Allergic reactions can occur under the influence of many different factors. For example, they sometimes arise under the influence of such an important substance as water. Aquagenic urticaria is a pathology that until recently was considered quite rare. However, today it has become more common. This article talks about the causes of the disease, its symptoms, detection and methods of therapy.
How dangerous is the disease
Experts say that aquagenic urticaria is not a pathology that poses a threat to human life and he alth. After contact with water, rashes appear on the surface of the patient's skin, which quickly decrease in size.
Soon they pass completely. In exceptional cases, bubbles persist for several hours. Pathology does not require urgent medical attention.help. Aquagenic urticaria does not provoke the development of complications.
Features of the disease
Many doctors believe that there is no such thing as an allergic reaction to water. The explanation for this statement is the fact that the body of any person contains at least eighty percent of the liquid. Therefore, the substance is not capable of provoking individual intolerance. Experts believe that aquagenic urticaria develops as a result of compounds that are present in the water.
Pathology occurs in both adult and juvenile patients. In exceptional cases, there is intolerance to only certain types of liquid. As a rule, the symptoms of the disease develop when swimming in a pond, bathing, washing in the shower, contact with melted snow. There are situations when a similar reaction in a person is provoked by his own sweat. The disease is accompanied by severe discomfort and interferes with the normal life of the individual.
Aquagenic urticaria: pathogenesis
What causes the disease? Experts say that there are no specific factors that provoke the development of the disease. Compounds contained in running and drinking water cannot cause individual intolerance. S alts and chemicals dissolved in the liquid have a negative effect on the human epidermis. After all, it is known that moisture in its pure form, without foreign impurities, never gets on the surface of the skin of an individual. Even ifthe patient uses distilled water for washing, the compounds found in the secretions of the sweat glands mix with it and cause irritation.
Various cosmetic products (shower gels, soaps) may also contain substances that can provoke signs of pathology. However, this phenomenon is not aquatic urticaria, but a different type of allergic reaction.
Possible prerequisites for the development of the disease
The following categories of people are most likely to develop pathology:
- People with compromised immune systems. A similar disorder can occur with the use of medications such as antibiotics or after a serious illness.
- Individuals with pathologies of the liver and urinary organs (usually chronic).
- Persons with deficiency of immunoglobulin type E.
- People suffering from imbalances in the microflora of the digestive tract.
- Individuals who have infectious processes of a chronic nature.
- Persons who have parasitic pathologies. In the presence of this circumstance, manifestations of the disease occur after water procedures (shower, baths).
Characteristic symptoms of the disease
Signs of this pathology have much in common with other types of allergies. For this reason, the patient cannot always immediately understand that it is the chemical compounds that make up the water that cause individual intolerance in him. This circumstance is also significantmakes it difficult to diagnose the disease. With aquagenic urticaria, the symptoms are as follows:
- Dryness and irritation of the epidermis.
- Sensation of itching of the skin, inflammation.
- Headache.
- Difficulty in breathing.
- Appearance of small rashes and blisters on the surface of the skin.
- Red tint and mucosal discomfort.
- Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
This sign of aquagenic urticaria is clearly shown in the photo.
The above symptoms are observed in the patient immediately or in the interval from 30 to 90 minutes after contact with the liquid. The development of signs of pathology occurs regardless of the properties of water. It can be marine, fresh, flowing, clean or polluted. Sometimes a person has manifestations of the disease even if secretions from sweat or lacrimal glands get on the surface of the epidermis.
How pathology develops
The disease begins with an itching sensation in the area of the area that was in contact with moisture. This symptom has been present for a long time. Sometimes it is the only sign of pathology. In many patients, spots similar to burns form on the surface of the epidermis. Their occurrence is accompanied by a feeling of pain. With prolonged contact with water, for example, while swimming, rashes are observed in the neck, arms, knees, elbows. Bubbles also appear on the surface of the skin of the face, wrists. There is dryness of the epidermis, which makes the sensation of itching even morestronger. Small cracks may form in different parts of the body.
Sometimes the patient does not have all the manifestations of pathology, but only some of them. For example, if a substance that provokes individual intolerance enters the respiratory tract, the person has difficulty breathing, suffers from coughing fits.
As a rule, this happens while swimming in the pool, walking near the fountains. In the case of drinking water, which provokes urticaria, the patient's digestive organs are disrupted. The images presented in the article allow you to see what aquagenic urticaria looks like. In the photo, the symptoms of this disease are presented in several sections.
Detection of pathology
There are several types of this disease. The disease can be acute and chronic. The second variety is diagnosed in only thirty percent of individuals and requires long-term treatment. Pathology can provoke severe discomfort, and in order to reduce unpleasant symptoms, a person should consult a dermatologist. The specialist can make the correct diagnosis based on the examination and the results of medical interventions.
Laboratory tests in people with this disease are within the normal range. The doctor conducts an ultrasound examination to make sure that there are no inflammatory processes in the individual's body. In addition, the patient should be checked for parasites.
With aquagenic urticaria, the following diagnostic test is performed:a lotion with warm water (35 degrees Celsius) is placed on the surface of the skin and left for about half an hour. If a person has a disease, he develops a rash. In order for this procedure to show the correct result, it is necessary to stop using allergy medications 5 days before the procedure.
Therapy Methods
Unfortunately, effective ways to completely eliminate the disease have not been developed to date. However, if you follow a few recommendations, you can improve your well-being and avoid the appearance of unpleasant symptoms. These tips include:
- Reject low quality liquid. Filters should be used to purify running and drinking water.
- You can use moisture from natural sources (wells, wells). She is the safest.
- Reduce the duration of swimming, showering or bathing.
- For washing use boiled water. It does not contain a substance such as chlorine. You can wipe your face with wet wipes.
- As a hygiene product, use baby soap that does not contain harmful compounds.
- Use only cosmetics that do not cause allergy symptoms.
- Take the medication prescribed by the doctor.
- Wear gloves before wet cleaning or handling chemicals.
Folk Therapy
Treatment of aquagenic urticaria is aimed at eliminatingsymptoms of the disease. One popular method is to use chamomile lotions.
You need to pour one large spoonful of this product with boiling water in the amount of 1 cup and leave for half an hour. After that, remove excess moisture from the infusion. Make a gauze lotion and keep it on the surface of the skin for about 60 minutes. Another way to combat the problem is honey. This product helps relieve inflammation. In addition, during water procedures, you can add a decoction of bay leaves to the bath.
