It is therefore potentially lethal on a particular organization, the release of potent bioactive substances (histamine, tryptase, neurotransmitters, cytokines …) secondary to an allergic reaction (or hypersensitivity) immediately.

The clinical manifestations of anaphylaxis (urticaria and angioedema, allergic rhino-conjunctivitis (see allergic rhinitis) and allergic conjunctivitis, asthma) does not occur from the first contact with the allergen, but require a period of sensitization after which a second contact with the same allergen will trigger in the following minutes, the allergic reaction.

The symptoms of shock are polymorphic because they would involve all devices:

1. Mucocutaneous signs are among the most frequent paresthesias distal palmoplantar pruritus with very evocative hives rash localized or generalized; localized edema (subcutaneous, mucosal), angioedema, or gag gene with swallowing or laryngeal stridor with inspiration, cyanosis and syncope with risk of death by suffocation.

2 .Respiratory Signs: laryngeal edema (adverse prognosis), bronchospasm (see Asthma) with chest tightness and wheezing.

3. Signs of circulation, associated with varying degrees tachycardia with pulse small and thready, and hypotension, unstable blood pressure free, syncope and arrhythmia (ventricular arrhythmia), acute pulmonary edema may complicate the picture at the shock treatment anaphylaxis (adrenaline overload fluid resuscitation).

4. Signs digestive, which are not rare: nausea and vomiting, diffuse abdominal pain, bowel dysfunction in type of diarrhea.

5 .Neurological signs vary in intensity and nonspecific anxiety, visual disturbances, vertigo, paresthesia of the limbs, lips, orbits (their appearance is often pejorative and a harbinger of more serious reactions), confusion and coma.

The fight against allergic diseases and asthma today borrows different strategies. In the “drawers” of researchers, anti-allergic, all sorts of substances that can block the inflammatory responses associated with allergies and even asthma vaccine.

In our latitudes, asthma and allergic diseases are becoming more frequent. These conditions could also be a ransom of modern life, their occurrence may be favored by factors such as the containment of housing, increasing the number of pets, a change in eating habits or in the case of young children, reducing the number of bacterial and viral infections due to diffusion of vaccinations and antibiotic use.

An article in the British Medical Journal 1, the increase in consumption of drugs may also be involved and this parameter is, for example, causing a doubling of the number of hospitalizations for allergies seen in London hospitals between 1991-1992 and 1994-1995.

The fight against this scourge remains difficult, although there is already relatively effective drug.In hay fever or other allergic diseases, products active against a substance involved in inflammation associated with allergy, histamine, often can get significant relief. Desensitization, whose principle is to administer small amounts of the allergenic substance in your body accustomed to it little by little by its presence, also offers interesting therapeutic possibilities. In most respiratory allergies, such treatment can also now be performed in adults by performing the injections no longer under the skin, but by resorting to mere drops under the tongue (sublingually), route of administration course more comfortable for patients and equally effective as subcutaneous injection.

1. Antibodies to treat rhinitis birch

Further progress could emerge in the coming years. Some of them could be formed by use of antibody drugs. Researchers from Novartis Laboratories Pharma2 are indeed managed to develop antibodies, 95% human, which could prevent other antibodies in the body’s natural acting, the immunoglobulin E against the occurrence of certain manifestations of allergy.Studies in Scandinavia have shown that these antibodies (rhuMAb-E25) can reduce symptoms of irritation in people with a cold nature allergic to pollens of birch.

These methods have a real passion for fifteen years. Their safety, speed of answers they provide, the ability to multiply, are a valuable aid in the diagnosis of allergy.

1. What are they?

The tests for interest simulate visible on the skin, the conflict caused by allergic sensitization within the organization.

The tests come in the wake of the clinical study conducted by the practitioner. If the diagnostic orientation sometimes is raised by the simple clinical typical hay fever, asthma to pet hair or dust mites, hives, food or medication, in many cases several factors complicate the process and become connected. More and more often doctors are faced with this type of situation and should refine their diagnosis.

2. Technical tests

The most common tests performed in the office of the practitioner are patches (patch tests) and epidermal tests (prick tests).

3. Stamps

They are used for the detection of contact allergy as well as that of certain food allergies. They consist in the application of a stamp coated with the substance suspected to be responsible for the allergy at different concentrations, or several substances tested simultaneously. These stamps are pasted on the patient’s skin and left in place several hours or days. The goal is to obtain a local effect similar to the patient’s dominant symptom.

A large number of professionals are eczema and their explanation. Potassium dichromate cements (masonry), solvents and chemical dyes (ICEM), materials as diverse as shampoos or sprays (hairdressers) paintings (body), etc.. Latex allergy is rare but very disabling, and is easily demonstrated.

The child may benefit from this technique from an early age, for contact dermatitis: toiletries, detergents and fabric softeners, soaps but also in cases of eczema caused by food. A number of aggressive agents and are unmasked milk, certainly, but also the white of egg, some vegetables, food coloring. The increasing complexity of certain foods such as blends of exotic fruits, the introduction of dyes, fixatives, and other gelling often makes this difficult type of diagnosis. Can you believe that the introduction into the organism genetically modified proteins contribute to thicken some more mysteries?

What new food allergies? How to avoid hidden allergens? What treatment do we have? What is the emergency procedure to follow in case of severe allergy? Sophie-Sicret Grieu, allergist in Paris, meets all these questions.

1. There is an increase in food allergies in industrialized countries.What are the reasons?

The reasons are multiple. The allergic population has doubled over the past twenty years, any allergies combined. Recently, it has emerged allergies vis-à-vis food that has been massively and rapidly introduced into the European diet. In adults, it is mostly exotic fruits: kiwis, papayas, guavas, mangoes, avocados …

Conversely, in regions where they are consumed long as the West Indies, the fruit does not seem to cause allergy. Groundnut is an allergen present formidable. For economic reasons, it has been massively introduced into the food industry. Agent texture and flavor inexpensive, this allergen, often hidden, is widely used in various preparations. Also severe allergy to sesame is becoming more common. The consumption of sesame has spread a lot with the fast-food restaurants and exotic food.

In children, dietary diversification early infant is responsible for many allergies because it connects an immature intestinal mucosa, and does not play its role as a filter, with food and far too varied. Awareness of the future baby food can occur during pregnancy. Pregnant women have an allergic should avoid eating certain foods: few eggs, no peanuts, a minimum of exotic fruits.

2. GMOs Likely To strengthen food allergies?

It’s too early to tell. In practice, we have not seen any specific allergy to GMOs. In contrast, genetic modification of certain food proteins may perhaps be considered a therapeutic standpoint. If, for example, in peanuts, you get to modify the allergenic protein, one can imagine one day consume these products without risk.

3. Once the allergen is identified, what is support?

Support for allergy is important. It should inform and educate families.We also inform schools (signing of a Memorandum of individual host). The total elimination diet and a priori is the only definitive treatment available. For the moment, there is no possible desensitization to food. Finally, we ask families to call an emergency kit containing:

• A steroid medication;
• An antihistamine drug;
• A bronchodilator drug;
• And especially a syringe of adrenaline injection that now exists for children such as self-injection pen.

This emergency kit should accompany the allergic person everywhere: home, school, nursery or nurse, at work, outings to restaurants …

Exhausts, chemical pollutants, molds, toxins … when you’re a young mother, there are concerns about the health of babies in large cities. A study conducted in Paris on more than 4,000 newborns trying to determine the exposure of toddlers and respiratory problems. Read before you go live in the country.

Numerous international studies have shown a boom in allergies in children, and increased asthma and respiratory problems. And the situation is even worse in cities. What about Paris? It seeks to determine what a study, which oversees more than 4,000 newborns in Paris since 2003. The aim is to measure the emergence of respiratory diseases by taking into account the behavioral and environmental factors (both within the home and outdoors of the house).

1. Wheezing Chronic

A mid term review of the study, the main problem highlighted is the chronic wheezing. 21% of babies suffer, a small Parisian 5. the whistle appears mainly in children who have a history of bronchial problems, infections, respiratory problems eczema. Note that 20% of plovers are affected chronically. These whistles are far from trivial: they can be warning signs of asthma in adulthood. Besides, having parents with asthma is also a factor that favors those whistles.

Other respiratory symptoms revealed by this surveillance, we note that 23% of babies have dry coughs and 4% of respiratory problems.

2. Infections to allergies.

Apart from these whistles, the survey identified other problems more or less widespread. Thus, the common cold “classic” has reached nearly 60% of babies and nearly 30% experienced bronchiolitis. But what is most worrying is that 4% experienced over 3 bronchiolitis and 12% had more than three ear infections. Difficult to determine the factors favoring the infection. In the field of allergy, 17% of children experiencing atopic dermatitis, nearly 9% have allergic rhinitis and almost 3% are aware of food allergies.

3. Various causes

The study aims to investigate the causes of these respiratory problems, especially focusing on a subgroup of 200 children, to conduct advanced environmental measures. For many scientists already suspected of being responsible for polluting these respiratory problems:

• Automobile exhaust gases;
• Tobacco;
• Nitrogen dioxide released by cooking appliances and gas heating;
• Volatile organic compounds (which are in adhesives, varnishes, inks, cosmetics, household products …);
• Fungi;
• Mites;
• Endotoxins released by bacteria (often related to the presence of animals in the house).

First findings: the chemical pollutants found in concentrations fairly homogeneous in all Parisian homes. Only certain products can be found in higher levels in different places: alkanes and paradichlorobenzene, DIY-related products, hexanal and propionaldehyde, linked them to the presence of furniture made of chipboard, or the presence of a Vitrified floor, especially if it is more than a year. With regard to mites and molds, found average levels equivalent to the apartments.

So yes, for now scientists have not yet crossed the data between respiratory problems and pollution levels. And the study will continue for up to 6 years children.

Data that will be needed to contain the respiratory and allow children to breathe in Paris and all cities!

Sneezing, runny nose or conjunctivitis may mimic a cold classic, but in fact a result of allergic rhinitis. It occurs in the spring or it lasts all year, this disorder has very specific symptoms, however. The question is, identify …

Allergic rhinitis, inflammation of the airways, occurs when a person is sensitized in the presence of an allergen. It now covers over 25% of adolescents and adults under 50 years.There are two types: the so-called persistent rhinitis, present throughout the year, is due to allergens found permanently in the environment (mites, animal dander, mold), and rhinitisseasonal allergies, mainly due to pollen of trees, grasses and herbs, which occurs each year in the same season.

1. Two types of rhinitis, symptoms identical

In spring, an allergy to pollen enters a field, his immediate reaction may be quite violent and generally characteristic of seasonal allergic rhinitis. He may start sneezing, often in bursts, 10, 15 times in a row. His nose starts to flow “like a fountain, with clear secretions. Then, the nose mouth (both nostrils at the same time), and starts scratching furiously. At the same time, the eyes start to cry, breathing becomes difficult and wheezing and coughing appears. In half of allergy to pollen, these symptoms are associated with conjunctivitis.

In severe cases, this scene may end with an asthma attack and in rare cases, in direct contact with the skin (often in the middle a little wet), people highly allergic may also develop urticaria, associated with rhinitis.

For persistent allergic rhinitis, the symptoms are similar, but often present at low noise is slightly stuffy nose all year, which runs a little, and which requires the permanent presence of a handkerchief in the pocket … These However, signs may be of varying intensity, depending on the allergen, the amount present in the air, and the degree of awareness of the person. Rhinitis is triggered by an allergy to animal hair is often such as explosive as seasonal allergic rhinitis.As for mites, the crisis of allergic rhinitis may also result in an asthma attack. It will occur more readily in the morning because allergen particles being larger than the pollen, they take longer to arrive in the bronchi, and the crisis is delayed.

Extremely common, allergic rhinitis reflect an immune response inadequate. The origin of these diseases often very embarrassing, many allergens may be involved. Mites, cockroaches, pollen … who are our enemies?

You sneeze and what happens when you blow the spring? Or maybe your nose runs there throughout the year without you provided a cold? You’re probably suffering from allergic rhinitis.In 30 years the prevalence of allergies has doubled and is now estimated that 10-15% of people in industrialized countries suffer from various degrees of disorder. This increase seems not so much related to outdoor air pollution, increasing at containment housing. The insulation of houses has the effect of increasing the density of indoor allergens, such as cleaning products or mites within homes.

1. Aberrant immunity

Like all allergies, allergic rhinitis are associated with an abnormal immune response of the body to a substance (allergen) to which the person has become sensitive. During this first phase of awareness, the individual specific antibodies, IgE, which specifically recognize the allergen.

These antibodies bind to cells in the mucosa, including nasal. Then, when a new contact with the allergen, it will be able to meet these IgE-bearing cells (mast cells) and stimulate them, causing the release of inflammatory factors. It is this inflammatory response that causes the disorder features: watery nasal discharge, itching, sneezing, sometimes associated with tearing and loss of smell.

The disease usually begins in childhood or early adulthood and may disappear with aging. It is not serious in itself, but can become very annoying, causing insomnia and fatigue.

2. Pollen or cockroaches?

There are two forms of allergic rhinitis:

• The seasonal rhinitis (the classic “hay fever”) very often due to allergy to pollen;
• Perennial rhinitis persist throughout the year and are generally related to indoor allergens such as dust mites, cockroaches or pet dander.

However, the polysensiblisations are common and a person may very well have a perennial allergy to cat dander and pollen allergy. In children, allergic rhinitis can also be linked to food allergens.

All chronic rhinitis are far, however, to be allergic. More than half of them are related to another cause. Vasomotor rhinitis is often associated with such abuse of certain drugs (vasocontricteur nose, in particular).

Allergies are experiencing a veritable explosion. And sometimes the skin is affected. Some elements to learn how to identify skin allergies.

Allergy skin is very different aspects. One of its most mundane is urticaria. Who among us has not met? After eating shellfish, fish, strawberries, eggs, milk … the skin swells suddenly in places, turns red and causes a sudden urge to scratch.

1. Beware of hives!

In fact, the lesions resemble more or less the reactions observed after a sting nettle (Urtica “in Latin), which even gave its name to the disease.

In sensitized individuals, hives can also occur after administration of antibiotics based on penicillin, anti-inflammatories, or aspirin after inhaling pollen, animal dander, or suffered a bite ofinsect.

At the same person, the reaction always occurs in the same circumstances.Another characteristic of hives is that once lesions appeared “move” happy to reach other body areas.

The acute urticaria are due to release of a molecule promoting inflammation, histamine, following the conflict between the foreign substance allergenic and the body.

2. Angioedema, a sometimes fatal form of allergy

Another kind of allergy is represented by angioedema. In this rather peculiar form of urticaria, thankfully rare, the allergic reaction does not occur in the skin itself but in the subcutaneous tissue. It causes swelling of the face, especially around the eyes and mouth, which can be dangerous because it can cause swelling of the pharynx sometimes leads to asphyxiation.

Finally, we must know that some people have genuine allergies to the sun, which manifest themselves in various forms. When the first rays of the sun, or after prolonged exposure to it, develops a rash like hives that can spread on the skin and associated general symptoms (malaise). The cause is an intolerance to ultraviolet light. Again, excessive production of histamine is the cause of skin inflammation.

3. He has eczema and eczema

Another very common kind of skin allergy consists of eczema. However, this term means in reality several allergic diseases, in fact quite different. The most frequent of them are represented by atopic eczema in infants and allergic contact dermatitis in adults. It also happens that skin conditions such as psoriasis, are complicated by other skin alterations resembling those found in eczema following the administration of medication allergies.

If you weep at the sight of a cat or some eyeshadow give you rabbit eyes Russian, you are suffering from allergic conjunctivitis. The best treatment is to avoid the allergen responsible …whenever possible.

As the skin or nasal mucosa, conjunctiva, thin membrane covering the eye is in constant contact with allergens in the atmosphere (dust mites, animal dander, feathers, pollen …), on the eyelids (cosmetics) or eyes (eye drops). In people with an allergic to these allergens can cause inflammation of the conjunctiva, similar to the reaction responsible for allergic rhinitis.

1. Rhinitis and conjunctivitis are often associated

When the allergen into the air, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis are also often involved, causing runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes. Conjunctivitis can also be isolated, especially when linked to a product in direct contact with the eye. In this case, the events are limited to eyes that are red, tingling, itching and weeping. The light is hard to bear (photophobia). Often the eyelids are red and swollen, sometimes stuck in the morning. However the intensity of the symptoms varies greatly from one person to another.

These symptoms are related to an antibody response against the antigen (allergen) against which the person has developed a sensitivity. In case of allergy to grass pollen, grass or trees, the episodes are seasonal, recurring annually in spring, late summer and early fall.Conjunctivitis is usually associated, in this case, rhinitis, is the classic “hay fever”. When they are mites or hair that trigger episodes of conjunctivitis can breed throughout the year. In children, there are spring conjunctivitis, a particular form of allergic conjunctivitis outbreaks by changing seasons.

If the diagnosis is easy when conjunctivitis associated with rhinitis, which transforms into a veritable fountain allergic, it is much more delicate when it is isolated, especially if the first episode. Infectious conjunctivitis, viral, including very frequent, are identical signs. This often leads to the development of allergy suspect, when the conjunctivitis does not heal or relapse. In this case, as before any suspicion of allergy, we must make a full assessment by an allergist.

2. Hunting allergens

The first treatment is the removal of the allergen, if possible. Temporarily remove the makeup is a must before any red eye. The cure of conjunctivitis and its reappearance at a new application can identify the substance responsible. The presence of an allergy to this type should lead to be careful in the choice of cosmetics.

The crowding is much more difficult or impossible when the allergen is pollen, for example, or mites. In the latter case, it is essential to minimize dust, avoiding rugs, carpets, woolen blankets, and maintaining hygiene. Desensitization may be attempted, provided they have correctly identified the cause of the allergy.

Skin rash, sneezing, conjunctivitis, eczema. While some symptoms of allergies are easily identifiable, others are more difficult to apprehend. Thus, some abdominal pain may possibly reflect an allergic reaction.

1. Eyes

Redeye. Allergic conjunctivitis may be a sign of respiratory allergy. She often accompanies hay fever. The eyes are red, watery and sick people often feel a burning sensation or are embarrassed by the light. Both eyes are affected.

2. Throat

Between 7-10% of children snore, a phenomenon facilitated by the existence of allergic rhinitis. A study of SA Mc Colley et al., 36% of children snore suffer respiratory allergy.

3. Nose

Runny nose. A constantly runny nose, feeling stuffy nose, sneezing in salvo, these are the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. It is always benign but it can disrupt everyday life because it affects sleep, creating a risk of drowsiness and loss of attention in the day. Allergic rhinitis is usually seen after the age of five years. It can be intermittent and is then usually triggered by pollens of grasses, flowers or trees or evolve in a more persistent. This applies when the allergens are constantly present in the environment: dust mites, mold or animal hair … When hard, allergic rhinitis can be misleading and simulate a common cold. Allergic rhinitis is associated with conjunctivitis in 50-60% of cases and asthma in 20-30% of cases and should always look for signs of respiratory discomfort in his presence.

4. Ears

Most ear infections are viral or bacterial. However, some of them also have an allergic component. It so happens that allergic rhinitis causes obstruction of the Eustachian tubes by release of mediators of inflammation, which may promote the development of otitis media with effusion. According Osur SL et al, half of children with hay fever thus present evidence of tubal obstruction during the pollen season.

5. Mouth

Some people with allergies have a small swelling of the lips with pruritus. This might involve an oral allergy syndrome in connection with sensitization to profilin, a protein found in birch pollen but also in apples, pears … The oral allergy syndrome appears secondarily when the allergic subjects had already been in contact with the birch pollen consume fruits. This syndrome is quite common, because 5-10% of the population is allergic to birch, but it lacks seriousness.

Some individuals develop allergies to dental amalgams containing mercury or dental appliances with nickel wire. However, it is increasingly rare because the equipment offered by dentists are less allergenic.

6. Bronchi

Asthma is most often allergic in nature and is caused by an abnormal narrowing of the bronchi under the action of inflammation. It is typically manifested by a reduced ability to exhale, the air still stuck inside the lungs.

Among other topics, respiratory allergy may result in wheezing since the expiration is no longer normal. This often occurs in babies under one year. However, all wheezing is not synonymous with allergy. In a small child, many of them are due to infectious causes, such as bronchiolitis caused by respiratory syncytial virus.

7. Vomiting, GERD

These symptoms may be encountered in certain food allergies in infants. The most common of them are related to proteins from cow’s milk, egg, fish, peanuts.

8. Belly

Food allergies are common in young children, particularly allergy to cow’s milk and are often a source of abdominal pain. However, colitis are commonplace in infants and are often not allergic.

Allergies to cereals, wheat and rice can induce diarrhea and cause a break in the curve of weight. The possibility of an allergy to a food will be raised if the diarrhea persists and that a history of allergy exist in the family or if the child has, moreover, signs of skin allergy.

Chronic constipation can be installed in children allergic to cow’s milk, but this disorder is less common transit of diarrhea in food allergies.

9. Face

The angioedema is a particular form of urticaria associated with edema, which is in good standing located in the face. It occurs suddenly and stretches the skin to the subcutaneous tissues and mucous membranes. This disorder can be serious because the extension of the edema in the larynx can block the airflow and cause anaphylactic shock with cardiac arrest.The angioedema is a medical emergency. You can see where wasp or hornet, drug allergy, allergy to peanuts …

10. Skin

Allergic urticaria appears to rule fairly quickly after contact with a drug (penicillin, aspirin) or food (strawberries, shellfish). The skin is covered with patches of red or pink puffy, raised (papules) and the patient really wants to scratching. Papules often disappear within an hour, but may appear so on the other body. Hives are not serious, but it will quickly check if occurs on the face and particularly around the mouth, for the allergic reaction can then spread to the throat and threatening breathing (see face and edema angioedema).

The contact dermatitis reached adult rule and combines an eruption of red spots, pimples filled with fluid (vesicles), which determine a strong itching and appear on the skin two to three days after contact with a substance allergenic. We can thus see contact dermatitis on the abdomen near jeans buttons containing nickel or at the ear lobe in women with curls. One in five women still present with nickel eczema in France and the legislation currently tend to restrict the use of this metal in jewelry, watch and rivets pants. Some cashiers are also developing eczema Parts 1 and 2 euros, which are very rich in nickel.

A dry, irritated, itchy strongly with red cardboard plates and crusts is often a sign of atopic eczema or atopic dermatitis. Atopic eczema often appears during the first introduction of solid foods in infants and is found in 50-70% of infants developing this skin disease is allergic to cow’s milk protein. The eggs, wheat may also be involved. Cutaneous manifestations may occur 24-48 hours after exposure with the food allergen. Atopic eczema affects more happy face and flexural members. When scratching is important, the lesions may bleed. Atopic dermatitis usually disappear within 3 years and 80% of cases before the first decade of life, but some children will develop allergies and asthma. This skin allergy may, if prolonged, determining psychological disorders in children and cause them to withdraw into themselves.