Treatment of cold allergies

Treatment of cold allergies depends on the stage in which the response of immunity to the effects of temperature changes in the environment.

The stages of a standard allergic reaction can be as follows: 

• I stage of an allergy is immunological. The body first encounters an allergen, begins sensitization, that is, the production of antibodies.
• II stage of allergy - the formation of biologically active components - mediators involved in the immune response - acetylcholine, histamine, serotonin, heparin. Mediators provoke the expansion of blood vessels and cause flushing (reddening) of the skin.
• III stage of allergy - obvious signs of an allergic reaction in the form of widespread or localized rash, puffiness, up to Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock.

Cold allergy, the treatment of which differs from the therapy of other types of allergic reactions, is characterized by the fact that it always lacks the first stage, that is, the stage of sensitization. The cold effect immediately provokes the appearance of allergic mediators, most often histamine. Allergy to cold (meteoria) develops in people who have obvious or hidden diseases of internal organs, for example, chronic tonsillitis or pyelonephritis.

Treatment of cold allergies, first of all, is aimed at eliminating symptoms that can be the following: 

1. Cold urticaria manifests itself in the form of itching and rash on the skin. The rash, in turn, is quite specific - the skin is covered with small blisters. Urticaria most often appears 5-10 minutes after the interaction of a supercooled organism with heat, that is, not the cold itself, but after a person enters a warm room. In the cold air, the vascular system reflexively reflexes, slows down its work, under warm conditions, the vessels overreact. Also, urticaria can be triggered by specific proteins that activate their function when interacting with the cold. Microbiologists detected this protein and named it cryoglobulin. When hypothermia sensitive proteins seem to stick together and begin to secrete anaphylotoxin, which with the bloodstream gets into the skin. Urticaria can provoke both a cold air temperature (frost), and cold water and even washing dishes or drinking cold drinks. The rash is most often localized on the face and hands, less often on the feet and inner thighs. A characteristic feature of cold urticaria is puffiness near the eyes or near the mouth. Treatment of cold allergies consists in simply moving a person to a warmer place, even if there are rashes. You should also change into warmer, dry clothes made of cotton and drink a hot drink - tea, a decoction of herbs. If the allergic reaction does not pass, you can take the simplest, over-the-counter antihistamine - Claritin, Diazolin, Zodak. Also shown is the use of drugs that activate peripheral blood circulation, vitamins PP, C, A, E. Diagnosed cold urticaria with an original test, named for its creator - Duncan-test. A small piece of ice is brought to the human skin, checking how the skin will react. If small blisters appear in the zone of local cooling, a cold allergy is diagnosed, the treatment of which is selected individually. 
2. Allergic rhinitis, which is considered to be pseudoallergic in weathering. This kind of rhinitis is provoked only by cold exposure. Cold allergy treatment involves in such cases the standard - vasoconstrictive nasal drops before going out. Drops will not relieve the rhinitis completely, but significantly reduce the amount of mucous discharge. Also allergists advise in preventive purposes to carry out acupressure of biologically active points of the face. 
3. Cold dermatitis, which is characterized by the appearance of quite large reddish spots throughout the body. Obviously, the release of histamine disrupts the nutrition of the skin and develops dermatitis. Most often patches cover the cold areas of the body - the face, arms, neck, less often cold dermatitis is seen on the back or stomach. A characteristic feature of these manifestations is the fact that in the warmth the spots do not disappear, but on the contrary become more pronounced. The skin dries up, flakes off, blisters appear. Treatment of a cold allergy of this type is carried out by an allergist and dermatologist. As a rule, corticosteroids are prescribed both in tablet form and in the form of ointments. Clothing should only be made of natural materials, preferably free cut. Showing baths with the addition of decoction of celandine, chamomile, string. Antihistamines are usually prescribed at the initial stage of treatment, but they are ineffective. 
4. Allergic cold cheilitis or inflammation of the lips. The edges of the lips are strongly hyperemic, itch, sometimes covered with small vesicles. Treatment of cold allergies in such manifestations can consist both in taking antihistamines, and in applying special hygienic creams, which are called cryocreams. If cheilitis is accompanied by a bacterial infection, which is not uncommon, since allergic papules often burst and become infected, local antibiotic therapy is performed. The so-called "zaeda" is more a manifestation of a herpetic infection than a cold allergy, respectively, and they require a different treatment - immunomodulating. 
5. Allergic conjunctivitis, which is called pseudoallergic in weathering. In the cold, the eyes are very watery, since the cold provokes narrowing of the sensitive nasolacrimal canal. Physiologically, a certain amount of mucous secretion is constantly produced in the nasopharynx, in case of a cold allergy, it is not able to penetrate into the proper place - the nasopharynx, but flows through the eyelids in the eyes. Treatment of cold allergy, which is manifested by conjunctivitis is not carried out with the help of standard vasoconstrictive ophthalmic drops, they can only exacerbate the symptoms. The simplest means = to leave the cold territory and move to a warm room, in heat, tearing soon ceases. Also, if there is any weather, you should not use eye makeup and, if possible, do not wear contact lenses. Lenses on an inflamed eyeball can cause real conjunctivitis or inflammation of the cornea. Help sun glasses or glasses with a UV filter. 
6. Cold allergies can manifest in the form of symptoms similar to those of migraine. Cold migraine or pseudohypermia is characterized not just by the headache, but also by the feeling of frozen jaws - they literally "reduce" from the cold. If you do not take timely measures and cold allergy treatment does not get, a person can become infected with the trigeminal nerve. In addition to antihistamines, common sense is necessary, which suggests that when you go out into the cold, you need to take care of the warm head covering, preferably covering the ears. Also on cold air it is not necessary to use chilled drinks, ice cream. 
7. Dyspnea and respiratory spasm. Cold allergy, indeed, can cause bronchospasm, in which the airways are severely sharply, actively narrowing. Such hyperreactivity of the bronchial tree often indicates the onset of bronchial asthma. Treatment of cold allergies, which is accompanied by respiratory disorders, should be performed in a complex manner at the pulmonologist and allergist. Independent precautionary measures consist in covering the nose and mouth with a warm scarf, breathing in the cold follows only the nose.

Cold allergy treatment involves a fairly long, it all depends on how timely a person turns to a doctor. In addition, the etiology of cold allergy is still being clarified, just a few years ago such a diagnosis was not raised at all, since meta-allergy is not provoked by a specific allergen. The most common cold allergy affects women, the first signs of the disease can occur at a young age - from 20 to 25 years. Cold allergy is treated throughout the cold season, and a gentle hypoallergenic diet that excludes from the menu all citrus, fried, sharp or smoked dishes, red wine, hard cheeses, nuts, eggs is shown. Cold allergy, the treatment of which does not have a universal standard scheme, is extremely insidious and its manifestations can constantly change. It is believed that such a type of allergy may be in people with reduced immunity, so it is not superfluous to conduct immunomodulatory therapy. Also progressive method is autolymphocytotherapy or autohemotherapy. With lymphocytotherapy, specially treated lymphocytes obtained from the patient's blood are found in the body. The treated lymphocytes can not only reduce the intensity of allergic reactions, but also in principle teach the body to adequately perceive the cold effect. The course of autolymphocytotherapy takes place within a month, then three months later it must be repeated.