Allergy after chemotherapy

Allergy after chemotherapy is common. In this case, they occur more often than signs of intoxication of the patient's body. Allergies, unlike toxic side effects, do not occur as a specific reaction to any drug and does not depend on the method of chemotherapy.

Allergic reactions are expressed in a variety of symptoms, which can be by the degree of manifestation very light and even unnoticed by the patient himself, to very severe ones, which result in a fatal outcome for the patient.

Very easy manifestations of allergies include:

• skin rashes in small amounts,
• manifestations of eosinophilia - an increase in the number of eosinophils in the blood (they are a kind of granulocyte leukocytes),
• a short-term increase in the overall body temperature to 37.0 - 37.5 degrees (the occurrence of the so-called subfebrile temperature),
• the appearance of swelling in the area of drug administration.

Very severe manifestations of allergies include:

• the occurrence of anaphylactic shock,
• the appearance of edema of the larynx,
• the onset of pulmonary edema,
• the appearance of edema of the brain,
• the emergence of exfoliative and bullous dermatitis,
• the appearance of Lyell's syndrome.

Presence of allergic reactions after chemotherapy quite often leads to worsening of the general condition of the patient. But, as a rule, specialists who conduct chemotherapy do not consider these manifestations as allergic reactions and do not associate them with the treatment. This concerns, first of all, allergic reactions with a slowed development rate. Usually, at this time patients already fall on the recovery to doctors of a different profile.

Manifestations of an allergy after chemotherapy are observed more quickly and more intensively after repeated administration of drugs, which is called sensitization. In this case, there is a predisposition of certain groups of allergy sufferers to the presence of allergic reactions to certain drugs. It happens that allergy manifestations occur during the first course of chemotherapy. But, usually, these symptoms are a consequence of sensitization, especially after a long course of repeated chemotherapy.

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

Itching after chemotherapy

Chemotherapy drugs have a toxic effect on the patient's skin. This is characterized by the appearance of complications of early (near) action, which are expressed in the appearance of itching of the skin, as well as increased sensitivity of the skin. The patient's skin becomes very dry and can peel off, which causes itching and the desire to comb the skin. In this case, the redness of the affected parts of the skin is observed. The strongest manifestations of pruritus can disturb patients on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Usually, these effects go through several months after the end of the course of treatment alone.

Itching of the skin can also be a manifestation of allergic reactions that occur after chemotherapy. In this case, there are rashes on the skin, redness of certain areas of skin, puffiness.

To prevent deterioration of the skin, the following recommendations should be used:

1. Every day you need to take a hygienic shower and do a wipe with a soft sponge. Do not use a washcloth to not cause additional skin irritation. After that, the skin should not be rubbed, but soak the moisture with light and gentle movements.
2. Do not take hot baths, especially for a long time.
3. After taking water procedures, it is recommended to lubricate the skin with a moisturizing cream without alcohol and perfume compositions.
4. When washing dishes, as well as any other work, you should use gloves to prevent the hand skin from the corrosive effects of household chemicals.

Itching after chemotherapy can appear in the area of the anal opening. In this case, the itching is accompanied by the appearance or increase of hemorrhoids, which means an exacerbation of hemorrhoids after treatment.

Also, itching in the anus zone can signal an infection in the anus of the anus, which is called perianal or peri-rectal. Similar diseases occur in five to eight percent of patients after chemotherapy. In this case, there is an aggravation of the condition of hemorrhoids, the appearance of intestinal disorders - diarrhea and constipation, as well as the presence of pain in the anal area, as well as the occurrence of fever.

Rash after chemotherapy

After the end of the course of chemotherapy, the patient may have a skin rash in some parts of the body or over all skin integuments. This symptom is an adverse reaction of the human body to the drug administered. The nature of the rash may be of an immunological nature (caused by an allergy) or non-immunological (caused by intolerance to this drug in a particular person). It is noticed that the consequences in the form of skin eruptions are observed in ten percent of patients in the form of allergy, and in the remaining ninety percent of patients - because of intolerance.

Skin most often reacts to the side effects of medications as follows:

• there is itching,
• there is redness of the skin,
• are formed maculopapular rashes,
• there is a urticaria,
• there is an angioedema,
• phototoxic and photoallergic reactions are observed,
• fixed drug reactions are tracked,
• there is a multiform erythema,
• there is a vesicle-bullous dermatitis,
• exfoliative dermatitis is observed.

From the given list of skin reactions it is clear that the rash may be a manifestation of one of the types of skin diseases provoked by the introduction of chemotherapy drugs into the patient's body.

It is impossible to foresee the severity of allergy after chemotherapy, this poses a great danger to the health and life of the patient. In this case, the presence of allergic reactions can be either instantaneous or delayed.