Polyvalent allergy

Spring and summer are the most colorful and long-awaited seasons of the year. Nature awakens after the winter cold, the first leaves bloom on the trees, the first flowers blossom. Most people are madly in love with this period. But for some, the arrival of this wonderful time means the appearance of the first symptoms of allergies. Allergic reactions can occur to almost any flowering plant or tree, to house dust and animal waste products, various food products, from citrus fruits to animal products, cosmetic components and medications, as well as sunlight and even frost. If a person suffers from allergic reactions to several types of allergens, then this disease can be called polyvalent allergy. In our article, we will talk about the causes, symptoms, treatment of polyvalent allergies, as well as much more.

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Causes of polyvalent allergy

Allergology is a branch of medicine that studies the mechanisms of occurrence, diagnostic methods and treatment of allergic manifestations. The mechanism of the immune system's response to an allergen is quite complex and has not yet been fully studied. But every year, medicine makes a huge step towards achieving the goal, namely, the development of a universal antiallergic drug. In order to understand how drugs aimed at stopping the manifestations of allergic reactions work, you need to have an idea of the stages of the immune response to an allergen. Clinical manifestations of polyvalent allergies arise after passing through three stages, namely:

• immune stage – when the allergen first enters the blood (and it can be anything), the formation of immunoglobulin antibodies occurs. This process is called sensitization. In this case, the data about the allergen is “recorded” by our body and subsequently this substance will be defined as foreign.
• pathochemical stage – occurs with repeated introduction of the allergen. In this case, antibodies promote the production of potent substances in the body, which lead to clinical manifestations. One of the most important roles in the occurrence of an allergic reaction is played by the biologically active substance – histamine. With subsequent introductions of allergens, the production of histamine increases, and accordingly, clinical manifestations intensify.
• clinical stage – the stage at which clinical manifestations appear. Clinical manifestations may appear almost immediately or within a few hours or even days. Examples of clinical manifestations may include: itching of the skin, mucous membranes, lacrimation, rhinitis, difficulty breathing, asthma attacks, urticaria, Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock.

Scientists are still racking their brains trying to figure out the causes of polyvalent allergies. There are several theories on this subject, namely:

• hereditary predisposition - polyvalent allergy is not a hereditary disease, but an increased likelihood of its occurrence in a child has been noted if both parents suffer from it;
• weakened immunity - polyvalent allergies are more common in people who suffered from frequent illnesses in childhood, the treatment of which was accompanied by taking a large number of antibiotics and other drugs, as well as in people with weakened immunity;
• bad habits – the frequency of polyvalent allergies in patients who smoke and drink alcohol is much higher than in people who lead a healthy lifestyle.

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Symptoms of polyvalent allergy

The symptoms of polyvalent allergy are quite extensive. They depend on the effect of a specific type of allergen on the body. For example, ragweed bloom causes clinical symptoms from the respiratory system, eating food can cause urticaria and Quincke's edema, taking certain medications can cause anaphylactic shock. The speed of manifestation of symptoms of polyvalent allergy can also be different. If the symptoms of an allergic reaction appear immediately or within 10 minutes, then such an allergy can be attributed to an immediate reaction, if within 3-5 hours, then to a delayed reaction, and if the symptoms appear after 2-3 days, then this is a delayed reaction. We will analyze the main symptoms of polyvalent allergy.

Respiratory symptoms

Symptoms of polyvalent allergy from the respiratory system include: rhinitis, difficulty breathing, bronchospasm, asthmatic allergic attacks. The above symptoms can occur due to pollen, dust, animal waste products, some products, household chemicals, some medications, and others. Antiallergic drugs are used to relieve allergic reactions.

Gastrointestinal symptoms

Most often, these symptoms occur after taking products that cause an allergic reaction or medications. Allergic manifestations include: diarrhea, vomiting, discomfort and abdominal pain.

Hives

Urticaria looks like a burn after exposure to nettles on the skin. The skin at the point of contact with the allergen turns red, swells and becomes covered with blisters filled with liquid. Urticaria can occur as a symptom when the skin is exposed to such allergens as household chemicals, some types of plants, and some types of medications. The symptoms of urticaria are relieved quite easily with the help of antihistamines (tablets, ointments).

Quincke's edema

One of the dangerous symptoms of polyvalent allergy is Quincke's edema. It is especially dangerous if it spreads to the neck area. When an immediate allergic reaction and Quincke's edema are combined, death may occur due to respiratory failure and subsequent asphyxia. Therefore, if Quincke's edema is suspected, an ambulance should be called immediately. This symptom can be provoked by taking certain medications, food products, as well as strong exposure to an inhaled allergen (pollen, dust, animal waste products).

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Anaphylactic shock

The most dangerous symptom of polyvalent allergy is anaphylactic shock. It occurs most often as a result of ingesting an allergen. This can be either medications or food products. Anaphylactic shock is characterized by a sharp deterioration in the condition, difficulty breathing, convulsions, loss of consciousness, and a sharp drop in blood pressure. If urgent medical care is not provided in this condition, a fatal outcome is possible, so if you suspect anaphylactic shock, you must immediately call an ambulance.

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Polyvalent drug allergy

Recently, polyvalent drug allergy has become very common. The probable cause of this is uncontrolled and incorrect use of drugs throughout life, poor ecology, bad habits, lack of a healthy lifestyle, and much more. Polyvalent drug allergy is very dangerous, since sometimes in emergency situations it is not possible to check sensitivity to a particular drug. This can lead to such serious consequences as Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock. Most often, an allergic reaction occurs to local anesthetics and some types of antibiotics, but recently hypersensitivity even to iodine and brilliant green preparations has become more and more common.

Food polyvalent allergy

Polyvalent food allergies can be caused by a specific type of food or by chemicals in the product. The most common food products that cause allergic reactions include:

• nuts - namely peanuts. Even a minimal amount of this product can cause such a severe consequence as anaphylactic shock;
• seafood - especially exotic. Shrimp, tropical fish, red caviar and other products may contain dyes, antibiotics and other harmful substances that can cause polyvalent allergies;
• chicken eggs and meat - chicken protein causes an allergic reaction, but it has been noted that if a patient has an intolerance to chicken protein, then most likely there will also be an intolerance to chicken meat;
• strawberries and wild strawberries - surprisingly, these products, or rather their seeds, can cause quite severe allergies.
• citrus fruits, as well as exotic fruits - due to the lack of their growth in our latitudes, they can be quite a strong allergen;
• some types of cereals (semolina, corn, barley, rye) - due to the presence of a substance called gluten;
• Honey is a very healthy, but also very allergenic product, especially for patients with polyvalent allergies due to the presence of a large amount of pollen in it.

Dyes, preservatives, flavorings and other chemical components can also be allergens in food products.

Signs of polyvalent food allergy may include upset stomach, abdominal pain, itchy rashes on the body, Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock. Often, children with allergies "outgrow" food allergies by adolescence, but there are cases when a particular product remains an allergen for life.

Patients with polyvalent food allergies need to strictly monitor their diet, and in particular read the composition of food products in order to avoid negative consequences.

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Diagnosis of polyvalent allergy

Most often, patients with polyvalent allergies make a list of allergens themselves, since it is quite difficult to conduct a complete examination to exclude all substances. But it is necessary to learn as much as possible about the substances that cause an immune reaction. How can this be done? There are two methods for determining allergens, namely: skin tests and blood tests for antibodies. In skin tests, a small amount of the allergen is applied to the skin or under the skin. Wait for some time, after which a reaction (redness) should be visible. Some allergens cannot be applied to the skin, so a blood test for antibodies to them (IgG, IgE) is used. The principle of this analysis is based on the determination of specific immunoglobulins in the blood. When examining a general blood test for polyvalent allergies, a significant increase in eosinophils (allergy markers) is detected. When conducting all studies, antihistamines should be discontinued.

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Treatment of polyvalent allergies

Treatment of polyvalent allergies is carried out in a complex manner. On the one hand, the patient, if possible, excludes the interaction of the allergen with the body, on the other hand, the allergist prescribes the intake of special drugs aimed at blocking the receptors that release the biologically active substance - histamine. Antihistamines may differ in the principle of action (some act instantly, but for a short time, others act for a long time, but slowly). Accordingly, for different clinical manifestations, different antihistamines are used. For example, for anaphylactic shock and Quincke's edema, fast-acting first-generation drugs are prescribed, namely diphenhydramine, pipolfen, suprastin and others. They will quickly relieve the clinical symptoms of allergy, but have a lot of side effects, which include inhibition of the central nervous system. Second-generation antihistamines have fewer side effects. Therefore, they can be prescribed for a long time. These include terfenadine, astemizole, loratadine, cetirizine and others. But these drugs also have a number of side effects, namely, a toxic effect on the liver and kidneys has been identified when they are used, so they are contraindicated for people with diseases of these organs. The newest and most advanced antihistamines are the third generation, which include the drug Telfast. It is a natural metabolite of second-generation drugs and has virtually no side effects.

Antihistamines are relatively contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding. They can be taken if their benefit to the mother is greater than the likely harm to the child. Antihistamines should be taken strictly as prescribed by a doctor, and be sure to read the instructions beforehand.

In folk medicine sources, you can find treatment for polyvalent allergies using medicinal herbs. Traditional allergists do not approve of this approach, since sometimes the use of certain substances can aggravate the severity of allergic reactions. However, to combat polyvalent allergies with folk medicine, tinctures of chamomile, black elderberry, blue cornflower, marshmallow root, datura, red clover flowers and others are actively used. To combat skin manifestations of allergic reactions, honey, sunflower oil, onion and garlic juice, aloe leaves, peppermint and other products are used.

Prevention of polyvalent allergies

Unfortunately, there is no prevention of polyvalent allergy as such. But there are factors that can aggravate the condition. Therefore, to avoid negative consequences, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle, strengthen your immune system and, of course, avoid contact with already known allergens. When providing medical care, you must warn the medical staff about the presence of an allergy to a particular drug, carefully study the composition of products when buying and use new products with caution.