ALLERGIAS AND EVOLUTION IN MEDICINE
Summary
Allergy is the reaction that our body to defend against certain external pathogens. Sometimes, a tolerance can occur, that is, that the body eliminates them without problems and in other cases the allergy occurs, the organism tries to eliminate the agents but damage to itself occurs. Today, there are many types of allergy and few treatments themselves, usually there is no treatment. Only antihistamines are provided, which reduce inflammations or relieve itching from the reaction caused.
Introduction
Before talking about the discovery of allergy tests, we must know the allergy definition.
Allergy is a defense reaction of the organism to external substances that penetrate the body. These substances can access by the digestive system (food, medicines), by the respiratory system (inhaling), absorbed by the skin (contacters) or crossing the skin (injections, bites). The body’s immune system recognizes these substances as strange and tries to neutralize them. People who do not have allergy also recognize substances as strange, but their organism is able to neutralize them without damaging themselves, through tolerance mechanisms. However, people who have allergy, try to neutralize by mechanism that become harmful against the organism itself and cause allergy symptoms.
The person in charge of defending the body of external attacks is the immune system. Normally, the word allergy with atopia is usually confused. Atopia is a state of hypersensitivity to various external agents and can manifest in different ways. Atopic people usually have greater predisposition to develop allergies to food, pollen, mites, etc. It is estimated that a quarter of the people in developed countries have some allergy. The symptoms that cause sometimes are intense and obvious, and others go unnoticed causing barely discomfort. The number of allergic people has increased a lot in the last 20-30 years without knowing why. There are theories that blame food, infections, pollution, etc. It is more frequent in developed countries, so that they blame "western way of life".
Developing
History
In 1983, Dr. Blakely performed the first skin test for allergies. He applied pollen in a small scratch of his skin. This fact was a great change in the clinical research of allergies. In 1906, Clemens von Pirquet, in Austria, used the term allergy for the first time to describe some symptoms that patients developed when they were treated with a horseword antitoxin serum. In 1910, Sir Henry Dale identified histamine as an agent causing anaphylactic reactions and allergies. It was observed that animals that survive anaphylaxis, are then able to tolerate the antigen getting resistant. In 1910, Dr. Leonard Noon began studying and practicing hyposensitic immunotherapy, which consisted of administer.
In 1910, a doctor observed that a patient developed asthma when exposed to horses after having received a transfusion of an allergic donor to horses. Thus it was shown that there is a transferable factor that can cause reactions.
In 1966, the Ishizaka brothers reported in Denver that, with an anti -story, the reaginic activity that produces allergic symptoms could neutralize. At the same time, Bennich and Johansson discovered a new immunoglobulin in the blood of a patient with a strange multiple myeloma. Subsequently, they managed to declare their identity with the molecule deactivated by the antisero of the Ishizaka. In this way a new immunoglobulin called IgE causes the symptoms of allergy was born.
After the discovery of the IGE, they managed to develop in vitro techniques or immunoassays for IgE and antibodies against it, being able to measure the immune response in allergen patients.
Types of allergies
We can classify allergies of different ways:
- According to the contact path (means through which the allergen comes into contact with the organism).
- Inhalation allergy. The allergen substance is introduced through air inhalation, by respiratory or nasal route. It is usually small particles of substances such as pollen, dust or mites.
- Contact allergies. It occurs when it is direct contact at the physical level with a substance that generates a reaction. It is common for generating symptoms at dermatological level. For example, animals allergy.
- Allergies for ingestion. The immune system reacts virulently by identifying a substance that we have consumed as a pathogen. It usually has greater potential to generate serious damage and anaphylaxis. We talk about food or drug allergies.
- Inoculation allergies. They are substances introduced inside us through roads such as endovenous. It is usually medication allergies (it includes anesthesia) or drugs that are not consumed orally. It is the most dangerous, since the allergen is introduced directly into the circulatory system and the reaction can occur throughout the body.
- According to its symptomatology (symptoms due to exposure to allergen).
- Respiratory. They generate an affectation at the level of breathing process. They hinder the normal breathing of the subject and cause problems such as coughs, in bronchi, asthma or whistles when breathing.
- Cutaneous/dermatological. It is common for contact allergies, but it also often occurs in allergies by ingestion or inoculation. In this case the most common type of symptomatology is the appearance of some type of cutaneous eruption, ulcer, sore, urticaria, eczema or pruritus. This is the case of many dermatitis.
- Nasal. Generates sneezing, moccos or nasal itching. It is often confused with colds or flu.
- Digestive. Which can generate diarrhea, vomiting, inflammations or other gastrointestinal problems. It is common for food allergies, although they also appear in other types of allergy.
Usual allergies
The most common allergies are:
- To pollen. It usually generates nasal problems, headaches and problems breathing normally.
- To mites. Small frequent creatures in places like bed and sheets. Generates respiratory and nasal problems. It is usually associated with dust.
- Food. They highlight the allergy to nuts, seafood, dairy or exotic fruits.
- To the animal dandruff. Cause respiratory problems and can cause dermatological problems
Rare allergies
There are quite rare allergies that perhaps most people do not know, I will talk about one of them personally, since I have it.
- Semen allergy. It is generated by one of the compounds of the seminal fluid and can cause hodels and irritation.
- Sun allergy. The skin reacts forming ranchas, appearance of grains and in very serious cases it could cause burns.
- Cold allergy. It consists of a skin reaction to cold stimuli such as wind, cold water or low temperatures. It usually has the same symptoms as those of sun allergy but are usually accompanied by abdominal pain, head and even fever.
- Water allergy/sweat/rainwater. This is my personal case. Frequently an uncomfortable urticaria development when coming into contact with water (at any temperature) or sweat. My symptoms are skin redness and many itching especially in the limbs.
Scientists believe that it has a large genetic part but nevertheless, rarely, several family members suffer from it. Normally it appears in adolescence and women have a greater possibility of suffering it. This urticaria usually disappears after about 10-20 minutes from contact, although in some cases it can last hours. As a treatment, the doctor provides antihistamines that help reduce inflammation and calm the itching.
Tests
There are many evidence for allergies.
- Prick-test. It is the most reliability test today. It consists of introducing a small amount of the allergen into the skin of the anterior arm of the arm through a small puncture. Allergic people have an IGE which binds to mast cells and basophils. When these cells come into contact with the allergen, substances responsible for redness and inflammation are activated and released. This reaction is only produced in the area of the skin in which the amount of the allergen has been introduced. The results of this test are ready in just fifteen minutes. The only discomforts they suffer are a slight inflammation and small hunches that disappear in approximately half an hour.
- Intradermal. The allergen is introduced under the skin with a syringe. It is more sensitive and can be used to confirm when the prick-test gives negative or is doubtful.
- Scarification method. It is barely used and it is normal to be done with natural foods. It consists of making a small wound on the skin and putting the allergen in it.
- Provocation test. If the cutaneous test does not make clear the result, the "provocation" is attended. The patient inhales or swallows a tiny amount of suspicious allergen. Can cause intense reactions so they are only done when it is strictly necessary.
- Blood test (Cap). A blood test is performed, it is a more expensive test and the results do not have the same speed to skin tests. The fact that it gives negative does not mean that it is not allergic.
- Patch test. It consists of putting the allergen in contact with the patient’s skin through a dermal patch for 48-72 hours. If a skin injury appears, the result is considered positive.
conclusion
In my opinion, throughout history we have evolved quite a lot being able to detect an allergy quickly to try to avoid it in the case of medicines or food. It is true, that a possible treatment has not yet been found that is able to eliminate allergy or simply inhibit it. Instead of treatment we have antihistamines which relieve us a lot but it is a bit boring in my case to have to take a pill every time it gives me reaction or water or sweat. I do not rule out that one day there is a possible treatment for people who really suffer a lot for their allergies.
Bibliography
- What is atopia? Be atopic or atopic person | Multylind. (2020). Retrieved 16 January 2020, from https: // www.Multylind.is/atopia-atopico-allergic/reactions/
- What is allergy? | SEICAP – Patients. (2020). Retrieved 16 January 2020, from http: // patients.Seicap.es/es/-qu%c3%a9-are-la-allergia-__23832
- Entreprisses, m. (2020). Allergy in history. Retrieved 16 January 2020, from http: // www.Galenusrevista.com/?La-alegia-en-la-History
- The 13 types of allergies, their characteristics and symptoms. (2020). Retrieved 16 January 2020, from https: // psychologyymente.com/health/types-of-allergies
- What you have to know about allergy tests – the interactive doctor. (2020). Retrieved 16 January 2020, from https: // elmedicointerctive.com/Que-Saber-Pruebas-German-20110819191357072940/
- The 10 rare allergies. (2020). Retrieved 16 January 2020, from https: // www.DIARY INFORMATION.com/life-and-styl/health/2015/03/27/10-allergies-arras/1614791.HTML
Leave feedback