Symptoms of allergies to medicines. Allergy to medications, what to do? What does the skin allergy look like?

Sometimes the allergy arises unexpectedly and menacingly. What to do in such cases? How is the allergy to medicines manifested, how not to get lost, if your life or the lives of close people are at risk? In order to answer these questions, you need to study your enemy. Allergy is a specific immune response to an allergen, expressed in the production of antibodies and immune T-lymphocytes. There are many types of specific reactions to various stimuli. The most insidious and dangerous is the allergy to medicines.

The danger is that the disease can not manifest immediately, but as the allergen accumulates in the body. Another difficulty rests on the symptoms of allergy to medicines. They can be very different, and sometimes they are not associated with the use of a particular drug. In order to understand what steps should be taken for the timely diagnosis and treatment of drug allergy, the complications of drug allergy should be classified.

Classification

Complications arising from the effects of drugs can be divided into two groups:

1. Complications of immediate manifestation.

2. Complications of delayed manifestation: a) associated with changes in sensitivity;

B) not associated with a change in sensitivity.

At the first contact with an allergen there can not appear any visible and invisible manifestations. Since medications are rarely taken on a one-off basis, the body's reaction increases as the stimulus accumulates. If we talk about the danger to life, then the complications of immediate manifestation come forward. Allergy after medications causes:

• anaphylactic shock;
• Edema of Quincke;
• Urticaria;
• Acute pancreatitis.

The reaction can occur in a very short time interval, from a few seconds to 1-2 hours. It develops quickly, sometimes with lightning speed. Requires emergency medical attention.

The second group is more often expressed by various dermatological manifestations:

• Erythroderma;
• Exudative erythema;
• Korepobodnaya rash.

It manifests itself in a day or more. It is important to distinguish in time the skin manifestations of allergies from other rashes, including those caused by childhood infections. This is especially true if there is an allergy to the medicine in the child.

Stages of allergy occurrence

1. Direct contact with the allergen. The emergence of the need for production of appropriate antibodies.
2. Isolation of specific substances - allergic mediators: histamine, serotonin, bradykinin, acetylcholine, "shock poisons". The histamine properties of the blood decrease.
3. There is a violation of blood formation, spasm of smooth muscles, cytolysis of cells.
4. Immediate manifestation of allergy in one of the types described above (immediate and delayed manifestation).

The body accumulates an "enemy" element and shows the symptoms of an allergy to medicines. The risk of occurrence is increased if:

- there is a genetic predisposition (the presence of a drug allergy in one of the generations);

- long-term use of one drug (especially antibiotics penicillin or cephalosporin series, aspirin-containing drugs) or several drugs;

- use of medicines without medical supervision.

Now the question arises if there is an allergy to medicines, what to do?

First aid for allergy with complication of immediate manifestation

It is necessary to properly assess the situation and act immediately. Urticaria and Quincke's edema, in their essence, are one and the same reaction. On the skin begins to appear multiple itching blisters porcelain white or pale pink (hives). Then develops a vast swelling of the skin and mucous membranes (edema Quincke).

As a result of swelling, breathing becomes difficult and asphyxia sets in. In order to prevent a lethal outcome, it is necessary:

- immediately call for emergency medical attention;

- rinse the stomach if the medicine has been taken recently;

- if there is one of such drugs as "Prednisolone", "Diphenhydramine", "Pipolphen", "Suprastin", "Diazolin" in the medicine cabinet - to immediately take it;

- Do not leave the victim for a minute before the ambulance arrives;

- To reduce skin itching, blister surface should be smeared with 0.5-1% solution of menthol or salicylic acid.

The most dangerous reaction of the body to drug allergy is anaphylactic shock. Symptoms of an allergy to medicines in this form are frightening. There is a sharp decrease in pressure, the patient pales, there is a loss of consciousness, convulsions. It's important not to panic. First aid:

- call "ambulance";

- Turn your head to one side, uncouple your teeth and pull out the tongue;

- put the patient in such a way that the lower limbs were slightly above the head;

- from medicines apply the drug "Adrenaline".

Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock require immediate hospitalization.

First aid for allergy with complications of delayed manifestation

This is a less dangerous allergy to medicines. Treatment can be carried out at home, but under the supervision of a doctor.

How does the skin allergy manifest itself?

- limited rashes (in certain parts of the body);

- common rashes (a rash is uniform throughout the body);

- the rash may be itchy, in the form of nodules, bubbles, spotted;

- the manifestation of allergic erythema (damage to the skin and the oral mucosa with spots that have sharp boundaries). The spots cover the inner (extensor) surfaces of the body more.

It is necessary:

- stop taking the drug that causes allergies. If there were several drugs, first of all, antibiotics and preparations containing aspirin are excluded;

- Take anti-allergic preparations inside : "Diazolin", "Dimedrol", "Suprastin".

After discontinuing the medication that causes allergies, the rash passes by itself, and no further interventions are required.

Methods of examination

Diagnosis should be used in case episodes of allergy symptoms appear. If the allergy is acute and the hospital is imminent, a diagnosis will be made, samples will be made and a course of treatment will be prescribed. In case of sluggish forms, patients are not always in a hurry to seek medical help, forgetting that each next encounter with an allergen will manifest a more pronounced and strong reaction.

Knowing about the problem that has arisen, please contact the allergist in the medical institution. Modern diagnostics provides several methods for identifying the perpetrators of allergic reactions. The most informative of them:

- Linked immunosorbent assay. Blood is taken from the patient. If the serum reacts with the allergen, the analysis shows the presence of LgE antibodies.

- Provocative tests. The patient's blood is mixed with a drug that can cause allergies.

Diagnosis is important for patients who first resort to anesthesia, as well as in the case of primary use of the drug in persons prone to allergic reactions.

Treatment

The question arises if there is an allergy to the medicine, how to treat it? After establishing the diagnosis and identifying the drugs that are allergic to, go to the same drug therapy. Assign the following drugs:

- calcium chloride;

- antihistamines ("Dimedrol", "Diazolin", "Tavegil");

- Glucocorticoids ("Dexamethasone", "Hydrocortisone", "Prednisolone").

To non-traditional methods of treatment of medicinal allergy include:

- acupuncture;

- hirudotherapy;

- herbal medicine.

It is necessary to take measures to promptly remove the drug that caused an allergic reaction:

- plentiful drink (preferably alkaline mineral water) ;

- daily cleansing enemas;

- application of enterosorbents;

- Intra-droplet administration of cleansing preparations (haemodesis).

Intramuscular and intravenous use of vitamins is advisable only if there is a 100% guarantee of lack of allergy and on them.

If an allergy to the skin from drugs causes itching, to eliminate it, use trays of herbal decoctions, soda compresses.

Causes of development of drug allergy

The modern world can not be called environmentally safe for mankind. In the atmosphere every second harmful substances of chemical, biological, toxic origin are thrown out. All this negatively affects the state of the immune system. Failure of immunity entails terrible consequences: autoimmune diseases, allergy symptoms to medicines and other irritants.

1. When eating poultry meat and animals grown on modern feeds vaccinated with medicines, people do not even suspect that with many medications they come into contact every day.

2. Frequent unreasonable use of medicines.

3. Inattentive study of instructions for the use of the drug.

4. Self-medication.

5. Presence of chronic parasitic infection.

6. Presence of stabilizers, fragrances and other additives in medicinal preparations.

Also, one should not forget about the possibility of reacting to mixing drugs.

Prevention

If there is an allergy to medicines, what should I do to prevent it from happening again? It is mistakenly believed that the only way to prevent drug allergy is to abandon the medicine that causes it. Strengthening immunity has been and remains an important tool in the fight against allergies. The stronger the immune system, the less likely that this dangerous disease will occur.

Preventive measures include:

- Hardening.

- Physical education and sports.

- Proper nutrition.

- Lack of bad habits.

- If allergic reactions to any drugs have been, it should be indicated on the medical record.

- Use of antihistamines before vaccination.

- Knowing that you have a medical allergy or any other form of allergy, it is better to always have antihistamines with you . If you are prone to shock, Quincke's edema, let the ampulla with adrenaline and the syringe always be in your pocket. It can save a life.

- Before applying anesthetics to a dentist, ask for a sample.

If you follow these tips, the symptoms of an allergy to medicines will not be repeated.

Results

If the car enthusiast starts refueling his iron horse with low-quality gasoline, the car will not last long. For some reason, many of us do not think about what they put on their plate. Balanced nutrition, clean water - a pledge of strong immunity and the opportunity to say goodbye not only to food, but also medicinal allergies. Any disease leads a person who has learned about it, into a state of shock. Over time, it becomes clear that most of our diseases require not so much treatment, as a change in lifestyle. Medication allergy is no exception. In the modern world, and especially in the post-Soviet space, attention to one's health at the proper level is lacking. This leads to undesirable, and at times lethal consequences. It is cheaper and easier to prevent a disease than to spend money and energy on its treatment. Now that we know how the allergy to medicines manifests, knowing the enemy in person, it's easier to fight it. Be healthy.