Myths and delusions about allergies

At least every tenth person on the planet is faced with various manifestations of allergies. At the same time, in connection with the disease, many myths and delusions constantly arise. We decided to check the most common of them.

By statistics, In Russia, the incidence is higher than the average in the world: up to 30% of adults and almost 50% of children have allergies. Most often allergies manifests itself In the form of rhinitis (runny nose and nasal congestion), conjunctivitis, bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis. There are also acute allergic reactions - these include urticaria and edema of Quincke, and anaphylactic shock is considered the most severe form of allergy. Most often allergies provoke Various foods, dust, medicines, pollen and contact with other organisms (cats, dogs, wasp, bees, etc.).

Is it true that allergies cannot be cured?

Distributed opinionthat allergies - disease For life, cure It is impossible. The only thing the patient can do is avoid allergy source and take special drugs - Antihistamines.

Allergy is inadequate, undesirable and unexpected reaction The immune system in response to an external stimulus, which normally does not lead to a disease and is not able to harm a person. The immune system recognizes the harmless substance as an aggressor and begins to fight with it, developing antibodies or immunoglobulins like E (we have already written more about antibodies previously). Immunoglobulins, in turn, are activated by mastocytes - fat cells - and basophils, and they allow the body to distinguish histamine, cytokines and some other substances. Antihistamines, as can be seen from the name, Do not solve The problem of the pathological immune response, but only block the excessive production of histamine, thereby reducing the external manifestations of allergies and discomfort for the patient.

There is another approach to treatment - Allergen -specific immunotherapy (ASIT), aimed at “teaching” the body to adequately perceive the allergen. AIT assumes that the body will contact an allergen in strictly verified time intervals and in a certain dose. Therefore, such therapy can be compared with hardening - regularly dousing with cold water, you can increase the comfortable temperature range of the body. According to the latest data, AIS does not give a complete cure, but is able to bring the patient to many years of remission (more than 12 years in One research and more than 16 - in friend) without any symptoms of allergies. 

At the same time, some types of allergies (mainly food) can develop. By data Clinic Mayo (USA), from 60% to 80% of children who had allergies to eggs and milk, by the age of 16 develop it. With age, allergic manifestations in general Weaken: The sensitivity to domestic dust and ticks, as well as cats, is most significantly reduced, to a lesser extent this applies to pollen allergies. Australian Society of Allergies and Immunology NotesThat 85% of children with atopic dermatitis recover for adolescence, but have problems with skin and the selection of cosmetics all their lives.

There are also encouraging news. Scientists Developed A vaccine against allergies to the pollen of birch, it can also prevent an undesirable reaction to nuts and apples, and in the summer of 2022 Planned Start clinical trials of vaccines against allergies to cats. But today, most of the allergies are still considered incurable diseases. Existing drugs can bring the patient only to many years of remission, but not rid him of the disease completely.

Most of the truth

Is it true that poplar fluff is one of the strongest allergens?

On the network you can find dozens stories userscomplaining that they suffer from allergies to poplar fluff, and Also adviсe doctorsas with her fight.

In fact, the poplar does not belong to the most common allergens. Topol pollen extremely rare It causes an allergic reaction, and the poplar fluff itself is not at all capable of provoking it. However, the symptoms of allergies do not just coincide in time with fluff flying from trees. Firstly, fluffs irritate the mucous membranes mechanically (the immune system in this case does not participate in the reaction at all), and secondly, due to its structure, fluff accumulates And tolerates other allergens, such as pollen of cereal herbs, which causes an allergic answer.

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Is it true that allergies indicate low immunity?

Distributed opinionthat allergies - indicator low immunity, and, raising it with diverse means, Can get rid And from the symptoms of allergies.

Allergies are really related to violations in the work of the immune system, as we figured out above. However, the mechanism for the development of an allergic reaction testifies About failure in immune Rescuebut not about weak immunity in principle. An allergy occurs when the immune system is hypersensitive and reacts to what it should not be responded to normal. No methods for raising immunity in the list of medical measures during allergies Not included. Moreover, the very idea that immunity needs to be strengthened, in most options for the presentation represents Another medical myth.

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Is it true that allergies are always a contraindication for vaccination?

Exists fearthat the presence of allergies is always a lifelong honey carrier from any vaccinations. This is confident and parents children who are vaccinated according to the schedule of the national calendar of preventive vaccinations, and AdultsFearing to vaccinate from a new coronavirus infection.

Contraindications to vaccination are temporary and constant. To temporary, indeed Relate Exacerbations of chronic diseases, including allergies. In this case, the decision in each case is made not by the patient himself, but by his attending physician. Most often a doctor Consult To wait out the allergy season, if it comes to seasonal allergies, or minimize contact with the allergen before and after the introduction of the vaccine, if the patient has a different form of allergic reactions. As for vaccination against coronavirus infection, in the instructions for the "satellite V" It is spelled outthat the list of contraindications includes "Hypoving allergic reactions in history." However, the developers of the drug Chewthat seasonal and food allergies do not apply to such reactions.

Practicing doctors agree with the developers. “Food allergies (on strawberries, oranges, honey, etc.), as well as allergies to pollen or dust are not a reason for refusing vaccination” - claims Allergologist Vladimir Bolibok. The position of Russian specialists is shared by Western scientists. Recommendations The American college of allergies, asthma and immunology as an absolute contraindication indicates only allergies to the components of the vaccine, in other cases, consulting an allergist to make a decision is needed. Coincides and position European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology. 

Allergy to chicken protein also Not counted An absolute contraindication to vaccination in general - patients with this diagnosis should only avoid drugs made on its basis. 

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Is it true that allergies are a consequence of life in a bad ecology?

Supporters This hypothesis is converted attention The fact that before allergies was less common, and concludes that the disease is associated with a poor environmental situation. According to survey VTsIOM, 60% of Russians believe in this connection.

In fact, there is no such causal relationship between allergies and the environment of large cities. Scientists conducted many studies. Was Noticedthat people living in nature in close contact with animals are less prone to allergic reactions than citizens. Allergologist Olga Zhogoleva Explains It is like this: “We are less in contact with microbes, animals, plants. As a result of the immune system, there is nothing to train on. ” Indeed, living in houses where they are removed using antibacterial agents, More inclined to the development of asthma, while growing on a farm or surrounded by pets children More stable To the development of allergies. Even in such a low urbanized country as Gana, urban children more prone Allergies than their rural peers. Erica von Mutius, children's allergist from the University of Munich, Explains This is: “Contact with microbes at an early age helps the proper development of the child’s immune system. Without such a training, immunity is more inclined to attack the wrong targets, which becomes a prerequisite for the development of allergic and autoimmune diseases. ” Thus, not an increased level of pollution becomes a trigger, but on the contrary, too sterile habitat does not allow immunity to learn how to distinguish dangerous pathogens from safe and triggers allergic reactions.

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Is it true that there are hypoallergenic rocks of dogs and cats?

On the Internet you can find informationthat Graihounds, Bishon-Frieze, Shi-Tzu, Yorkshire Terriers, Poodles, Samoyeds, Jack-Rassel, English and French bulldogs, as well as some Other breeds belong to hypoallergenic dogs. Among the cats are the smallest discomfort for allergies is believed to be represented Sphinxes, Rexes, Orientals, Siamese, Siberian, Burmansk, as well as at the peak of popularity Likoi and elves. It is worth noting that among both dogs and cats, rocks are listed with both completely absent woolen cover, and short -haired and even long -haired.

Allergies to cats in the world suffers About 10% of the adult population and up to 14% of children. Hypersensitivity to dogs Distributed About two times less. According to data shelters, up to 80% of the animals come to them due to the fact that someone in the house had an allergy. Fel d 1 and Fel D 4 cat allergens, contrary to common opinion, Contained Not in animal wool, but in secretions of sebaceous and salivary glands. Licking, the cat transfers proteins allergen to the skin or woolen cover. And since these molecules are extremely small, they are easy Reach Human bronchi and alveoli, where severe allergic reactions are provoked. Interestingly, scientists still Do not knowWhat function these proteins perform in the body of cats. Moreover, it is noted that the amount of allergen produced changes depending on the age of the animal, the time of year, the color of the wool, spent or impregnated castration or sterilization and some other factors. Similarly, there is an allergy to dogs.

AND Russian, And foreign Specialists unanimously claim that hypoallergenic rocks are just a marketing move. Unfortunately, AST against cats and dogs in Russia so far Not registered. It remains to hope for other scientific developments: the already mentioned clinical trials of vaccines for humans and Therapeutic food for cats that reduce the products of the allergen, as well as to the Swiss Development Vaccines for the animals themselves, which trigger the production of antibodies against Fel D 1 in the cat organism, which block and neutralize this protein.

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What do our verdicts mean?

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