Why do allergies occur? How to properly treat allergies? Myths and truth about allergic diseases Why do people develop allergies?

There are often people who suffer from intolerance to certain foods. This may be an allergy, the symptoms, causes and treatment of which are closely interrelated. The body's reaction is different, but always unusual for the normal state. Therefore, any manifestations of the disease cannot be ignored.

Among the many pathologies that affect the internal organs of a person, there is a specific reaction of the body to external stimuli. They can be: plant pollen, poplar fluff, dust, all kinds of food, household chemicals.

An allergic reaction is provoked by diseases such as arthritis, hypothyroidism, and rheumatism. Such pathologies provoke the production of substances that irritate the immune system. A negative reaction of the body occurs in the form of skin rashes, swelling of the nasal or throat mucosa. This condition provokes a runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, and coughing. That is, an allergy is a negative reaction of the immune system to the ingress of allergens, substances that cause increased sensitivity. In other words, the body’s defenses exceed the necessary defense measures, and ordinary substances are seen as a threat to health.

Note! Negative manifestations of the disease are individual for all people. Some people can't stand cats or dust. For some, allergies make themselves felt seasonally. Others suffer negative reactions to various medications.

There are a large number of factors that can trigger the development of a specific reaction in the body. Allergies occur against the background of poor nutrition, lack of an active lifestyle, and prolonged violation of hygiene rules. The mental state of a person is of great importance. Stress and nervous breakdowns can trigger the development of allergies.

Frequent causes of the body’s negative reaction to external stimuli:

1. Dust (in the house, transport, on the street).
2. Flower pollen, poplar fluff (seasonal allergies).
3. Medicines (drug allergies).
4. Household chemicals (cleaning products), chlorine in the pool.
5. Animal fur (cat allergy).
6. Food. A negative reaction most often occurs to eggs, honey, flour and sweets.

It is worth noting that allergies can occur due to nervousness. This can be due to psychological reasons - emotional tension or stress. Here we are talking about psychosomatics, that is, allergies arise as a result of prolonged emotional disturbance. A person experiences difficult moments in life within himself, without opening up to others. Over time, accumulated emotions that are not released out provoke stress, to which the body reacts defensively. This can manifest itself as sneezing and runny nose, a rash on the body in the form of hives, abnormalities in the functioning of the stomach and intestines.

Important! Many allergic manifestations on psychosomatic grounds are confused with colds, diseases of internal organs, without paying attention to the emotional state.

Manifestations of allergies, their types

The body's response to external stimuli manifests itself individually in each person. The main thing is to know the general deviations in the condition, so that if symptoms appear, seek help in time.

Depending on the type of allergy, its symptoms vary. A negative reaction of the body can be local in nature, that is, it can occur on a specific part of the body or organ without affecting neighboring areas.

With such an allergy, the following symptoms may occur:

• tearing eyes;
• the appearance of a rash on a certain area of ​​the skin (face, arms, chest, abdomen);
• swelling of the nasal mucosa, which provokes nasal congestion and discharge of a watery consistency;
• wheezing in the lung area;
• feeling of itching or burning in the sinuses.

With a local allergy, first of all, the appearance of symptoms occurs at the site of contact with the irritant. If allergens penetrate the nose or throat, bronchi, or lungs, coughing, sneezing, and runny nose may occur. The presence of pathogens in the respiratory tract can cause shortness of breath, swelling, and spasm in the bronchi. This is a respiratory allergy. Its symptoms can be caused by plant pollen, microbes and dust that a person inhaled along with the air.

Important! Respiratory allergies most often lead to asthma and chronic runny nose.

A local reaction to an irritant can manifest itself in the form of dermatosis. These are skin rashes of various localizations. They can be provoked by chemicals in household chemicals, food, and medications.

This type of allergy, such as dermatosis, can manifest itself in the form of itching and redness on the hands, rashes and peeling on the face, and swelling on the neck. The appearance of negative reactions of the defense system can occur in combination or one by one with increasing force. Each person's symptoms vary in severity.

An allergy to cold can manifest itself as significant rashes on the skin. This reaction is local, as it mainly affects exposed areas of the body. When the temperature drops, the sensitivity of the receptors increases, which leads to a violent reaction of the immune system. As a result, peeling, swelling of the skin, and redness occur.

In addition to reacting to the cold, many people are allergic to the sun. Symptoms may appear immediately or 2–3 hours after exposure to heat. Redness and rashes occur on the arms, neck, face and legs. The skin suffers from peeling, the formation of watery blisters, and damage to areas of the skin in the form of eczema and psoriasis. The keratinized areas may crack and bleed.

Know! A negative reaction to the sun occurs in infants, children and the elderly. This is due to weak or weakened immunity.

Another type of local allergy is conjunctivitis. This manifestation provokes changes before our eyes. When exposed to allergens, allergic conjunctivitis occurs, which has specific symptoms (swelling of the eyelids, burning, stinging, intense tearing).

Types of allergies such as enteropathy and anaphylactic shock are common. In the first case, a negative reaction of the body occurs due to the entry of irritating substances into the gastrointestinal tract. This could be food or medicine.

In this case, the symptoms of an allergy are as follows:

• nausea, vomiting;
• development of diarrhea or problems with bowel movements (constipation);
• bloating, flatulence.

It is worth noting that angioedema can be a striking manifestation of enteropathy. This condition occurs when the tongue or lips become very swollen. Such an allergy is very dangerous, as it can lead to the death of the patient by causing swelling of the throat and cutting off the supply of oxygen to the body.

As for anaphylactic shock, this is the most dangerous type of allergy. It can occur in response to any irritant if a person has a very sensitive immune system. The following symptoms help to recognize this reaction of the body:

• red spots and small rashes on almost the entire surface of the skin;
• difficulty breathing and sudden shortness of breath;
• feeling of suffocation and loss of consciousness;
• the appearance of muscle spasms, cramps throughout the body;
• the appearance of nausea, vomiting;
• severe disturbances in stool (diarrhea).

If negative signs appear, you should immediately call an ambulance. Anaphylactic shock is a dangerous type of allergy that can be fatal.

Know! Depending on the sensitivity of the defenses and the individual characteristics of a person, any of the listed types of allergies may arise as a response to a particular product.

The signs in a child and an adult are similar. They are the same as for food allergies. Sneezing and runny nose, rash all over the body, red spots, stomach upset, headaches, and discomfort in the throat (Quincke's edema) may occur. There is a dry cough due to allergies. In severe cases, anaphylactic shock may occur.

The most common causative agents of allergies in adults and children

A negative response can be caused by food (food allergy), household chemicals or a reaction to chlorine in the pool (contact allergy), insect bites, as well as irritants that enter the respiratory tract with air (respiratory pathogens). The sensitive immune system of infants can react negatively to diapers (small pimples, diaper rash, redness).

If we consider food, the allergens here are cow's milk (sometimes goat's milk), honey, and eggs. There may be an allergy to sweets. Among the fruits are citrus fruits, in particular tangerines. There is a negative reaction to persimmon. Such food products can cause symptoms such as: hives, bloating and flatulence in the intestines, vomiting (milk allergy). Also, a negative reaction to citrus fruits can manifest itself in the form of swelling of the ears, neck, eyelids, lips and tongue. Vivid signs are tearing and pain in the eyes, problems with hearing and vision.

A negative reaction to tangerines occurs when you overeat such a product. It is not recommended to consume more than 5 pieces per day.

A reaction to honey can manifest itself in the form of red spots, which sometimes merge, causing angioedema. At this time, peeling of the skin, itching, swelling of the tongue and lips may occur. The cause of an allergy to honey may be a large amount of pollen in the product or chemicals from additives that individual beekeepers feed the bees.

Allergies to milk and honey cause specific symptoms in children. This is a rash all over the body, especially in infants, red spots, peeling skin. Milk intolerance in adults and children may be due to a lack of a special enzyme in the body to process it. In infants, this condition is expressed in the form of foamy diarrhea with curd or blood streaks. Milk allergy can cause bowel problems in older children, as well as in adults.

Children and adults may experience negative reactions to eggs. In this case, all foods that contain the allergen are excluded from the diet. It is worth noting that intolerance to eggs (duck, chicken, goose) differs in adults and children. A similar allergy in infants or a child a little over a year old can disappear over time if you limit the consumption of such a product. In an adult, egg allergy is not completely cured, which means that it is necessary to always follow a special diet without such an irritant.

Note! The protein in eggs is more allergenic. It contains many substances that tend to cause a negative reaction in the body.

Another type of food allergy is a negative reaction in children to gluten, a protein from cereals (rye, wheat, oats, barley). Its inability to digest may appear with the first complementary foods. This allergy provokes a small rash, diarrhea, sleep disturbances, problems with appetite and general moodiness and irritability of the child. If you follow the diet, a negative reaction to gluten will go away over time.

Important! If a reaction to cereal protein results in slower development of the child, weight loss and stunted growth, this is gluten intolerance. In this case, the disease is incurable and requires a lifelong diet.

Alcohol is a dangerous irritant that can cause allergies in adults. Such an allergy can be acquired or transmitted at the genetic level. The causes of alcohol intolerance are excessive consumption of such a product, which contains a large number of additives, flavors and dyes. Wine, cognac, and liqueur can cause a negative reaction in the body.

Alcohol allergy symptoms:

• the appearance of red spots on the face, neck, hands;
• small rash accompanied by burning or itching;
• rapid onset of intoxication;
• upset stomach, nausea, vomiting;
• increased blood pressure and headaches.

Note! Alcohol intolerance is a dangerous pathology that can provoke anaphylactic shock.

To eliminate allergic manifestations, you need to find the source of their occurrence. Diagnostics includes a set of measures that help identify the irritants of the body’s negative reaction.

Allergen detection methods:

1. A general blood test is a method that can be used to detect the presence of foreign organisms. This condition is indicated by an increase in certain blood cells (eosinophils).
2. Study of immunoglobulins in the blood. The study allows you to determine the presence of antibodies of the body's defense system, as well as the presence of antigens of the allergy pathogen. Using this method, you can determine food and household allergens, antigens of fungi and mold, animals, and worms.
3. Skin test examination. This approach is used if the allergen is already known and it is only necessary to confirm it clinically.

Important! For a more accurate diagnosis, a comprehensive examination, medical history and careful study of the medical history are necessary. Based on one of the methods, it is impossible to immediately determine the causative agent of the disease.

Which doctor should I contact?

The key to successful allergy treatment is contacting the right specialist. If you know which doctor is treating you, you can hope to make the correct diagnosis. Negative manifestations of the body are determined by an allergist (allergist-immunologist). Such a doctor decides what to do and how to treat the negative manifestations of the body. Treatment is prescribed after a comprehensive diagnosis, and may include several types of medications.

Specifics of traditional allergy treatment

The effectiveness of therapy for the body’s negative reaction to a particular stimulus lies in identifying the cause of the disease. It is worth noting that any allergen causes an increase in histamine. This substance in the human body provokes a rash, itching, and disturbances in the functioning of the intestines, stomach, and respiratory tract. Consequently, antihistamines (Tavegil, Diphenhydramine, Diazolin, Pipolfen) are used in the treatment of allergies with medications. Such drugs belong to first generation therapies. They are prescribed to be taken on a daily basis to eliminate the symptoms of the disease. Antihistamines are prescribed by the doctor. He determines the timing of treatment and dose.

The second generation of antihistamine drugs include Claritin, Zyrtec, Astemizole. Their difference from the previous medicine is that they do not cause drowsiness and lethargy in the nervous system.

Attention! Long-term use of drugs that suppress histamine production is not recommended. This can provoke addiction, and the occurrence of allergies is even more intense.

To relieve swelling and spasm in the respiratory organs, vasodilators are used. Their main action is as follows:

• cough decreases;
• breathing becomes easier;
• shortness of breath disappears, wheezing in the bronchi and lungs is eliminated.

The most common medications used in complex therapy are: Salmeterol, Theophylline, Albuterol. These drugs help relax the soft tissues of the bronchi and make breathing easier in a short time.

Vasodilator medications also include anticholinergics. They are auxiliary agents in the complex therapy of allergies, but can be used as independent medications.

In drug treatment for a negative reaction of the body to irritants, anti-inflammatory drugs are used. They are used for asthma, eczema, watery eyes, and rhinitis. The most popular remedies are steroid medications (tablets, drops, ointments). Corticosteroids (injections, inhalations, drops) help well. Such drugs are well suited in those moments when you need to provide first aid for exacerbation of allergies (asthma).

For children with allergic conjunctivitis, the famous pediatrician Dr. Komarovsky recommends lecrolin, cromoglin, and high-chrome. These drugs can be used for a long time, they do not harm.

Traditional treatment may use antibiotics. Cetrin helps with allergic rhinitis. It is worth noting that before deciding how to treat allergies, the doctor must find out whether the patient has drug intolerance. Therefore, self-medication with antibiotics is not recommended.

Homeopathy treatment

If you take the treatment of allergies seriously, it is recommended to use not only medications, but also alternative medicine. The most common is homeopathy. This method is the treatment of allergies by taking medications in very small doses, which in large proportions are allergens to the immune system.

Homeopathy includes the following medications:

• Allium sulfur is used for inflammatory processes in the eyes, lips, and nasal mucosa.
• Sabadilla is used in case of throat problems (sore throat, sore throat), runny nose.
• Pulsatilla is a drug that helps reduce mucous discharge, which can cause discomfort to the patient for a long time.

Note! Homeopathy completely eradicates allergic reactions. This method helps to alleviate the patient’s condition and eliminate the symptoms of pathology.

How to cure allergies at home?

Allergies can be treated at home. There are many recipes that help cure the disease using folk remedies.

Fight allergies with eggshells and lemon juice

You need to take a raw egg (chicken), wash it well, break it and pour out all the contents. After this, you need to remove the transparent film and dry the shell. Grind to a powder. Before use, the finished medicine is quenched with lemon juice.

It is worth noting that the amount of shell powder depends on age. This remedy is most often used to treat allergies in children. Therefore, children up to one year old are given a pinch of medicine, up to three years old - 1/4 tsp, up to 7 years old - 0.5 tsp. etc. A few drops of lemon juice are required for the shells to dissolve well. In this case, the liquid should be squeezed out of the fresh citrus.

It is recommended to treat with eggshells diluted with lemon juice for at least 2–3 months.

Note! Allergies should be treated according to the doctor's prescription, and only after a thorough examination. Otherwise, serious complications can occur.

Treatment of allergies during pregnancy

As for the treatment of allergies during pregnancy, it should be strictly under the supervision of a specialist. During this period, many medications are contraindicated, and folk remedies without consultation with a specialist can also cause harm. It is worth noting that allergies are very rare in pregnant women, and if they do occur, they are in a milder form than in other people. This is explained by the fact that during pregnancy, the body produces more of the hormone cortisol, which suppresses histamine.

Consequences of the disease and prevention of allergies

Many people do not take the body’s negative reactions to external stimuli seriously. Most believe that allergies are not a serious disease. If you do not treat negative reactions and do not look for their cause, you can face serious consequences:

• asthmatic manifestations;
• convulsions, difficulty breathing;
• skin swelling, blisters, eczema;
• increase in pressure.

The most severe consequence of allergies is anaphylactic shock. This condition can be fatal.

Many people wonder whether allergies can appear suddenly if they have never existed. The first time you experience an allergic reaction is not at all in childhood. In almost half of the cases, allergies appear after forty years, what to do if it suddenly appears?

Among the most common allergens that provoke allergies are animal saliva and dander, pollen, mold and dust mites. If it occurs, it is necessary to prescribe the correct treatment, since the symptoms are very intrusive, and ignoring the allergy can lead to complications.

Is this a new allergy?

A sudden allergic reaction may be a sudden manifestation of an already forgotten allergy. Children's allergies often get better, but may return later. Perhaps this allergy began a long time ago, but was not identified.

Symptoms may seem new to the patient because:

• A person has become more susceptible to allergens than in childhood;
• With age, the immune system has become more sensitive to the pathogen, so the symptoms have increased compared to the past;
• There has been a modification of allergies; if previously a person suffered, for example, from pollen, then over time it is possible to develop an allergy to dust mites.

New symptoms can also be triggered due to various factors and events.

Allergens at the workplace

Here it is necessary to pay attention to what surrounds a person at work. Among the most common allergens are flour, latex, dust, and chemicals. In addition, soaps, solvents, and lubricants can leave stains on the skin and cause itching.

When changing job duties, it is possible to be exposed to a new allergen or an increase in the concentration of the old one.

Moving to a new job, place of residence

As with changes at work, moving to a new location can also lead to allergic reactions. To start, all that will be needed is mold, dust mites, and a ventilation system (if the owner who lived before had a pet or the house is located near a busy road, dirty air can provoke a reaction in the body).

It is not necessary that symptoms appear immediately after moving; it may also take several years before the body reacts to the pathogen.

Food allergies

If a person suffers from hay fever, he may develop an allergy in the mouth after eating a raw fruit, vegetable or nut. This happens because the immune system is able to react to pollen, which makes the body more sensitive to such proteins found in food.

For example, if a person has an allergic reaction to pollen from a tree, he may feel itching inside his mouth after eating, for example, an apple. This case suggests the development of allergies even to those foods that the patient ate for a long time and in large quantities, without any consequences.

Fish and seafood

Adults are very susceptible to allergic reactions to seafood. According to statistics, this allergy is the most common among adults.

How to treat allergies in an adult

If a person suffers from mild symptoms, regular antihistamines can be used, but a doctor should be consulted for the correct prescription.

There are 3 methods for treatment:

• Minimizing contact with allergens;
• Medications;
• Injections that allow you to change the body's response over time.

Allergy is an increased sensitivity to substances found in the environment. An allergic reaction that occurs in the human body is an immunologically caused reaction, that is, a malfunction occurs at the cellular level, and there are some changes in the body’s immune system. This disease is hereditary. Even if allergy symptoms do not appear immediately, then over time, if there is a genetic predisposition, a reaction will certainly occur.

Allergy is a specific hyperactivation of the immune system to substances foreign to the body (immune system), otherwise devoid of harmful properties, i.e. to antigens that now become allergens.

The implementation of an allergic predisposition, inherited by a person from his parents, depends on the number and activity of the allergens that he encounters. The greater the amount of allergen present in his environment, the greater the chance that the genetic predisposition will be realized. Allergies usually manifest themselves when a person is weakened, for example, he often catches a cold. These frequent colds help hereditary factors to manifest themselves. The human body fights against all allergens. The human body, which is constantly under tension, learns to defend itself. According to the observations of doctors, people with allergies tolerate other diseases more easily and cope with them faster, because their immunity is constantly on guard.

It is believed that allergies are a disease of the young. Allergies occur mainly to those substances that are widely distributed.

Causes of allergies

Endogenous proteins can also acquire the properties of allergens when they bind to small molecules of foreign substances (so-called haptens). The allergic reaction process initiates initial contact with the allergen. However, similar tissue damage can occur when the immune system is unable to recognize endogenous proteins as its own, resulting in the formation of autoantibodies. In any case, inflammatory reactions develop, leading to cell damage.

Hypersensitivity reactions are divided into four types (these reactions share some common mechanisms). Type I (immediate) reactions are more common. Their development is preceded by sensitization: after antigen presentation, the combined action of Th2 and B lymphocytes releases various cytokines, including IL-4 and IL-5. Under the influence of IL-5, proliferation of B lymphocytes occurs, which produce IgE, as well as differentiation and exit from the bone marrow into the vascular bed of eosinophils. If the allergen is re-exposed several hours later, a late reaction may develop. The immediate reaction is caused by the rapid release and production of vasoactive inflammatory mediators by mast cells, on the surface of which IgE is located. The late reaction is mediated by the attraction of eosinophils, neutrophils, and IgG to the site of allergic inflammation.

Allergic reactions type I (immediate type). Allergens contained in the air (pollen, dust mites, animal hair) cause a reaction in the respiratory tract with the development of swelling of the mucous membrane, hypersecretion of mucus (with hay fever), bronchospasm; food allergens (components of milk, fruit or fish) cause symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders. At the same time, hypersecretion of mucus by the cells of the bronchial tree, as well as vomiting and diarrhea, contribute to the removal of the allergen from the body. Skin reactions in response to exposure to allergens (for example, bee venom protein) are characterized by itching, swelling, skin rash (urticaria), as well as signs of atopic dermatitis. If allergens are directly injected into the bloodstream (serum or haptens such as penicillin), an immediate systemic reaction occurs, accompanied by the release of vasoactive mediators, leading to a life-threatening drop in blood pressure and the development of anaphylactic shock. A similar reaction can occur, although more slowly, after allergens enter the gastrointestinal tract or respiratory tract. In food allergies, similar mechanisms lead to the development of urticaria.

Allergic reactions type II , or cytotoxic hypersensitivity, are aimed primarily at cells or proteins of the extracellular matrix that have antigenic properties. In this case, either haptens (for example, drugs) bind to the cells of the body (blood), or cells of incompatible blood enter the body. After sensitization, which develops during initial contact with an allergen, repeated exposure to the allergen in a resolving dose leads to the formation of a large number of allergen-specific IgM and IgG, tightly bound to the surface of cells carrying the allergen (104-105 molecules per 1 cell) (opsonization). Next, the complement system and NK cells are activated, ensuring the development of cytotoxic reactions (cell-mediated, antibody-dependent cytotoxicity). Both the complement system and NK cells destroy cells that have antigens on their surface within a few hours (cytolysis). The binding of haptens to the patient's red blood cells leads to the development of hemolytic anemia; binding of haptens to platelets leads to thrombocytopenia. These two types of cells are especially sensitive to the action of the complement system, because their membranes contain a small amount of proteins that can limit the influence of the components of this system. The donor's red blood cells are agglutinated, i.e. they “stick together” through IgM, and quickly hemolyze (acute transfusion reactions). Due to the action of similar, but not always fully understood, mechanisms, antibodies against type IV collagen (α3), which is part of the basement membranes, cause damage to the kidneys and lungs (Goodpasture syndrome). At the same time, IgG is deposited in the capillaries of the renal glomeruli, which cause a pronounced inflammatory reaction in the kidneys (rapidly progressing glomerulonephritis with life-threatening renal failure), and lung damage is characterized by the development of life-threatening bleeding. Type III allergic reactions are caused by the formation and deposition (usually on walls of microvessels) immune complexes (antigen-antibody complexes), consisting of antigens connected to each other through immunoglobulins (1dM, 1d6). Such immune complexes activate not only the complement system, but also macrophages, granulocytes and platelets (via Fc receptors). This is observed especially in cases where the antigen is present in excess and small soluble immune complexes circulate in the blood for a long time. These immune complexes are slowly destroyed. They are deposited mainly in the capillaries of the glomeruli, but are also found in joints, skin and other places. Under these conditions, the capillary wall is exposed to the attacking action of the complement system, as well as the influence of phagocytes, which are attracted to this focus by chemoattractants and are activated. Phagocytes release proteases, oxidants and inflammatory mediators with the development of immune complex glomerulonephritis, joint damage, rash, lymphadenitis and fever. Similar manifestations that occur after passive immunization using vaccines made from animal serum were called serum sickness.

Allergic reactions type III can also be caused by infections when the immune system is not able to completely eliminate the pathogen (with streptococcal infection or malaria), but a sufficient amount of antibodies is formed that maintain a high concentration of immune complexes in the blood. With the participation of type III allergic reactions, systemic lupus erythematosus develops, resulting from the activation of TLR7 and TLR9 receptors. These receptors can mistakenly recognize their own nucleic acids as viral ones, which triggers an autoimmune reaction with damage to their own tissues. Local type III reactions may develop in the skin, for example, after vaccination (Arthus phenomenon). Local reactions of the same type are also possible in the lungs after repeated inhalation of small amounts of antigen. With further contact with the allergen, IgG is released in large quantities (excess antigen); the resulting immune complexes precipitate in the lungs (exogenous allergic alveolitis). Examples include alveolitis in poultry breeders (antigens in bird secretions) and farmers' alveolitis, or "farmer's lung" (antigens from molds in hay).

Allergic reactions type IV are implemented mainly with the help of T-helpers, T-killers and macrophages, and these reactions reach their maximum severity 2-4 days after their onset. This hypersensitivity is triggered mainly by proteins of pathogens (viruses, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, leprosy, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, listeriosis, fungal infections), other foreign proteins (for example, the wheat protein gliadin, which causes celiac disease) and haptens (for example, drugs, metals (nickel ), cosmetics, plant components (for example, pentadecacatechol, found in poison ivy or poison sumac) Transplant rejection is also an example of a type IV allergic reaction.

The antigen is phagocytosed by macrophages and, after processing, is presented to T helper cells. The sensitization process occurs over more than 5 days. Upon re-exposure, numerous virgin T cells convert to Th1. They stimulate the formation of monocytes in the bone marrow by releasing IL-3 and GM-CSF, as well as attracting monocytes and macrophages to the site of inflammation with the help of chemokines (monocyte chemoattractant and macrophage inflammatory proteins), followed by their activation by IFN-γ. Activated macrophages, along with inflammatory mediators, including TNF-P, cause a pronounced inflammatory reaction, during which native or transplanted tissues can be significantly destroyed (tuberculosis, leprosy, organ rejection).

Haptens found in the skin can cause type IV allergic reactions in the form of contact dermatitis. Nickel contained in metal parts of jewelry or watches can interact with the skin. After binding to endogenous proteins, this complex is phagocytosed by skin macrophages (Langerhans cells) and processed. Macrophages then migrate to regional lymph nodes, where (after becoming dendritic, B7-positive cells) they present the antigen to antigen-specific T lymphocytes that have arrived here from the blood and lymph. The latter proliferate and differentiate into killer T lymphocytes and TM cells, and then, mainly with the blood, reach the site of antigen localization and accumulate there in large quantities.

Type V allergic reactions are caused by the formation of antibodies to the receptors of various transmitters or hormones.

Pollen allergy

Pollen has the quality of attaching itself to the plant. These same qualities contribute to the deep penetration and attachment of pollen to the mucous membranes of the human body. This is the perfect allergen. The molecular weight of pollen allows pollen grains to penetrate mucous membranes. Hence the runny nose, narrowing of the nasal passages, narrowing of the bronchi. All these are measures taken by the body in order to prevent the “enemy” from going deeper, in order to quickly excrete it with mucus. Pollen must be volatile, light, and have a high level of airborne content. The pollen grains must be very small in size and the pollen must be from a very common plant species.

If we talk about spring allergies, they occur when the air is oversaturated with plant grains in the spring. Or in areas where pollen constantly circulates in the air all year round. In these cases, there is a heavy load on the immune system. Plant dust particles are very small in size and can cause a state of hypersensitivity. Such pollen can be perceived as a genetic enemy. After all, any substance foreign to genetic information is a potential enemy for the body. When the amount of such a substance goes off scale, the immune system is overloaded, and the body begins to produce antibodies and mobilize all cells to fight this “enemy”.

Allergies and unfavorable environmental conditions

It has long been established that there are much more cases of allergies in places where the environmental situation is unfavorable: a lot of cars, a lot of gas pollution, a lot of industrial waste. There are more children with allergies and asthma here. In this case, the allergy occurs not to exhaust gases, but to eggs, chicken protein, and pollen. There is an explanation for this. Polluted air contains a large number of air pollutants - oxides, various substances of a chemical nature, which, one way or another, exert constant pressure on the human body. And the body of even an initially healthy person with a hereditary predisposition, which, most likely, would never have manifested itself, cannot withstand it. It is the delicate organism of children that primarily reacts to the effects of air pollutants. People living in difficult environmental conditions need to get out of the city more often. But, of course, not during the season of exacerbation of hay fever. They should prevent colds, monitor the condition of the nasopharynx, stop smoking, and learn to relieve stress so as not to cause an exacerbation or manifestation of allergies.

Hidden hay fever

In spring there are usually a lot of sneezing people. This often becomes widespread and is very similar to a flu epidemic. Sometimes cross pollinosis can occur when foods that cause a reaction that crosses with plant pollen are eaten. This could be fruits, nuts, juices, peels from young vegetables, especially potatoes.

Diagnostic test for hay fever

Next to the question number, put a plus if the answer is “yes” and a minus if the answer is “no”. Count the total number of pros and cons.

1. Every spring, summer or autumn I experience some symptoms - nasal congestion, nasal discharge, red eyes, swelling of the eyelids, a feeling of hot sand in the eyes, repeated sneezing, itching of the palate, headache, hearing loss.
2. When these symptoms occur, normal sleep is disrupted, activity decreases during the day, when playing sports, and performance decreases.
3. I experience these symptoms less than 4 days a week, less than 4 weeks a year.
4. These symptoms bother me when I go outside.
5. Symptoms occur in hot, windy weather, mainly in the morning.
6. During the flowering period of plants, I experience shortness of breath and attacks of difficulty breathing.
7. When eating apples, plums, peaches, fresh carrots, nuts, some types of juices, sometimes when peeling young potatoes, I experience the symptoms listed in the first paragraph for the eyes and upper respiratory tract, sometimes upset stool, swelling of the lips, tongue, soreness in the throat.

Comments on the test:

If you answered yes to four or more questions, then you should definitely see an allergist. Most likely, you have symptoms of hay fever. If the problem is not addressed, it will develop into a more serious condition, such as asthma. If you answered yes to questions 4 and 7, then most likely you are already developing asthma or persistent rhinitis - periodic rhinitis that most often leads to asthma. Children often have masked hay fever. It may, for example, cause ear congestion to the point of hearing loss, and nothing more. Such a baby needs to be shown to an allergist. But at this age it is very problematic to do a skin test, because it will be difficult for the baby to sit in one place for 20 minutes. The test is performed after 5 years of age, and before this age it is recommended to donate blood for allergens. The doctor needs to tell you whether your mother, father, grandfather, or grandmother suffer from allergies.

The examination can be done by an allergist at your place of residence. As for prevention, you should try to go out less during this time, flush your airways with water, and drink more and more often.

Cross allergy

Doctors are well aware of this point. Doctors know that there are whole complexes of allergens. If you are allergic to one thing, you may also develop a reaction to some other plants or foods. For example, patients who react to tree pollen often have food allergies to tree nuts, cherries, some varieties of apples, and carrots. Very often, questions about cross-allergy arise from nursing mothers who want to protect their babies from allergic reactions. We are talking about food products that have cross properties with plant pollen, which can cause hay fever in women prone to allergies. It would seem that young potatoes do not belong to tree derivatives, but nevertheless, an allergy can occur to them. For example, some people develop nasal congestion when peeling new potatoes. As a rule, these are potential allergy patients with sensitization to trees. Such people cannot eat berries that grow on bushes, but they can eat those berries that grow in swamps. You can also eat long bananas (the so-called fodder ones), which are the fruits of herbaceous plants, and not trees, as is often thought. But short bananas that grow on palm trees should be consumed with caution. Nuts include hazelnuts and walnuts, but peanuts belong to the legume family. Therefore, patients with nut allergies can eat peanuts.

Doctors are not inclined to divide cross-food components into rigid groups. For allergy sufferers who react to tree pollen, carrots can also cause a reaction; freshly squeezed carrot juice in this case is very dangerous; you should also be careful with celery and new potatoes.

Allergies can occur to latex products, since this material is a derivative of rubber plants. This is why some people have reactions to pacifiers, condoms, erasers, adhesive tape, and even balloons.

In people who actively react to the pollen of cereal grasses in June-July, crossover usually occurs on porridge, bread, beer, kvass, pasta, cakes, pastries (everything that is directly related to cereals). But they can eat buckwheat, which is a cruciferous vegetable (buckwheat bread or porridge).

If you are allergic to Asteraceae, a reaction can occur to everything related to sunflower, that is, sunflower oil and seeds. These include decoctions of chamomile, string, celandine, aloe, and Kalanchoe.

Prevention of hay fever

The first step is to minimize contact with pollen. There are basic rules that can help. Do not travel out of town during allergy season, do not keep windows open in the office and at home, and do not ventilate the room excessively. It is necessary to free the respiratory tract from pollen as much as possible, and rinse the nasopharynx more often. Be sure to take a shower, wash your hair more often, and change clothes. Wear sunglasses and do not dry things on the balcony.

Allergy shots

There is a specific allergic therapy that is administered to those suffering from hay fever. Essentially, like cures like. Because a water-salt extract of the allergen is introduced into the patient’s body in small doses. The allergen is introduced in small, incremental doses, thereby forcing the body to produce protective proteins. By introducing allergens into the body in tiny doses, we accustom it to more powerful doses. The body is trained to respond to the allergen. This is a modern, highly effective method of treating allergies. Such treatment can only be carried out by an allergist, and not during the hay fever season. When an allergen is introduced, the body weakens somewhat because, in essence, we are gradually introducing a substance that it perceives as poison. If you do not properly prepare the body, then some negative reactions are possible. The effectiveness of this treatment is very high. Children can be treated from the age of three, but, as a rule, such a course is still carried out for children after five years.

Allergies to house dust and pets

House dust is the most insidious allergen because it affects the human body throughout the year. It turns out that the upper respiratory tract is under pressure all the time. But you need to understand the main thing - an allergy occurs to a foreign protein component. What is included in this very dust? Dust allergen consists of many components - these are fungal spores, mites, and the epidermis of domestic animals. The main allergen is mites, which live in dust and feed on everything that a person can give them, namely particles of the epidermis and sweat. That is, biological substances. There are other representatives of fauna that can cause an allergic reaction. These are cockroaches and other insects that live in a person’s house. Fungal flora can also be a serious allergen.

Allergy to pet fur

Allergy to pet dander is a serious problem. However, there is a big mistake here! Allergies occur to the epidermis (particles of skin) of animals. And the wool simply carries particles of the epidermis. It is known that many people dream of having a kitten or puppy, but cannot afford it due to allergies. Scientists all over the world are looking for ways to give them this joy and are even breeding breeds of hairless cats and hairless dogs without hair, especially for allergy sufferers. But this doesn't help! After all, even hairless cats have an epidermis. Indeed, the epidermis of a cat is highly allergenic. Therefore, even a hairless cat can become a source of allergies. They are more dangerous than cats. Therefore, experts do not advise people who have or have previously had an allergic reaction to cats to have animals. It’s also good if the reaction occurs on the animal’s epidermis.

Allergy to cockroaches

According to recent studies, an allergy to cockroaches is a provoking factor in the development of asthma. It turned out that the majority of children who were examined for asthma have cockroaches at home. It has been proven that the main allergen is cockroach excrement. In addition, the cockroach sheds and leaves a chitinous coating in house dust, which also causes allergies.

Fungal allergy

Mushrooms may be present in damp, poorly ventilated rooms, or in old rooms that have not been renovated for a long time. As a rule, as a result of allergies, breathing through the nose becomes difficult and chronic rhinitis appears. If we are talking about an apartment where mold fungi have settled, then it is urgent to carry out general cleaning, dry the room or make repairs.

An allergy to antibiotics can be very pronounced. Antibiotics no longer act as allergens, but as substances that suppress not only pathogenic, but also at the same time friendly microflora of the human body. The space is freed up and fungi can take over this space. The fungus, as a rule, infects the intestines only when the immune system is weakened. It is very harmful to interrupt a started course of antibiotics. In this case, the pathogenic microflora will weaken, but will not die. And the microbes adapt to the antibiotic. Gradually mutating, they become insensitive to many antibiotics and settle in the human body for a long time. Chronic foci of infection arise, which in turn cause an exacerbation of allergic diseases.

Allergy to house dust components

A fairly widespread disease is severe sensitivity to dust in the house, and it overlaps with penicillin antibiotics, since the dust may contain the penicillium fungus. Allergists perform a special rinse test to detect allergies to antibiotics.

It has already been noted above: particles of the chitinous covering of domestic insects accumulate in house dust, causing an allergic reaction.

Allergies or worm infestation?

False allergic reaction

If you come into contact with even a small amount of an allergen, say a small piece of fish, there will be a reaction.

A false allergic reaction, pseudoallergy, is observed when there is a large accumulation of some substances. Food pseudo-allergens include canned food, chocolate, and citrus fruits. What matters here is the amount of product consumption. Overeating disrupts the gastrointestinal tract, a reaction occurs that, in general, is not allergic, but in its manifestations is more similar to a toxic reaction.

I have never had a pronounced congenital allergy to anything. Once, when I was six years old, I got all over me because I ate too much strawberries - that’s all I can tell you about my allergic reactions. Some of my friends had allergic reactions to the flowering of certain plants (poplar fluff) already in adulthood, and for some the allergies stopped bothering them after 13 years.

Why does this happen, how to protect yourself from it, is it possible to avoid it and what to do if it is hereditary?

Allergy (ancient Greek ἄλλος - other, other, alien + ἔργον - impact) is the hypersensitivity of the body's immune system upon repeated exposure to an allergen on an organism previously sensitized by this allergen.

How allergies occur is still unclear

Scientists have not yet come to a common denominator and cannot say exactly where allergies come from, but the number of people suffering from one form or another is growing. Allergens include: latex, gold, pollen (especially ragweed, amaranth and cockleweed), penicillin, insect venom, peanuts, papaya, jellyfish stings, perfume, eggs, house mite feces, pecans, salmon, beef and nickel.

As soon as these substances start a chain reaction, your body sends its response with a fairly wide range of reactions - from an annoying rash to death. A rash appears, lips swell, chills may begin, a stuffy nose and a burning sensation in the eyes. Food allergies can cause vomiting or diarrhea. For a very unlucky minority, allergies can result in a potentially fatal reaction known as anaphylactic shock.

There are medications, but none of them can cure allergies forever. Antihistamines relieve symptoms, but also cause drowsiness and other unpleasant side effects. There are drugs that really save lives, but they need to be taken for a very long time, and some types of allergies can only be treated with complex methods, that is, one medication option is clearly not enough.

Scientists will be able to find a medicine that will rid us of allergies once and for all only if they understand the main causes of this disease. But so far they have only partially deciphered this process.

Allergy is not a biological mistake, but our defense

It is this fundamental question that concerns Ruslana Medzhitova, a scientist who has made several fundamental discoveries related to the immune system over the past 20 years and has received several major awards, including a 4 million euro Else Kröner Fresenius Award.

Medzhitov is currently studying a question that could revolutionize immunology: why do we suffer from allergies? No one has an exact answer to this question yet.

Medzhitov believes that this is wrong and that allergies are not just a biological mistake.

Allergy is a defense against harmful chemicals. Protection that helped our ancestors for tens of millions of years and still helps us today.

He admits that his theory is quite controversial, but he is confident that history will prove him right.

But sometimes our immune system harms us

The healers of the ancient world knew a lot about allergies. Three thousand years ago, Chinese doctors described an “allergic plant” that caused runny noses in the fall.

There is also evidence that the Egyptian pharaoh Menes died from a wasp sting in 2641 BC.

What is food for one is poison for another.

Lucretius,
Roman philosopher

And only a little over 100 years ago, scientists realized that such different symptoms could be the heads of one hydra.

Researchers have discovered that many diseases are caused by bacteria and pathogens, and our immune system fights these invaders with an army of cells that can release deadly chemicals and highly targeted antibodies.

It has also been found that, in addition to protection, the immune system can cause harm.

At the beginning of the 20th century, French scientists Charles Richet(Charles Richet) and Paul Portier(Paul Portier) studied the effect of toxins on the body. They injected small doses of sea anemone venom into dogs and then waited a few more weeks before administering the next dose. As a result, the dogs suffered anaphylactic shock and died. Instead of protecting the animals, the immune system made them more sensitive to this poison.

Other researchers have observed that some medications caused rashes and other symptoms. And this sensitivity developed progressively - a reaction that is the opposite of the protection against infectious diseases that antibodies provide the body.

Austrian doctor Clemens von Pirquet(Clemens von Pirquet) was studying whether the body can change the body's response to incoming substances. He coined the word “allergy” to describe this work, combining the Greek words alos (others) and ergon (work).

For the immune system, the allergic process is an understandable thing

In subsequent decades, scientists discovered that the molecular steps of these reactions were remarkably similar. The process was triggered when the allergen was on the surface of the body - skin, eyes, nasal passage, throat, respiratory tract or intestines. These surfaces are filled with immune cells that act as border guards.

When the “border guard” encounters an allergen, it absorbs and destroys the uninvited guests, and then supplements its surface with fragments of the substance. The cell then localizes some lymphatic tissue, and these fragments are passed on to other immune cells, which produce special antibodies known as immunoglobulin E or IgE.

These antibodies will cause a response if they encounter the allergen again. The reaction begins immediately after the antibodies activate components of the immune system - mast cells, which trigger a barrage of chemicals.

Some of these substances can catch nerves, causing itching and coughing. Sometimes mucus begins to be produced, and exposure to these substances in the respiratory tract can cause breathing problems.

Shutterstock/Designua

This picture has been painted by scientists over the last century, but it only answers the question “How?”, but does not explain at all why we suffer from allergies. And this is surprising, since the answer to this question is quite clear for most parts of the immune system.

Our ancestors faced exposure to pathogenic organisms, and natural selection left behind mutations that helped them fend off these attacks. And these mutations are still accumulating so that we can give a worthy rebuff.

Seeing how natural selection could create allergies was the hardest part. A strong allergic reaction to the most harmless things was hardly part of the survival system of our ancestors.

Allergies can also be quite strangely selective.

Not all people are prone to allergies, and only some substances are allergens. Sometimes people develop allergies when they are already quite an adult, and sometimes childhood allergies disappear without a trace (we say “outgrown”).

For decades, no one could really understand why IgE was needed in the first place. He showed no special abilities that could stop a virus or bacteria. It's more like we've evolved to have one particular type of antibody cause us a lot of trouble.

The first clue came to us in 1964.

During his internship, Medzhitov studied the theory of worms, but after 10 years he began to have doubts. According to him, this theory made no sense, so he began developing his own.

He was mainly thinking about how our bodies perceive the world around us. We can recognize photon patterns with our eyes and air vibration patterns with our ears.

According to Medzhitov's theory, the immune system is another pattern recognition system that recognizes molecular signatures instead of light and sound.

Medzhitov found confirmation of his theory in the work Charles Janeway(Charles Janeway), an immunologist at Yale University (1989).

Advanced immune system and overreaction to invaders

At the same time, Janeway believed that antibodies had one big drawback: it took several days for the immune system to develop its response to the aggressive actions of a new invader. He suggested that the immune system may have another line of defense that works faster. Perhaps it can use pattern recognition to detect bacteria and viruses more quickly and begin eliminating the problem faster.

After Medzhitov contacted Janeway, scientists began working on the problem together. They soon discovered a new class of sensors on the surface of certain types of immune cells.

When faced with invaders, the sensor wraps around the intruder and sets off a chemical alarm that helps other immune cells find and kill the pathogens. This was a fast and accurate way to recognize and eliminate bacterial invaders.

So they discovered new receptors, now known as toll-like receptors, which showed a new dimension in immune defense and which were proclaimed as a fundamental principle of immunology. It also helped solve a medical problem.

Infections sometimes lead to catastrophic inflammation throughout the body - sepsis. In the United States alone, this affects millions of people every year. Half of them die.

For years, scientists have believed that bacterial toxins can cause the immune system to malfunction, but sepsis is just an exaggerated immune defense response against bacteria and other invaders. Instead of acting locally, it activates a line of defense throughout the body. Septic shock is the result of these defense mechanisms being activated much more than the situation actually requires. The result is death.

Home body alarm system that gets rid of allergens

Despite the fact that Medzhitov initially did not engage in science in order to treat people, the discoveries he made allow doctors to take a fresh look at the mechanisms that trigger sepsis, and thus find appropriate treatment that will be aimed at eliminating the real cause of this disease - overreaction of toll-like receptors.

The more Medzhitov thought about allergens, the less important their structure seemed to him. Perhaps what connects them is not their structure, but their actions?

We know that allergens often cause physical damage. They tear open cells, irritate membranes, tear proteins to shreds. Perhaps allergens cause so much harm that we need to protect ourselves from them?

When you think about all the major allergy symptoms - stuffy red nose, tears, sneezing, coughing, itching, diarrhea and vomiting - they all have one common denominator. They are all like an explosion! Allergies are a strategy for ridding the body of allergens!

It turned out that this idea has been floating on the surface of various theories for a long time, but each time it is drowned again and again. Back in 1991, evolutionary biologist Margie Profe(Margie Profet) claimed that the allergies were fighting toxins. But immunologists rejected the idea, perhaps because Profe was an outsider.

Medzhitov, with two of his students Noah Palm and Rachel Rosenstein, published his theory in Nature in 2012. Then he started testing it. First, he tested the connection between the damage and allergies.

Medzhitov and his colleagues injected mice with PLA2, an allergen found in bee venom (it ruptures cell membranes). As Medzhitov predicted, the immune system did not respond specifically to PLA2 at all. It was only when PLA2 damaged exposed cells that the body began producing IgE.

Another of Medzhitov's proposals was that these antibodies would protect the mice rather than just make them sick. To test this, he and his colleagues gave a second injection of PLA2, but this time the dose was much higher.

And if the animals had practically no reaction to the first dose, then after the second the body temperature rose sharply, even to the point of death. But some mice, for reasons that are not entirely clear, developed a certain allergic reaction, and their body remembered and reduced exposure to PLA2.

On the other side of the country, another scientist was doing an experiment that ended up further confirming Medzhitov’s theory.

Stephen Galli, chairman of the department of pathology at Stanford University, has spent years studying mast cells, mysterious immune cells that can kill people in an allergic reaction. He theorized that these mast cells might actually help the body. For example, in 2006, he and his colleagues discovered that mast cells destroy a toxin found in snake venom.

This discovery made Galli think the same thing Medzhitov was thinking - that allergies might actually be a defense.

Designua/Shutterstock

Galli and his colleagues conducted the same experiments with mice and bee venom. And when they injected mice that had never before been exposed to this type of poison with IgE antibodies, it turned out that their bodies received the same protection from a potentially lethal dose of poison as the bodies of mice exposed to this toxin.

Until now, despite all the experiments, many questions remain unanswered. How exactly does damage caused by bee venom lead to a protective IgE response and how did IgE protect the mice? These are exactly the questions that Medzhitov and his team are currently working on. In their opinion, the main problem is mast cells and the mechanism of their work.

Jamie Cullen(Jaime Cullen) studied how IgE antibodies latch onto mast cells and cause them to become sensitive or (in some cases) hypersensitive to allergens.

Medzhitov predicted that this experiment would show that allergen detection works like a home alarm system. In order to understand that a thief has broken into your house, it is not at all necessary to see his face - a broken window will tell you about it. Damage caused by the allergen awakens the immune system, which collects molecules in the immediate vicinity and produces antibodies to them. Now the offender has been identified and next time it will be much easier to deal with him.

Allergies make much more evolutionary sense when thought of as a home alarm system. Toxic chemicals, regardless of their source (poisonous animals or plants), have long been a threat to human health. Allergies were supposed to protect our ancestors by flushing these substances out of the body. And the discomfort that our ancestors felt as a result of all this may have forced them to move to safer places.

Allergies have more advantages than disadvantages

Like many adaptive mechanisms, allergies are not perfect. It reduces our chances of dying from toxins, but it still doesn't eliminate the risk completely. Sometimes, due to too strong a reaction, an allergy can kill, as has already been the case in experiments on dogs and mice. But still, the benefits of allergies outweigh the disadvantages.

This balance has shifted with the advent of new synthetic substances. They expose us to a wider range of compounds that can potentially cause damage and cause an allergic reaction. Our ancestors could avoid allergies by simply walking to the other side of the forest, but we can't get rid of some substances so easily.

Over the next few years, Medzhitov hopes to convince skeptics with results from other experiments. And this may lead to a revolution in the way we think about allergies. And he will start with a pollen allergy. Medzhitov does not hope for a quick victory for his theory. For now, he is simply happy that he manages to change people’s attitudes towards allergic reactions and they stop perceiving it as a disease.

You sneeze, and that's good, because that way you protect yourself. Evolution doesn't care at all how you feel.