Household allergies or allergies to household chemicals

Increasingly, household allergies are encountered in the modern world as a price for increasing comfort, saturation of the environment with various chemical compounds, changes in the quality of nutrition and, as a consequence, an ever-increasing number of failures in the immune system. The very concept of household allergies appeared relatively recently. As a rule, the first type of allergy in a person's life is food allergy.

Further, with the development of the general state of allergization, other types of allergies appear. If the patient is constantly accompanied by respiratory manifestations of allergy, which do not weaken in the winter period and after a year the patient could not tie the state of improvement or worsening of the course of the disease to the time of year, one should suspect household allergy.

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Causes of household allergies

The causes of household allergies have not been fully studied and each patient may have individual allergen triggers, but there are several common causes of household allergies. The main causes of household allergies are rooted in the hereditary imperfection of the individual's immune system. However, among the provoking factors in the development of the disease, the first place goes to household dust mites (the insects themselves and the products of their vital activity), household chemicals, mold fungi (especially mold spores), and the saturation of the environment with various chemical elements (due to repairs, smoking, living in ecologically polluted areas).

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Symptoms of allergy to household chemicals

The easiest to diagnose is an allergy to household chemicals. This type of allergy is a contact allergy and, as a rule, the symptoms disappear after contact with the allergen ceases. Allergy to household chemicals is diagnosed all over the world and is a natural immune response to aggressive components. The appearance of an allergy to chemicals indicates that the components penetrate the protective barrier (skin, mucous membranes of the eyes, nose) and enter the bloodstream, where they meet with immune cells. If you are predisposed to allergic reactions, you should sometimes replace aggressive chemicals with traditional ones that do not cause such reactions. For example, soda, vinegar, salt can successfully compete with liquid dishwashing detergents.

Actually, it is impossible not to notice the symptoms of allergy to household chemicals. They manifest themselves in the form of lacrimation, rhinitis (runny nose), asthma attacks or coughing, but the most common is dermatitis. Dermatitis after contact with an allergen manifests itself in the form of local, clearly defined hyperemic (reddened) areas with or without itching in places of contact with the allergen, often with an increase in temperature in the affected areas. Also, symptoms of allergy to household chemicals can manifest themselves in the form of a rash all over the body. The development of bronchospasm is likely (up to the stage of bronchial asthma formation). When making a diagnosis, it is necessary to take into account the probable overlap of several allergenic factors and the principle of accumulation during the immune response, i.e. during the initial contact with the future allergen, the immune response may be insignificant or absent, only later, with constant contacts and the readiness of the immune system to respond, the “stimulus-response” process will be fast and clear.

The most common type of household allergy after allergy to chemicals is allergy to household dust. Actually, it is not dust that acts as an allergen, but mites that live in the house and the products of their vital activity. Mites feed on the smallest organic remains, such as particles of dandruff, human or pet skin. There are especially many of them in such dark and warm places as pillow and blanket fillers, feather beds and upholstery of upholstered furniture. In this case, the manifestations of the allergy are intensified by contact with bedding, sofas and armchairs, books, blankets. The products of the vital activity of mites are negligible (remains of the shell of dead individuals, feces) and easily fill the air with the slightest movement.

Treatment of allergies to household chemicals

If a household allergy is suspected, allergy tests are carried out, and if the result is positive (detection of an allergy to dust, mold, household chemicals), the allergist prescribes treatment for household allergies, which consists of drug support and a change in the patient's lifestyle. If modern drugs easily give the stated result with drug treatment (relief from rhinitis, lacrimation, sneezing and coughing, relief from spasm of the respiratory muscles), then a change in the style and rhythm of life is developed with considerable difficulty. The patient is required to self-control and self-analysis of his condition, since taking medications is usually symptomatic. Only in the case of severe bronchial asthma is medication taken constantly, regardless of the presence of attacks. The patient must adhere to the daily routine, if possible, play sports, since the rhythm of sleep and wakefulness, food intake and physical activity has a beneficial effect on the general physical and mental state, which, in turn, has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the immune system. To alleviate the condition of allergies, antihistamines are used (loratadine, zodak), and folk remedies in the form of tinctures of dandelion roots with burdock root (infuse crushed plant rhizomes overnight, boil for 10 minutes in the morning and take half a glass before meals 5 times a day. Brew 2 tablespoons of rhizomes in 3 glasses of water), peppermint tincture (brew 10 grams of mint with half a glass of boiling water and leave for half an hour. Take a tablespoon three times a day) also help. Pharmaceutical drugs and folk methods are selected individually, after a comprehensive examination and under the supervision of specialists.

Basically, treatment of allergy to household chemicals consists of stopping contact with the allergen. It is necessary to exclude not only various chemical detergents used "manually", but also to take into account the fact that modern automatic washing machines may not completely rinse out powder particles from fabrics during washing. To improve the patient's condition during the process of fading of the immune response, antihistamines are prescribed (tablets or syrups). Previously popular suprastin and tavegil had a wide list of contraindications, currently used drugs such as zodak, edem, claritin have minor side effects. It should be remembered that complete extinction of the immune reaction occurs on the 21-28th day after its bright manifestation. These terms should be observed when conducting allergy tests. All drugs aimed at reducing the manifestations of allergies are symptomatic in nature, i.e. they cannot prevent the production of specific and non-specific immune bodies due to the reaction to the allergen.

Particular attention should be paid to planning methods for combating allergies. What to do with household allergies if contact with everyday life cannot be avoided? It is imperative to reduce the number of things that can trap dust. Replace all feather and cotton products with products that can be washed or otherwise regularly treated. Remove carpets, curtains, and blankets. Regularly carry out wet cleaning, which is facilitated by a vacuum cleaner with a water filter. If the allergy sufferer does the cleaning himself, it is imperative to use a gauze bandage (respirator, any analogues), and also monitor the places where fungus (mold) appears and constantly disinfect the places where spores appear (places of darkening, black plaque). If allergy symptoms appear, it is necessary to take antihistamines.

The most difficult to correct in organizational terms is household allergies in children. Very often it is necessary to isolate the child even from soft toys, terry clothes, woolen products, constantly carry out thorough wet cleaning in the children's room. To maintain cleanliness, chemical reagents cannot be used, it is also necessary to monitor the quality of powders for children's clothes and the reaction of the child's body to them. If the level of air pollution does not allow constant ventilation of the room and parents use an air conditioner or air filters (as well as humidifiers), it is necessary to remember about their timely prevention and complete cleaning of filters. Mold fungi multiplying in coolers can cause severe allergic reactions.

Prevention of household allergies

In fact, prevention of household allergies consists of constant and thorough elimination of allergens. In the presence of household allergies, the patient should analyze the state of the environment. If the patient gets into an environment saturated with potential allergens, he should take antihistamines and leave the room (object). For example, going to visit someone should be carefully planned, since the environment in the room can be extremely unfavorable for an allergy sufferer. Even a small amount of fungus (mold) in the bathroom, where guests wash their hands, can lead to a serious exacerbation of the disease, since mold spores easily spread throughout the bathroom, populate the air (getting into the lungs), towels (getting on hands, later, with food, into the stomach), and the powder itself, with which the towel was washed, can pose a potential threat. It should also be remembered that in the bathroom, in the toilet, supplies of household chemicals for the home are usually stored, which often leads to their slight evaporation in the space of closed damp rooms. Smokers and people who use strong-smelling perfumes are especially dangerous for allergy sufferers.