ALLERGIES
ALLERGIES

Allergy is not a disease but the body’s response to environment, food and work place. An allergic individual is suffering from an overreaction of the immune system to environmental substances. To diagnose the responsible allergen, skin tests are used. There are two different skin tests. The intradermal, which is the introduction of preprinted skin allergenic extracts of high power but have the disadvantage of being painful and prick tests, where the allergiologist pierces the food first and then the patient’s skin. Of course the disadvantages of intradermal procedures, is the risk of anaphylaxis and physical pain caused by injection. With ambient air circulating there are many pollen species, but of unknown reason only few of them have clinical significance. Grasses are the most important pollens in the summer month’s period. Mugwort sensitizes high number of people but causes a few symptoms, and the season is beginning of autumn. The olive and parietaria pollens are common cause of seasonal allergic rhinitis in many Mediterranean countries. Also cause severe asthma symptoms. The vast majority of pollens remain in the nose so that allergic rhinitis is the most frequent immune entity. The most common symptoms are itching, nose tickling, watery rinorea and stuffy nose. Many patients with pollen allergies react with itchy mouth when eating some types of fresh vegetables, fruit or nuts. In Spring flare house dust mites is observed. The number of mites and allergens exposure during strongest hours of sleep, but nasal obstruction, sneezing and rinorhea worse immediately after getting out of bead. The house dust mites of the genus dermatophagus are recognized as the major triggers of allergic asthma. Bedding found to favor the growth of huge numbers of mites and dust, in the bed are more than 1.300 mites per gram. When level of mites exceed 10 micrograms per gram of house dust(equivalent to approximately 200 mites per gram dust) associated with the onset of allergic asthma. Instead of the same allergen level below 1 microgram per gram of dust are considered safe. Moreover asthmatics evacuated from their homes and lived for 6 weeks in an environment free from mites, significantly improved symptoms and have a significant reversal of bronchial hyperactivity. The use of vinyl covers for pillows and the mattress and wash each month caps, significantly reduce the number of mites and reduce bronchial hyperactivity. Pneumonitis is also associated with prolonged exposure to antigens found in the home of professional environment. Responsible antigens are microorganisms which are found in moldy hay, fertilizers in powder of grain and in air conditioning systems. The general symptoms after contact with these antigens are fever, arthralgia, cough, dyspnea which disappeared after 36 hours and reappear with new exposure to the allergen.
Biological studies are known that all people under normal circumstances exhibited in a number of different allergens. In central and southern Europe people are exposed to at least 35 allergens with demonstrated immunogenicity. These include ingredients of skin flora (visible only in the case of eczema), food and inhaled allergens indoors and outdoors. The usual environmental allergen are epithelia and secretions from animals (dogs, cats, rodents), house dust mites, insects, fungi. Unfortunately it is impossible to obtain extracts of all allergens for routine diagnostic tests. The most common house contaminant is tobacco smoke. While acting as irritant rather than allergen, his contribution to the severity of respiratory symptoms is important. If stopping smoking is not achieved at home or at work then the success of allergen avoidance will be modest. The construction of buildings along the way to vent the interior, the design and how to clean down define the active load of allergens from rodents, mites and fungal spores. Cockroaches if enter your home they adapt easily and rapidly increasing space. In this case it is imposed systematic deworming of skilled people. At home washing clothes in the washing machine at 60 degrees is effective to destroy the mites. For items that do not fit in the laundry exist any special cleaning powders and foams to devour ticks. Cleaning of flour and carpets should be done 1-2 times per year. End, devices that accumulate allergens dehumidifiers and vacuum cleaners. The most effective substance for suppressing allergic reactions are antihistamines which compete with histamine, basic substance produced by the body in the challenge of allergic reaction. The main result of their treatment is to relieve the itching. Xanthenes are used in mild asthma along with inhaled corticosteroids. Anticholinergic drugs have bronchodilator effects. Sympaticomimetics drugs are used for the prevention of nocturnal asthma attacks. Intravenous steroids have anti-inflammatory action, but many side effects such as obesity and osteoporosis. The immunosuppressive drugs are nephrotoxic. Immunotherapy is the administration of gradually increasing doses of allergen. Basically is a vaccination in order to produce antibodies. This therapy is contraindicated of course in patients with severe diseases such as heart disease and malignancies.
Homeopathy does not agree with the chemical treatment of allergies because in this manner the immune system is suppressed and the disease recurs constantly without ever cured. In short, the chemical treatment offers only temporary relief. With homeopathy the immune system becomes progressively stronger and sneezes, nasal and eyes irritation are past.
For patients who can not detach chemical drugs, complementary acupuncture and auriculotherapy offer very good results. End, allergy is an excessive immune response. For this reason, the correct diet calms this excessive response. The same applies to all auto-immune diseases.
 
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