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Respiratory allergies

Alexey Kryvenko, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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Respiratory allergies is a collective term that includes allergic diseases of the upper respiratory tract (minor forms of respiratory allergies), bronchial asthma and rarer diseases of allergic etiology: exogenous allergic alveolitis, allergic pneumonia, eosinophilic pulmonary infiltrate.

Allergic diseases of the upper respiratory tract ("Minor" forms of respiratory allergies)

Causes of respiratory allergies. In respiratory allergies, inhalation sensitization with various exogenous allergens occurs predominantly.

Household allergens occupy a leading place in the formation of respiratory allergies.

House dust is multicomponent in composition. It includes allergens of house dust mites, epidermal, fungal, bacterial, chemical allergens.

A child with respiratory allergy may have hypersensitivity to both the complex allergen house dust and its individual components.

The main part of house dust consists of allergens of insect fauna of the house: chitinous shell, secretions and excrements of house dust mites (D. pteronyssimus, D. farinae, D. microceras, Euroglyphus mainae), cockroaches (Blattella germanica, Blattella orintalis). Many mites are found in carpets, upholstery fabrics, bedding, soft toys and furniture. The best conditions for reproduction of mites are a temperature of 22-26 °C and a relative humidity of more than 55%.

Pollen allergens.

The high frequency of fungal sensitization in allergic diseases of the respiratory tract is explained by the widespread occurrence of mold fungi in nature. Their spores are smaller in size than pollen and are carried over long distances. The concentration of fungal aeroallergens is especially high in regions with high humidity.

Food allergens play a lesser role in the etiology of respiratory allergies than inhalation allergens, but their role in the formation and course of both minor forms of allergies (allergic rhinitis, recurrent laryngitis) and bronchial asthma, exogenous allergic alveolitis is well known.

Causes of respiratory allergies

Symptoms of respiratory allergies.

Seasonality of allergic rhinitis depends on the spectrum of sensitization

in case of household sensitization, clinical manifestations are observed all year round with an increase in the autumn-winter period;
In case of pollen sensitization there is a distinct seasonality of exacerbations.

Allergic rhinitis in children is usually combined with sinusitis (pain on palpation at the point of exit of the trigeminal nerve, symmetrical darkening with uneven contours on the radiograph), eustachitis, adenoid hyperplasia, otitis and other lesions of the upper respiratory tract.

Symptoms of respiratory allergies

Diagnosis of respiratory allergies. Differential diagnosis of upper respiratory tract diseases of allergic and infectious etiology presents certain difficulties.

Diagnosis of minor forms of respiratory allergies is based on the assessment of the listed clinical manifestations, analysis of the allergological anamnesis and the results of an allergological examination, the methods of which are discussed in the section on the diagnosis of bronchial asthma in children.

Treatment. In all forms of respiratory allergy, it is necessary to strive for maximum separation from the causative allergen (see Treatment and prevention of hay fever ).

In case of exacerbation of allergic disease of the upper respiratory tract, children are prescribed antihistamines of the 1st (tavegil, suprastin, diazolin, fenkarol), 2nd (zirtek, claritin, semprex, histalong, kestin) or 3rd generation (telfast). In case of severe nasal congestion, it is necessary to prescribe decongestants with sympathomimetic action (galazolin). Treatment with these drugs is carried out for up to 5-7 days, since their longer use is fraught with the development of the "rebound" syndrome, manifested in an increase in the swelling of the nasal mucosa. New vasoconstrictors (otrivin, afrin, xymelin, nazivin, tizin) are not so aggressive, however, their use for more than 2-3 weeks is undesirable for the same reasons. Combined drugs with decongestant and antihistamine activity (antistin-privin, rinopront, klarinase) are effective. The use of antihistamines locally (intranasally) is indicated: allergodil, histimed.

Treatment of respiratory allergies

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