Allergy: signs and symptoms

Allergy symptoms are common and individual. Perhaps the species diversity of the clinical manifestations of the allergy is due to the spread of the disease itself, the scale of which is becoming truly threatening. The disease of the XXI century today affects every fifth inhabitant of our planet, at least, according to statistics. Allergic rhinitis and itching, skin allergen skin dermatitis are the most common signs of an allergic reaction. Next on the list are shortness of breath, an allergic cough, bronchospasm. The most threatening are those symptoms that lead to anaphylactic shock, which poses a threat not only to health, but also to human life.

It should be noted that the etiology of the allergy is still not clear, although among the reasons the medical scientific world calls environmental problems, unreasonable nutrition, changes in the mechanisms of the immune system and many others. However, there is no single etiologic theory, with which all the world's allergists have agreed, does not exist yet. Therefore, the disease is gaining momentum, and its symptoms are constantly changing and often is polymorphic. Unlike many other diseases of the century, which have obvious clinical manifestations, allergy symptoms show in any tissues, organs and systems. Dermatitis, respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal problems, even headaches - that's far from an incomplete list of allergy manifestations.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5]

Specific reactions for allergies

Allergy symptoms manifest in the form of specific reactions, which in turn are conventionally divided into types - immediate reaction and delayed type. Several groups are considered as signs:

• Reagin type of reaction is characteristic for rhinitis of allergic etiology, also for atopic bronchial asthma. These signs and diseases of pollen of flowering plants, food components and dust, both domestic and industrial, provoke these signs. The reaction occurs after 24-48 hours from the moment of contact with the allergen.
• Immediate reactions that are clearly manifested and quickly appear as a response of the immune system to the antigen. These are all kinds of allergic dermatitis, itching, hyperemia. Such a response is considered hapten, that is immune. The reaction occurs 10-15 minutes after contact with the allergen.
• Cytotoxic reactions. Such reactions are characterized by the fact that antigens are not penetrating allergens, but cells of the body. Causes of cellular self-destruction can be the products of virus disintegration, bacterial toxins, transfusion of donor blood, mismatch between the child's and mother's rezus factors, as well as medicinal substances. On the modified cells, the immune system reacts by the production of IgG and IgM immunoglobulins, which combine with the affected cells, destroying them completely.
• Immunocomplex type of reaction, when CEC - circulating immunocomplexes are formed. This type of allergic reaction leads to food allergy, serum sickness, drug allergy, alveolitis, and sometimes auto-allergic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Allergy signs show how obvious, clinically manifested, and quite hidden, when the cold is due to a common cold and only two weeks later it becomes clear its true origin.

Clinical allergy options

Clinical options for allergies look like this:

• Pollinosis or hay fever, usually having a seasonal pattern;
• Rhinitis;
• Toxicoderma;
• Hives;
• Conjunctivitis of allergic etiology;
• Serum sickness;
• Enteropathy;
• Edema Quincke;
• Hemolytic crises;
• Allergic dermatitis;
• Thrombocytopenia;
• Bronchial asthma;
• Anaphylactic shock.

Allergy symptoms are so diverse that in clinical practice it can be difficult for a doctor to differentiate the type of allergic disease, and therefore, to prescribe adequate therapy. In such cases, a comprehensive diagnosis is necessary to clarify the diagnosis. Polysymptomatics over the past decades has become a characteristic feature of allergies. If the earlier pollinosis was accompanied by typical rashes, hives, then modern hay fever, in addition to the above signs, manifests itself as a runny nose, and tear and dermatitis.

Special attention should be paid to dangerous signs, which pose a serious threat to the health and life of the allergic person. This bronchial asthma, angioedema, thrombocytopenia and anaphylactic shock. Quincke's edema often develops in the face area, but can expand to the occipital part of the spine, and therefore, provoke choking. Thrombocytopenia causes hemorrhages, both external and internal. BA (bronchial asthma) is an inflammation of the respiratory tract of an allergic etiology. Bronchospasms, seizures that accompany asthma are also dangerous to the life of the patient and can lead to sad consequences. Anaphylaxis is considered by right the most dangerous sign. It starts sometimes with itching, then shortness of breath develops quickly. Pain in the epigastric region is possible. Anaphylactic shock develops rapidly and passes into the stage of suffocation in just a few minutes.

Allergy symptoms group by body zones, organs and systems:

• Respiratory - shortness of breath, chest tightness, cough;
• Reaction dermal - hyperemia, swelling, itching, possibly the formation of blisters, increased sweating;
• The reaction of the gastrointestinal tract is a disorder of the stool, diarrhea, with possible splashes of blood, vomiting, nausea;
• Nasal reaction - swelling of the nasal mucosa, runny nose;
• Response of the eye - tear, red eyes, itching, swelling of the eyelids;
• Reaction of the face, head area - swelling of the face, lips, tongue, also often a headache occurs.

[6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12]