Among the many varieties of negative reactions to medications, allergy to aspirin deserves special attention. Until now, the exact causes of this pathology have not been clarified. With the help of this drug it is easy to get rid of pain, it relieves fever and inflammation. However, this well-known drug is not as safe as many people think: quite often, patients have hypersensitivity to acetylsalicylic acid, taking the drug leads to the development of an allergic reaction, sometimes in a severe form.
What is aspirin?
In accordance with the pharmacological classification, aspirin is included in the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This gives it a wide spectrum of action - from pain relief to the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
"Aspirin": composition of tablets
The main active ingredient of the drug is acetylsalicylic acid, which determines the pharmacological effect of this drug. In addition, in the composition"Aspirin" includes substances that give the tablet appearance and shape: cellulose and starch. They do not affect the effect of the drug.
Aspirin Cardio contains an enteric coating that prevents the tablet from dissolving in the stomach, which reduces the likelihood of ulcers. Substances that give the drug special properties - sodium bicarbonate and citric acid are part of the effervescent forms of aspirin.
Reason for reaction
Some patients rhetorically ask "Where does the aspirin allergy come from?". The nature of this reaction has not yet been clearly identified. It is assumed that the appearance of intolerance is not associated with an independent reaction, but with other chronic allergic diseases. Studies confirm that it occurs more often in women.
With a predisposition to allergies, acetylsalicylic acid entering the body causes the appearance of antibodies that combine with antigens and the process develops. Mast cells, which contain biologically active substances of allergy, are activated. Hypersensitivity develops, with repeated contact it causes the onset of symptoms.
Risk factors
This is a drug widely used throughout the world - aspirin. An allergy to a drug in an adult occurs in 0.04% of the population of our planet. Symptoms of this type of allergy are most common in people who suffer from the following conditions:
- chronic urticaria;
- bronchial asthma;
- nasal polyposis;
- arthritis;
- allergic rhinitis;
- dermatitis;
- blood diseases.
Symptoms of the disease
Manifestations of allergy to aspirin most often affect the respiratory system. They appear to varying degrees, depending on the amount of the drug and the strength of the allergen.
Mild to moderate symptoms
The first signs of allergy are manifested in respiratory disorders:
- nasal congestion;
- formation of polyps that make breathing difficult;
- appearance of liquid secretion;
- disturbance of smell.
Additional symptoms may include dizziness, headache, decreased performance, weakness. Mild to moderate symptoms include hives, nausea, vomiting, and heartburn.
In the middle stage of an allergy to aspirin, a dry cough and shortness of breath are added to the listed symptoms. Purulent inflammation develops in the sinuses of the nose. Breath becomes wheezing.
Signs of severe complications
If you do not pay attention to the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease, they begin to resemble attacks of bronchial asthma. This is the most common type of allergy to aspirin. The most severe condition is anaphylactic shock, which is characterized by a rapid onset and a rapid increase in symptoms. After taking the drug, a person experiences weakness, malaise, dizziness. Then his breathing stops and he loses consciousness.
Maina sign of deterioration is a sharp drop in blood pressure.
Side effects
Adverse reaction to the drug increases if the regimen of administration and dosage is violated. First of all, this concerns the digestive tract: nausea; stomach ache; bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract.
Diagnosis of disease
After detecting the first symptoms of an allergy to aspirin, it is necessary to determine which allergens caused it. An allergist prescribes a provocative test - a dosed intake of aspirin, which, in case of allergies, shows characteristic symptoms.
In addition, a skin test is prescribed. For this, patients are given a placebo for two days, and aspirin for the third. After that, doctors examine the patient every two hours, fixing the absence or appearance of local and general signs.
Often, in the diagnosis of intolerance, an analysis is prescribed to determine immunoglobulin E. Its result will be uninformative when reacting to aspirin.
Treatment
When the cause of the disease is established, the first way that helps to cope with any intolerance is the elimination of the allergen. It is necessary to exclude drugs containing acetylsalicylic acid and replace them with other drugs that the doctor will prescribe.
Desensitization therapy
When replacing "Aspirin" is not possible (after myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke), doctors use the desensitization method - a gradual decreasesensitivity to aspirin. To do this, the minimum dose of this drug is prescribed and gradually increase it. After a short time, sensitivity to acetylsalicylic acid disappears. To speed up this process, antihistamines are prescribed.
First aid at home
To alleviate the patient's condition caused by taking acetylsalicylic acid, the following rules must be observed:
- If allergy symptoms appear, take a cool shower.
- Accept the adsorbent - "Smekta", "Enterosgel", "Filtrum", activated carbon.
- Put on cotton clothes.
- Antihistamine or anti-inflammatory creams - Bepanten, Skin-Cap, Protopic - will help relieve itching.
- Only after that you can take antihistamines - Tavegil, Suprastin, Diazolin, Zyrtec.
- When breathing is complicated, inhalations are done (Theofedrin, Salbutamol) or taken orally, Eufillin or Broncholithin.
- To relieve dizziness, you should apply this technique: lying on a hard, flat surface, raise your legs above your head to ensure blood flow. This will oxygenate the brain cells.
- A hypoallergenic diet is followed for at least 4 days.
Providing care for severe manifestations
If, after the onset of an allergy symptom, a person's condition deteriorates sharply, then emergency assistance is required. For this, antihistamines are administered intravenously and prescribed in highdosage of hormonal drugs.
What can replace "Aspirin"?
If you have an allergy to aspirin, how to replace this drug? You can use drugs from two different groups: anticoagulants and antithrombotics. If there is a threat of the formation of clots, then drugs based on another active substance are used - Clopidogrel, Curantil. Blood is thinned by "Heparin", "Warfarin".
Cheap allergy pills
It's no secret that the new IV generation antihistamines are very effective, but quite expensive. Many allergy sufferers are interested in whether there are cheap allergy pills? Yes, there are such drugs. These include:
- "Loratadine" - 10 tablets 40 rubles.
- "Aleron" - 10 pieces 78 rubles.
- "Diazolin" - 10 pieces 80 rubles.
- "Claridol" - 7 pieces 95 rubles.
Contraindications to the drug
For the appointment of aspirin contraindications are:
- Gastrointestinal ulcers.
- Asthma.
- Diathesis.
- Low platelets.
- Hemophilia.
- Renal and liver failure.
- Breastfeeding.
- Under three years of age.
Prevention Tips
To avoid severe aspirin allergy symptoms, remove the drug from your first aid kit and replace it with a similar remedy with a different active ingredient. It is prescribed by a doctor, taking into account all contraindications.
