to cold should be treated according to the basic principle provided for all types of allergies.

Allergic cold dermatitis differs from cold urticaria in that instead of blisters there is a small rash and severe peeling of the skin.

Manifestations of signs of conjunctivitis and rhinitis, arising only in cases of being in frosty air or in cold water, and trailless after passing to heat, - clearly indicates the cold nature of the origin of the allergic reaction.

Let's consider an example. When swimming in an open, water body, where the water temperature is below a comfortable level, or when a cold shower is taken, the eye whites become red, there is a profuse lacrimation accompanied by a sharp cut in the eyes. From the nose runs water, or vice versa, nasal breathing is difficult due to its congestion. There are signs of development and conjunctivitis, and rhinitis simultaneously. But, after a man drank a cup of tea and put on warm underwear, all the unpleasant symptoms went by themselves. After a while, the same water procedure repeats with the immediate appearance of all the above-described symptoms. An attentive person can quickly reconcile all the facts together and independently diagnose - an allergy to cold.

How is the cold allergy recognized?

One of the most accessible diagnostic methods that can confirm or disprove the assumption of the cold nature of allergies is a skin reaction to a piece of ice. This method can be used at home, there will be no harm from it. You need a small piece of ice, which should be applied to the skin area and hold it until it melts completely. It is desirable to limit the waiting period to fifteen minutes. If during the experiment on the area of the skin that was exposed to cold, signs of an allergic reaction began to appear, such as: severe reddening, with a rash or blisters, severe itching, burning, in which case the cold allergy is obvious and is considered confirmed.

Do not regard this method of diagnosis as the only true one. There are cases when a piece of ice did not get a positive result, and cryo proteins, cryo antibodies, confirming a predisposition to cold allergy were found in the blood test. If you are suspected of an allergic predisposition, you should contact the allergist, and go through the full range of all available diagnostic methods.