From parents you can often hear that a child after a walk on the street suddenly starts to sneeze, he has an itchy nose, sore throat, swelling. All these signs indicate that the baby encountered an allergen, and the body gave a similar reaction. It is one thing when this happens during the flowering season of plants, ragweed, dandelions, but there are situations when similar symptoms appear year-round. At the first sign, you should consult a doctor. The immunologist, after a preliminary examination, will ask you to take an allergen test. In children, it is carried out by several methods, almost painlessly. Which one is more informative, we will try to understand the article.
Why do children get allergic reactions?
According to doctors, about 40% of the world's population suffer from allergies. This disease occurs due to a malfunction in the body. Antigen entering the bloodcomes into contact with the bodies of immunoglobulin E, and everything would be fine, but a reaction occurs and substances such as serotonin and histamine appear. It is they who provoke the body to start the inflammatory process.
Exploring them is such a science immunology. In Moscow and other cities, immunologists help a person cope with a disease such as allergies. They have vast experience, conduct modern tests, analyzes, and can identify a product or plant that the body reacts to.
As a rule, people living in big cities, with polluted air, a huge concentration of enterprises, have similar problems. Often the disease can be found in children. Strong allergens can cause a lot of trouble, from the usual itching to Quincke's edema.
Why do children suffer from this disease? There may be several reasons:
- Heredity.
- Expectant mother eating allergenic foods during pregnancy.
- Not breastfeeding.
- Early introduction of complementary foods.
Doctors are sure that even a banal weakening of the immune system can be the cause.
Recognizing an insidious disease
Many people ask how the disease manifests itself. After substances (allergens) enter the bloodstream, an inflammatory process begins in the body. The first symptoms may be:
- Mild rhinitis, nasal congestion.
- Redness of the eyelids, eyes.
- Puffiness.
- Skin rash.
- Drycough.
- Sore throat.
Many symptoms can be confused with a banal SARS, but if they occur without an increase in body temperature, are cyclical, appear suddenly and just as quietly disappear, you should consult a doctor - the child may have an allergy.
First symptoms detected, what to do next?
If parents suspect that their child is suffering from allergies, a doctor should be consulted. Many mothers are in no hurry to do this and conduct an elimination test at home. Its essence is to independently identify the allergen. The child is put on a strict diet, foods that are supposed to give a similar reaction are excluded. This process is quite lengthy and, as a rule, fruitless. Such tests can be carried out only if the symptoms do not bother the child and his general condition is normal.
In any case, after visiting the clinic, the doctor will offer to do an allergen test. In children, it is carried out in several ways: blood sampling from a vein, subcutaneous therapy. But before that, you need to make a clear anamnesis. It will include the following items:
- Detailed baby diet.
- The presence of pets in the house.
- Checking living conditions.
- Reaction to vaccination.
After all the questions have been clarified, the immunologist will decide on which allergens to analyze.
Will the test show the presence of an allergen in the blood?
Allergen testing, which is quite expensive, often catches parentsby surprise. Many are not willing to shell out big bucks to find out which food or plant has a negative effect on a child.
Before conducting such an analysis, it is necessary to find out if there are allergens in the child's blood. To do this, it is enough to take blood from a vein. The essence of this analysis is to identify the concentration of immunoglobulin E. In all he althy people, this component is present in a small amount. Normally, its value is about 100 units per 1 ml of blood. If the indicators are increased, we can safely say that a chain reaction is underway, as a result of which allergic manifestations appear.
How to properly prepare for analysis
No special preparation is required to get tested for allergens. The only thing to consider:
- Do not test during an exacerbation.
- Before donating blood, you need to be sure that the child does not have helminths.
- Do not take antihistamines for 7 days.
- The child must be absolutely he althy.
More detailed instructions should be given by the attending physician.
Skin tests: do they make sense?
Analysis for an allergen in children is carried out when the doctor sees the first signs of the disease. It is better to do this immediately, without delaying, so as not to aggravate the situation. After all, everything can end in anaphylactic shock or terrible chronic diseases (asthma, dermatitis, and much more).
Analysis for allergens in a child is of two types: determination byblood and skin test. The latter is very popular. You can see the result immediately, it is painless, relatively inexpensive. Each type of introduced allergen costs about 500 rubles. The essence of this method is that a small incision is made on the skin of the child. The procedure is painless, often the wound resembles an ordinary scratch. The alleged allergen is introduced there, after a short period of time the doctor assesses the condition of the skin. If there is swelling, swelling, redness, this indicates that the reaction of the body has begun.
A skin test for allergens in a child can be done multiple times. Doctors often take several samples. But this must be done with extreme caution so as not to cause an attack in the baby.
There are contraindications
Allergen testing, which can cost up to 50,000 rubles, is accurate. But informative only for a month. Before taking it, you must be examined by a doctor. Only an immunologist can correctly compile a list of substances, products, plants for which samples should be taken. Thus, a breastfed baby does not need to be injected with an exotic fruit allergen.
Contraindications to conduct may be in the case of:
- administering chemotherapy;
- recent surgery;
- exacerbation of allergic reactions;
- climate change;
- vaccination;
- presence of helminths.
In all other cases it will suffice:
- follow a light diet for 14 days;
- during the same time, do not take antihistamines.
It is desirable that the analysis be taken at a time when the child is completely he althy.
Note to parents
I would like to note that allergy is a rather insidious disease and should be treated with full responsibility. The consequences can be devastating. Every day in the modern world, people die from anaphylactic shock, not knowing what foods, substances, drugs they are allergic to. So, a bee sting for many can result in Quincke's edema.
Even if your child has never had an allergic reaction, there should always be an antihistamine in the medicine cabinet. For younger children, Fenistil is suitable; for older children, Suprastin, Claritin, Loratadin and much more can be offered. These drugs are especially indispensable on vacation, because climate change often provokes allergic manifestations.
It is necessary to treat this disease. If the allergy is seasonal, it will be enough to take medication during the period of exacerbation. But there are times when house dust, fabrics and other things and objects that are our constant companions of life act as an allergen. In this case, doctors suggest conservative treatment. An allergen is introduced into the blood in small doses, the body produces protective antibodies against it.
In any case, the doctor should prescribe treatment, and he can only do thisdoing an allergen test. Children do not have any difficulties in taking the material. Diagnosis is almost painless, but quite expensive.
