Medical Information Weblog

Archive for the ‘Allergies’ Category

Allergic skin reactions
Allergy suffering is quite common, but not all allergies are the same. One of them is produced by contact with a foreign substance that causes us itching and stinging. To avoid this, we must ensure that what generates it.
What is?
Our body recognizes as foreign substances in the outside and develops a mechanism that causes immune reactions occur.
In the case of the skin, the body activates an inflammatory process that causes cells by skin lesions appear.
Eczema is a skin lesion characterized by inflammation and flaking. It is produced by the reaction of our organism to a substance which has had contact.
The most common causes are metals, chromium, colognes or deodorants components and the application or ingestion of certain medications.
Symptoms
Mild eczema, rashes and redness on the skin surface.
The skin swells and changes its appearance to the touch and sight.
The redness and warmth, redness due to increased blood supply by inflammation, pruritus, which is characterized by itching in the area, the papule, which is identified by its relief, the vesiculation or blistering known, and the eczematization, which produces skin peeling.
Treatment
Going to a medical specialist to find out whether an allergy.
Determine the substance that produces allergy and avoid components that cause it.
Corticosteroid ointment or topically applied antihistamines and corticosteroid injections, according to the intensity of the reaction.

The parasite of fish
Most Spanish we learned of the existence of Anisakis in the Christmas of 2006 when the Cabinet approved a Royal Decree to protect consumers, and the Ministry of Health launched a prevention campaign to publicize the risks of this parasite, which is found only in fish. Allergic reactions and gastrointestinal disturbances are the consequences of this infection; the incidence begins to grow in our country.

The new culinary trends in the consumption of raw or undercooked fish are becoming increasingly common, and the depletion of traditional fishing grounds, which have forced to venture into remote areas where the parasite is more prevalent, make it imperative that the catering sector and individual consumers have clear home three basic tips to prevent anisakiasis: clean fish as soon as possible, properly cooked, because heat kills the larvae, and freeze it in case of will be consumed raw or undercooked at a temperature below -20 ° C for at least a day.

you just have to spend a few hours for the symptoms of this infection to manifest. It usually appears abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. The larvae, which typically measure up to 2 cm, it may even cough up. If they pass into the intestine, the response may occur to one or two weeks later and causes symptoms similar to Crohn’s disease.

Sensitive people may suffer severe anaphylactic reactions after eating fish infected with Anisakis and the reaction can be confused with an allergy to shellfish, as anisakid are hard to find in a test. In addition, this parasite often causes a reaction in tests for other allergens. In most cases, treatment is symptomatic of this infection because the parasite, by its own life cycle, cannot survive in humans and eventually die.

95% of cases of anisakiasis patients are recorded in Japan by the high consumption of sushi or sashimi. In Spain, the incidence begins to grow and Spanish health authorities themselves acknowledge that cases are now detected for years no infections were diagnosed as Anisakis. That was the ‘ordeal’ of Maria Del Carmen Jimenez; 40 years ago began to suffer terrible allergic reactions in so far as to lose consciousness. “The attacks lasted about 72 hours when they become dehydrated by the amount of water from the nose,” he recalls.

His case became a mystery for experts and on a pilgrimage from hospital to hospital, where doctors gave up again and again after exhausting all kinds of tests. The frequency with which Maria Del Carmen had to travel to Madrid to follow the evidence had finally forced to set up residence there. “This disease has been the shadow of life” for over 20 years, the time used to pass by the best Spanish allergists, both public health and the private, finally unable to recognize not only relieve your symptoms but to diagnose his illness.

“It was a very rare case,” he admits, “and I did all kinds of tests, some of which is best forgotten.” Fondly remembers Dr. Bartholomew, your doctor the Clinical Hospital of Madrid, who has followed his journey and carrying the results of each specialist to whom he went. And so year after year in which even Maria Del Carmen went to Lourdes. “My husband did not believe in those things, but we were at a point where he had to try everything,” he admits.

After 25 years of unknowns, the impotence of the specialists that the case of Maria Del Carmen passed through the hands of the leading allergists in our country, the solution found in Japan. The year was 1993, when in Spain there was no evidence to diagnose fish allergy and Anisakis was a real unknown. Its history traveled from the Clinical Hospital of Madrid to Japan, and on his return brought him so many times they had expected, a diagnosis: anisakiasis.

It has been 15 years since then and Maria Del Carmen only eats frozen hake, even dares to freeze the fish at home. His three sons and one of his grandchildren also are allergic to Anisakis, although both have been conditioned to like her life. “My illness was the destruction of my house,” he admits. Of course, he recalls with a smile that always said in those days, “after all I’m going in my youth, I eventually will become a grandmother ye-ye.” And he has done.

Why am I allergic to?
girl is allergic to something more normal. It is a disease that is caused by substances that our body recognizes as foreign and reacts to them, manifesting through eruptions and skin rashes, changes in the respiratory system and may even endanger the patient’s life.
These components, called allergens, are constantly around us and can be classified in many different groups. Although sometimes it seems impossible to avoid a reaction, the patient must try to expose them as possible. It is therefore essential to know what we are facing.

Which is an allergy?
colirioEstas eye disorders may be of different types and present very different symptoms, but, as explained by Dr. Miguel year, particularly in allergy, allergy “is the mechanism by which our body recognizes as foreign, specifically through your immune system substances that are on the outside and can be of various origins: epithelia, mites, fungi, pollens. ”
Having an allergy is something that more and more frequently occurs, leading to talk of an incidence of nearly 40% of the population. In addition, experts say that in recent years this percentage has increased significantly, appearance attributable to changes in the ecosystem. However, “there is a genetic or familial predisposition that makes some people more affected than others,” says the allergist.
Our body reacts
all we ever heard of someone or have a known allergy to cat fur, dust, pollen. “These are considered allergies Type 1 or immediate hypersensitivity, as they cause the reaction at the time you enter contact with the allergen that causes it, affecting the airways and irritate the eyes. The doctor says Añó also often complaint of “atopic dermatitis with or without food allergies, asthma and rhinitis associated with some component allergic “.
Other reactions that usually occur are those that occur in some patients certain drugs, and contact urticaria.
The diagnosis of these allergies is through a study of the patient, their habits and their environment, to list and quantify allergens to which you may be exposed. These data confirm through various allergy tests (prick test, prick prik by, epiutáneas, photo patch test, alkali resistance test, respiratory function tests, bronchial provocation tests specific meal tolerance tests or medications …), which will reveal those substances which are more sensitive.

Beware of allergens
diagnosis reveals the expert, “there are several possible treatments, avoidance (based on medical diet), symptomatic (drugs) and finally the cause or etiology (desensitizing antigen vaccination)?. The latter, added the specialist? Get used to cure the allergy, when cure understand the absence of symptoms. In addition, managed to stop the immune system so that no further increase in allergy. ”

Keep in mind that some allergies can be very dangerous, threatening the patient’s life or, at least, become really uncomfortable and significantly worse quality of life of the sufferer. Therefore, it is best placed in the hands of a specialist to tell us the best course of treatment.

This is one of the most important statements that can be drawn from the interview published today by La Opinión de Zamora made to Elena Alonso Lebreton, Allergy Section of Hospital Gregorio Maranon de Madrid. And is that nuts are a potent allergen (in the case of allergy producing), and a small amount can lead to major reactions. We must therefore pay particular attention to the case of children. Nuts
It also notes that the most common reactions are skin, more flashy but generally mild.

Fortunately the allergy to this type of food is not very common, with a ratio of diagnosed cases of one per 500,000 children.

Prevention of allergies in children born to families who have the talent allergies should be started when the child in the womb. Pregnant women who have a history of allergy in the family does not need a diet that lead to the prevention of food allergy to prevent malnutrition in the womb. What is important is to avoid cigarette smoke. “If not promptly treated, allergies can cause damage to body tissues and other allergies.
Exclusive breastfeeding can help prevent allergies later in life. Preventive measures against food that cause allergies need to be done by breastfeeding mothers and infants followed until age one to two years. In addition to avoiding foods that hiperalergenik, should also be done to avoid allergens from the environment, such as dust and cigarette smoke.

If suspicious of any discrepancy formula, parents should not too quickly sentenced to cow’s milk is the cause. Disorder may arise from the content contained in infant formulas, such as lactose, gluten, dyes, flavor taste, fat composition, the content of DHA, corn oil, and palm oil. In breastfeeding mothers consumed a diet can also cause allergic disorders.

To ascertain whether or not cow’s milk allergy, the child can undergo laboratory examinations. If necessary, consult an allergy specialist children, gastroenterology child, or child’s metabolic and endocrinology. Importantly, parents need to be careful in choosing formulas and look at the body organ disorder that occurs constantly in the long term, such as cough, shortness, diarrhea, and difficult defecation.

Allergic disease only declining in pediatric talent allergy called atopic. Now many mothers worked, thus unable lactating fully during two years. So, babies given formula. On children who talented allergic, milk based formula cow milk could so originator occurrence allergy. allergic represents immune reactions deviating and raises symptoms adverse body. In body contains five types antibody or immunoglobulin, namely immunoglobulin G, A, M, E and D. Immunoglobulins E is antibodies much contribution on allergic reactions. In patient body allergies, there immunoglobulin E High grade, especially immunoglobulin E who specific against substances certain triggers allergic reactions, like dust, furs, powders flower or certain foods, like egg, milk and sea fish. Proteins cow milk can cause allergy who settled until end childhoods both in forms pure milk or another form. Son who allergic cow milk not always allergic beef. Symptoms typical on children who allergic cow milk are diarrhea with excreta bleed. If proteins cow milk already incoming into body, skin can reddish. Disturbance consequence allergy formula could arising because rapid reaction or emergence symptom under four hours. On slow reaction or new symptoms arising after exceeding four hours. Signs and allergy symptoms milk almost same with food allergy. Disturbance it can interfere all organs, especially digestion, skin and airway.

Many latest research disclose, disturbances gastrointestinal chronic with various mechanisms imunopatofisiologis and imunopatobiologis may disturb neurofungsional brain. Disturbance brain function it can affect disturbance behavioral, like less concentration, easy emotions, disturbances sleep, lateness talk, disturbances concentration, until aggravate symptoms hyperactive and autism.