Allergic Diseases
Last Update Date: 4/16/2024 12:14:53 AM
An allergy is an extremely abnormal reaction of our body's immune system to certain substances (allergens) that are present in our environment and are not harmful. Our immune system creates various responses to protect our body against foreign and harmful substances that are present in our environment and enter our body through the mouth, nose and skin. With these reactions, immune system cells eliminate harmful substances or prevent them from entering the body.
In allergies, on the other hand, the immune system causes an excessive reaction to substances that are not normally harmful to the body.
What is an Allergy?
Substances that form specific antibodies against themselves in the organism are called antigens. If this antigen develops an allergic condition, then the antigen is called an allergen. Allergens are normally harmless substances for most people, but they cause allergic diseases in people with atopic structures, that is, people who are prone to the development of allergies. Allergic diseases are chronic disorders that develop due to the coexistence of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. They are not transmitted and carried from person to person.
First, a sensitivity is formed in the body due to the coexistence of genetic predisposition and environmental allergen. As a result of this sensitivity, the immune system releases an antibody called IgE. This antibody is distributed throughout the body through the bloodstream and adheres to immune system cells. If the allergen enters the body again, the antibody immediately recognizes it and gives a very severe reaction. During this reaction, thousands of substances secreted from the immune system create an abnormally severe allergic response in the organ affected by the allergen.
What are Allergic Diseases?
The disease and its symptoms vary depending on the type of disease, severity, age and gender of the patient:
Allergic sinusitis: There is sneezing, nasal itching, nasal discharge, or nasal congestion that persists in certain months of the year or all year round in rhinitis and conjunctivitis. Post-nasal discharge, tickle in the throat, lacrimation, red and itchy eyes, fullness of the ear, rustling, itching, headache, ear pain, anosmia, loss of sense of taste, and voice changes may occur.
Asthma: There may be shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, or airway obstruction. It is very typical for these complaints to occur suddenly and in the form of crises, to improve spontaneously or with treatment after a while, to recur, and to wake patients up at night.
Skin allergies: Itching, puffiness, red rashes, serous drainage, scaling, lichenification and skin discoloration may occur on the skin.
Stomach: Intestinal canal allergies may cause complaints such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, developmental delay, weakness due to anemia, paleness, and swelling of the eyelids and legs.
Angioneurotic edema and anaphylaxis: Sudden swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat, obstruction, pale skin, redness, itching and swelling, rashes, shortness of breath, wheezing, drop in the blood pressure, fever, sweating, palpitations, arrhythmia, cyanosis, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, febrile seizures, respiratory arrest and death may occur to varying degrees depending on the severity of the picture.
Treatment of Allergic Diseases at Liv Hospital
While skin and blood tests are used for diagnosis at Liv Hospital Allergy Clinic, immunotherapy (allergy vaccine treatment) is performed in the form of subcutaneous injection and sublingual vaccination in suitable patients, as well as preventive measures and medications in the treatment.
