What is allergy?
Allergy can be defined as an excess of the body's normal reaction. Genetic structure is the most important factor in the occurrence of the disease.
Reasons for the increase in allergic diseases:
1.Increase in air pollution
2.Exposure to ultraviolet rays as a result of the hole in the ozone layer
3.Smoking
4.Additives in food
5.Sudden weather changes
6.Drugs and cosmetic products used
7 .Stress
8.Decrease in vegetation
9.Buildings with little sun exposure, carpeted throughout, poorly ventilated
ALLERGIC WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Allergy symptoms are diverse and develop depending on the target organ affected.
Nasal congestion, sneezing attacks in the morning, runny nose, burning and stinging in the eyes. , postnasal drip, cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, itching, rash, swelling of the lips and tongue, recurrent middle ear infections, sinusitis..
WHAT IS ALLERGIC RHINITIS (HAY FEVER)?
It is the most common allergic disease. It affects 25% of the population.
Typical symptoms include itching in the nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, itching in the throat, burning-stinging in the eyes, and runny nose. It can last all year long or it can be seasonal (in the spring months).
Patients with hay fever have a x3 higher risk of developing asthma.
What are the causes?
House dust (mite)
Pollens
Mold fungi
Cat-dog hair
Foods with dyes and additives
How is the diagnosis made?
A skin allergy test is performed to detect the responsible allergy.
What is the treatment?
Patient education is the most important stage of the treatment. Take the time to discuss the course of the disease, planned changes in treatment depending on the intensity of the complaints, and drug or vaccine treatment.
1. Identifying and removing the responsible factor is the first stage of treatment.
The most common factors are; House dust mites are the cause of year-round rhinitis, and pollens are the cause of seasonal rhinitis. dir.
To reduce house dust mites; Bed linens should be washed at least once a week at 55 degrees and above, feathered toys and carpets should be removed, washable curtains should be used, pillows and duvets containing wool and feathers should not be used.
It is important to reduce the humidity in the house for those with mold allergies.
In those with pollen allergy; They should not go out on hot, dry and windy days, their hair should be washed before going to bed, they should wear glasses and a hat, and they should use a filter at home and in the car.
It is not a common situation for food allergies alone to cause allergic rhinitis symptoms.
2. Drug therapy
3. Vaccination treatment: The group that benefits the most are those who are sensitive to house dust and pollen.
URTICARIA (HIRVES)
It is usually raised from the skin. They are itchy lesions of various sizes. They can be seen in all age groups. The rash begins suddenly and resolves within 48 hours. Urticaria that lasts more than 6 weeks becomes chronic.
Rashes are more common in sensitive areas of our body, such as the neck, groin and chest area. Sometimes, if swelling of the lips and tongue is accompanied by dryness in the throat and hoarseness, angioedema involving deeper tissues, which is a more dangerous condition, may be observed.
There are various types of urticaria: Cholinergic urticaria causes sweating in the body, such as exercise, hot bath or excitement. It occurs with warnings and lasts for 10-15 minutes. Sun-related urticaria (solar urticaria) occurs shortly after exposure to the sun. Physical urticaria; It occurs after constant pressure is applied to the body, such as the parts squeezed by clothes.
Causes:
Foods (milk, eggs, cocoa, hazelnuts, peanuts, seafood, strawberries, bananas, chocolate...)
Food additives
Infections
Parasites (pinworms, worms.)
Insect and bee stings
Drugs (antibiotics, painkillers...)
Physical causes (heat, cold, pressure)
Hormonal causes (overactivity of thyroid hormone)
Diagnosis:
The diagnosis is usually made based on clinical findings. Allergy skin tests It should be done when drug allergy is suspected.
Treatment:
It is directed to the cause. Cold shower helps relieve itching.
FOOD ALLERGIES
The incidence is 6% in children and 1.5% in adults. Allergies caused by food additives are seen in 1% of the population. Although any food can cause allergy, the most common; cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, corn, hazelnuts, fish and shellfish.
Symptoms may appear within 1-2 minutes to 2 hours after eating the food: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, gas. , abdominal bloating, rash, swelling of the tongue and palate, itching and burning in the throat may be observed.
Diagnosis:
Detailed history, skin test and food loading test.
After a definitive diagnosis is made, the food that causes allergy is removed from the diet. Milk, egg and soy allergy is temporary, while fish and peanut allergy can last for a long time.
Cow's milk allergy usually disappears around the age of 3.
DRUG ALLERGIES
The drugs that most commonly cause drug allergy are antibiotics and painkillers. Penicillin allergy is the most common drug allergy. Its incidence is 2%.
For diagnosis, skin test should be done.
ECZEMA
The incidence in childhood is 10% and it is a genetic disease. Drying of itchy skin with recurrent attacks. It is a skin disease that causes flaking. Asthma and flu are more likely to occur in babies with eczema.
It begins in early infancy, at the age of 2-3 months, and begins to heal at the age of 5. It first appears on the cheeks, then on the wrists and behind the knees.
Dryness of the skin increases in cold - dry air and after bathing.
Diagnosis is made based on clinical findings.
Treatment; Medication should be given during periods when the disease flares up.
Neutral pH soaps that do not dry the skin but moisturize it and moisturizing creams should be used. Factors that increase the disease should be explained to the patient. Excessive sweating increases itching
ASTHIM
The most common chronic disease of childhood. is. It is an airway disease that progresses in attacks of the respiratory tract and causes cough, wheezing and shortness of breath as a result of air being prevented from entering and exiting the lungs. It can be seen at any age. The first symptoms appear around the age of 1, but mostly before the age of 4-5.
There are 1.5 million children with asthma under the age of 14 in Turkey.
Asthma. Stimulating the crisis:
Allergens (house dust, pollens, mold, animal dander)
Infections
Air change, increased humidity , cold weather
Exercise
Air pollution
Smoking
Stress
Night cough is typical in children with asthma; It is a cough that starts when you go to bed at night and occurs consecutively. Recurrence of cough and wheezing attacks should make you think of asthma.
Shortness of breath when you move, run or play, and sensitivity to different smells are other symptoms of asthma.
>In the diagnosis of asthma, apart from the clinical symptoms of the patient, respiratory function tests and blood tests can be performed depending on the age of the child.
Patient-physician cooperation is very important in its treatment. Patients and families should be informed about the disease. The aim is early diagnosis and treatment. Spray, Medicines taken directly by inhalation, such as dust, are of great importance.
The majority of children with asthma are allergic. Breastfeeding and avoiding allergens reduce the occurrence of the disease. Allergens can also pass to the baby through breast milk. Breastfeeding mothers must pay attention to their diet. Breastfeeding mothers should not eat peanuts, hazelnuts, bananas, milk and eggs. The later the allergy occurs, the better.
Allergic rhinitis is also present in children with asthma, and sinusitis is a common finding.
If precautions are not taken in time, children may have to live with allergies and the problems of this disease throughout their lives. You should not give your child everything he/she wants until he/she is 2 years old
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