ALLERGOLOGY

The Department of Allergology in Salus offers services for the diagnosis and treatment of all allergic diseases, both respiratory and skin. For diagnosis, consultations with an allergist and various skin and blood tests are carried out. Treatments include medication and Specific Allergen Immunotherapy (allergy vaccination)

Allergic diseases are based on the reaction of the immune system against substances that are considered foreign and dangerous. These substances called allergens include some microorganisms that live in the home environment (mites), pollens, animal epithelium. Allergens are also considered certain foods or medications to which the immune system reacts excessively and causes various reactions in the respiratory tract or on the skin.

In vivo examinations, performed on the patient's skin:
Prick test aeroallergene (allergy test on the skin of the forearm with airborne allergens)
Prick test trofoalergene (forearm skin allergy test with food allergens)
Prick test against insect bites (allergy test with the venom of insects such as bees, wasps, etc.)
Patch test (test on the skin of the back with contact allergens)
Prick by Prick (forearm skin allergy test with native foods)
IDR (intradermal test) with autologous serum (blood plasma test)
Prick test, IDR and oral provocation with medications (antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and anesthetics)
Physical test against hot and cold
Physical exercise test
In vivo examinations, performed on the patient's skin:
total IgE
IgE specific for airborne allergens
IgE specific for food allergens
IgE specific for medications
IgE specific for the venom of insects such as bees and wasps
Serum tryptase level etc.

Spirometry (respiratory function test) which determines how affected (narrowed) the airways are as a result of various factors.
The most common allergic pathologies are:
  Bronchial asthma
It is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lower respiratory tract that is accompanied by difficulty in breathing, cough, wheezing and tightness in the chest, which increase when the patient is in contact with the allergen causing the situation.)

  Allergic Rhinitis / Allergic lightning
Allergic rhinitis, an inflammatory disease of the upper respiratory tract that is accompanied by nasal congestion, runny nose, repeated sneezing and itchy nose. Rhinitis can be seasonal in cases where the patient is sensitive to year-round pollens, when he is sensitive to mites, molds, animal epithelium, etc. In the case of seasonal allergic rhinitis, the symptoms are present during the spring, summer and in some cases until the beginning of autumn, while in the case of perennial rhinitis they are present throughout the year.

  Allergic conjunctivitis
Allergic conjunctivitis is also inflammation, but of the conjunctiva of the eye (the membrane that covers the eye and the inside of the lids), depending on the causative allergen that is present in the spring season or all year round generally accompanying Rhinitis. Symptoms of conjunctivitis are watery, red and itchy eyes.

  Atopic dermatitis
It is a pathology caused by air and food allergens and affects children more often, accompanied by dry, red, irritated and itchy skin.

  Contact Dermatitis
It is a reaction that occurs from skin contact with various materials such as metals, hair dyes, perfume ingredients, adhesives, nail polishes, topical medications, rubber gloves, soap, detergents, fabric softeners and shampoos. This reaction appears with a burning sensation and itching of the skin, as well as redness and even blisters on the skin.

  Urticaria
It appears with red spots on the skin that cause itching and in most cases are spread throughout the body. Depending on the duration, Urticaria is considered acute if the spots are present for less than 6 weeks and chronic if they are present on the skin for more than 6 weeks. The causes of acute urticaria can be various, starting from an infection, a viral condition, contact with a substance or allergen, an insect bite or a type of medication, etc. As for chronic urticaria, it can be heat, effort, factors emotional, hyperthyroidism, and in most cases the cause is unknown. Also, urticaria is accompanied by swelling of the face or body.

  Angioedema
It is a visible swelling of the subcutaneous tissue that is located in different parts of the body, which, in addition to the skin and mucous membranes, also affects organs such as the larynx or intestine. Angioedema can be inherited or acquired during life.

  Food allergy
It affects children more and is the result of the consumption of a certain food, which the immune system sees as a dangerous agent and reacts by showing various symptoms on the skin (urticaria, angioedema or allergic dermatitis), in the digestive tract (vomiting , stomach pain and diarrhea), in the respiratory tract (rhinitis, asthma) and up to anaphylactic shock. Food allergies are common in all age groups.

  Drug reactions
Just like food or airborne allergens, in some cases medications are considered by the immune system as harmful to the body, which reacts with the appearance of red spots on the skin or hives, causing itching, swelling, breathing difficulties and even anaphylactic shock, which is life threatening.

  Hypersensitivity to Hymenoptera stings (bees and wasps)
If the patient is allergic to their venom after being bitten, the reaction can range from local swelling in the bite area to systemic urticaria, difficulty breathing and swallowing, and even anaphylactic shock.

  Anaphylactic shock
It is considered a life-threatening reaction, which is accompanied by urticaria and angioedema, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, blockage of the respiratory tract, drop in blood pressure, arrhythmia, body rupture, loss of consciousness, etc. The most frequent causes are the consumption of food, taking a medication, the poison of insect bites, etc., especially when the patient is allergic to them.

Treatment of allergic diseases
Educating the patient about avoiding the causative agent of allergic symptoms
Drug treatment for relevant pathologies, patient education for their use
Treatment with Specific Allergen Immunotherapy (allergy vaccination), for patients with allergic symptoms and with a positive result to allergens tested in laboratory and skin tests. This treatment is performed with injections or drops under the tongue and changes the immune system, makes it insensitive to these allergens, also prevents the worsening of respiratory diseases such as Bronchial Asthma
Another treatment is desensitizing to the sting of Hymenoptera (bees and wasps) which avoids reactions that are threatening to the patient.