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Allergic intestinal lesions: diagnosis
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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If intestinal dysfunction occurs against a background of acute general allergic reactions, then it is not difficult to diagnose it. Usually, difficulties arise when there are no signs of a general allergosis, especially if the intestinal manifestations persist for several days or weeks or become chronic. Diagnosis of the allergic nature of gut disease is facilitated by the presence of common clinical signs of sensitization of the body (paroxysmal flow, reduction of arterial pressure or angiospasm, urticaria, skin itching, Quincke's edema, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, bronchospasm, eosinophilia, leukopenia, hypergammaglobulinemia).
A special allergological study using skin tests with the appropriate antigen, the detection of specific antibodies in the blood serum and the sensitization of lymphocytes to one or another allergen allow us to establish the true nature of the disease.
In feces sometimes there is an increased amount of mucus, leukocytes, eosinophilic granulocytes. The mucous membrane of the gut at endoscopy can be hyperemic, edematous. Histomorphological examination reveals cellular, predominantly lymphocytic, eosinophilic or plasma cell infiltration, an increase in mucus-forming goblet cells, sometimes capillary expansion, edema, hemorrhages. In mild cases, biopsy of the intestines does not show pathology.
During the period of exacerbation, the character of the electrocolographic curve may change: the rhythm of contractions increases, the tonic waves and areas of increase in the motor function alternate with the phenomena of spasm and atony.
The electrocologram takes the form of an "irritated bowel" after taking an allergen product. X-ray examination outside the period of exacerbation of pathology does not reveal. After provocation with a product that may have an allergic effect, the peristalsis of the stomach and intestines becomes worse, the passage of barium is accelerated, spastic constrictions are formed, and gases accumulate.
Differentiation of allergic electrocopathies is necessary from infectious, parasitic, tumor diseases of the intestines, from acute appendicitis, thrombosis of mesenteric vessels.
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