Sometimes we feel leads us to a dead end.If flowing from the nose, eyes red, I want to sneeze constantly, and did not immediately make out that it is - an allergy or SARS?How to understand what is happening in the body, because these diseases are treated differently?Later in the article we will try to find out more how to distinguish an allergy from a cold adult or child.
role of immunity in allergic reaction
in our country have long been taken from allergies to suspect a weak immune system and try every possible way to strengthen its immune-boosting drugs, vitamins, and so on. N. But the fact that these steps just to help her symptomsIt is even more pronounced.Therefore, to understand how to distinguish an allergy from a cold, first you need to understand how the immune system in the first case and why he declares war on harmless substances.
Allergy - a strong immune reaction to the stimulus.That is, poplar fluff, ragweed pollen, fruits or vegetables the body perceives as a threat and taken to deal with them.
As it turns out, is guilty of this common passion for excessive personal purity and sterility in areas, especially in the room a small child.And it turns out, it can play in the future a cruel joke - the immune system that is genetically programmed to live in a cave and contact with three billion organisms is deprived of work and thus simply "thrown" at all even slightly reminiscent of "the enemy."
So formed allergy.For many, it becomes a seasonal character - that is, at a certain time of the year (by the way, not necessarily in a time of flowering), a person receives a set of symptoms similar to the symptoms of colds and.
Features allergy
And sometimes quite difficult to understand how to distinguish an allergy from a cold, as their symptoms are very similar: sneezing, redness and swelling of the mucous, runny nose, sore throat.
But the main difference is still there: the allergy does not increase the temperature and mucus released from the nose remains clear.Overall condition wherein the weakly disturbed and appetite usually suffers.
In addition, when allergy often observed differences in the patient's condition.That is, depending on the presence or absence of contact with the allergen, its condition can change suddenly - for example, he may sneeze and blow your nose strongly, being on the street, and going into the house, after some time already seems perfectly healthy.Viruses, of course, so do not conduct themselves: they attack with an enviable constancy.
What characterizes cold
fact that in common parlance is called the common cold, is the result of a viral or bacterial infection.It usually occurs against hypothermia or decrease of immunity due to existing chronic disease and other factors.
By the way, how to distinguish between the common cold from allergies usually do not understand the very complex.After SARS accompanied by very definite symptoms that allergies do not have:
- feeling of aching muscles,
- malaise, headache,
- sore throat,
- temperature increase,
- patient disturbed appetite,
- allocation ofnose have a greenish or yellowish tinge.
Incidentally, a cold person sneezes too often, whereas allergies can produce integer attacks "sneeze".
flow of SARS, as a rule, does not exceed 10 days (with complications - two weeks), and allergic rhinitis may be concerned, and a month or more - depending on the existing exposure to the allergen and the timeliness of receipt of properly selected products.
How to distinguish an allergy from a cold in the child
So our passion for purity and the desire to protect the child from germs, as mentioned above, led to the fact that today's children often suffer from allergies.They are "starving" the immune system perceives as an enemy of any microorganism, and declares war on him.By the way, it is proved that the light-skinned and fair-haired children are more prone to allergies than their dark-haired peers.
course, moms are going through, trying to figure out how to distinguish an allergy from a cold in infants.After all, he can not describe the state of health and receiving unjustified antiviral agents may exacerbate existing allergic reaction that caused the runny nose and cough.What you have to watch him.
When allergies in the child, as a rule, bloodshot eyes, they turn sour, the eyelids become swollen, moreover, noticeably strong lacrimation.If you like the cold usually does not happen.Often these symptoms are accompanied by more and rashes on the skin - and all of this means that we should urgently address to the allergist, to prevent pathological condition to develop into a serious problem.
few words about the danger of an allergic reaction
Many even learned how to distinguish an allergy from a cold, try not to pay attention to it.But it is a serious mistake!Untreated allergic rhinitis in more than 40% of cases develops into asthma.Not to mention the risk of angioedema or anaphylactic shock.
If you have seasonal allergies need to see a doctor a month before the start of a dangerous period for you and start taking prescribed means should be at least 3 weeks before the first manifestations of the disease.
Typically, an expert assigns not only drugs of general validity, but also local antihistamines, called Cramon that help significantly reduce allergic reactions.
again how to distinguish an allergy from a cold
What is the difference between allergies and the common cold, you probably already knew.And yet again we list the main differences:
- for typical allergy itching (in the eyes - with allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis, or on the skin - hives);
- runny nose look different;
- fever is characteristic only of SARS (although it may in some cases be accompanied by urticaria and allergic);
- sore throat, body aches, weakness, headache - symptoms of a viral infection.
So, before you start treatment, be sure you will be examined in the true nature of his illness.However, in some cases, allergies and the common cold may be linked.How?
Communication colds and allergies
all know that viruses, affecting mucous and spreading in the body can elicit an immune response in the form of allergic reaction.But it turns out, and allergies, if not treated properly, can lead to the development of somatic pathologies - sinusitis or bronchitis.
For example, in allergic rhinitis in the nasal mucosa swelling is formed, because of the mucus which has no outlet, and accumulates in the maxillary sinuses.And here already formed a favorable environment for the development of bacteria that cause sinusitis.Therefore, in severe cases, even doctors can not immediately respond, how to distinguish an allergy from a cold.
But if you do not admit it and seek help in time, then investigate the situation will be much easier, and the use of designated funds will greatly facilitate your lives and preserve health.Do not be ill!
