Cold allergy

As the name suggests, cold allergy is the result of a negative response of the body to cold temperatures. Rarely is an allergic reaction associated with the effect of cold. The manifestation of cold allergy is absolutely no different from any skin allergic reaction, all the same signs of urticaria or dermatitis. Cold, only acts as the main allergen, and therefore, the picture of the course of cold allergy is the same as other types, although with some of its own features, which are below.

The development of the first signs can begin immediately, after contact with a cold environment, or it can be delayed, that is, it can occur several hours later, when a person is already in a warm room. Cold allergy has been identified as an independent type quite recently; before that, it was included in the general number of allergic reactions with the manifestation of skin symptoms. Then came the period when allergies began to be divided by the main type of allergen. Including: food, temperature, medicinal, seasonal and other types of main allergens.

What are the symptoms of cold allergy?

Symptoms of cold allergy are considered to be mainly external changes in the skin, such as: redness, like urticaria, burning, itching and rash. Swelling of the skin and mucous membranes can be expressed more or less. Cold allergy can occur without swelling, but very rarely. Swelling of the mucous membranes of the nose is mainly observed, due to which nasal breathing is either difficult or completely absent. Irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyes leads to increased lacrimation, strong dilation of blood vessels, due to which the eyeballs have pronounced vascular veins. The general color of the mucous membrane of the eyes acquires a reddish tint.

It is important to note the fact that the manifestation of all symptoms stops either immediately after the elimination of the main allergen, or after a few hours, and without special therapeutic methods. This is what distinguishes cold allergy from all other types. It is enough to warm a person up, give him a cup of hot tea to drink, and there will be no trace of the allergy. However, all this will help only if there is absolute certainty that the allergy is caused by cold.

If a person has a strong predisposition to various allergies, then cold allergy will proceed with complex-combined symptoms that can cause severe intoxication of the body, the signs of which will be attacks of nausea, sometimes turning into vomiting, high body temperature. In such situations, you need to be prepared for the fact that the swelling of the mucous membranes will not be limited to the nasopharynx. With a violent onset, bronchospasm may develop, which is dangerous not so much because of an attack of bronchial asthma, but because of swelling of the entire larynx, leading to respiratory arrest. This type of swelling is usually called Quincke's edema, after the name of the doctor who first described the mechanism of development of this pathology, which at that time was called "giant urticaria".

How is cold allergy treated?

Definitely, treatment should be started without fail, at any signs of allergic reactions. But it is not specific symptoms that need to be treated, but a competent and comprehensive approach to the analysis of the situation, to find out the reasons why the body decided to respond in this way, violently, to the interference of negative factors from the outside. If cold allergy occurs more than once, has a pronounced seasonality or recurs every time it meets its provocateur, this can become a clear signal that the body's defenses are weak, and urgent support for immunity is required. Before starting active actions, it is necessary to eliminate all negative internal factors, which may be chronic diseases and foci of pustular infection.

To successfully solve all the problems, you should visit such doctors as a therapist and an allergist. Each of the specialists will prescribe a set of diagnostic and laboratory tests that are appropriate and necessary for this particular case. Based on the data obtained, further actions will be coordinated and aimed at achieving complete recovery.

Drug therapy is fully consistent with the principle of treating all types of allergies. The use of ointments based on corticosteroids to relieve skin reactions, oral administration of antihistamines and sorbents, drugs that improve digestion and thus facilitate the rapid removal of all toxic substances from the body that have formed there as a result of metabolic processes. Increasing daily fluid intake to two liters in order to purify the blood and enhance the therapeutic effect of taking medications.

How to prevent cold allergy?

Since cold allergy manifests itself only when in contact with a cold environment, you can adapt to the conditions of external factors in such a way that encountering unpleasant manifestations of this disease will be minimally likely. Even in the cold season, there are ways to avoid manifestations of such a condition as cold allergy. Dress in warm clothes made of natural fabrics or special synthetics designed for extreme climatic conditions. Have a thermos with a hot drink on hand. As already mentioned, a mug of hot tea is enough to relieve signs of rhinitis and reduce the manifestation of all symptoms of urticaria caused by cold.

Cold allergy, with the right approach to its prevention and timely support of the body's defenses, can leave your life forever.