ALLEROLOGIA

Il Dipartimento di Allergologia della Salus offre servizi per la diagnosi e la cura di tutte le malattie allergiche, sia respiratorie che cutanee. Per la diagnosi vengono effettuate consultazioni con un allergologo e vari esami della pelle e del sangue. I trattamenti comprendono farmaci e immunoterapia con allergeni specifici (vaccinazione antiallergica)

Le malattie allergiche si basano sulla reazione del sistema immunitario contro sostanze considerate estranee e pericolose. Queste sostanze chiamate allergeni comprendono alcuni microrganismi che vivono nell'ambiente domestico (acari), pollini, epitelio animale. Sono considerati allergeni anche alcuni alimenti o farmaci ai quali il sistema immunitario reagisce in modo eccessivo e provoca varie reazioni nelle vie respiratorie o sulla pelle.

Esami in vivo, eseguiti sulla pelle del paziente:
Prick test aeroallergene (test allergico sulla pelle dell'avambraccio con allergeni presenti nell'aria)
Prick test trofoalergene (test di allergia cutanea dell'avambraccio con allergeni alimentari)
Prick test contro le punture di insetti (test allergico al veleno di insetti come api, vespe, ecc.)
Patch test (test sulla pelle della schiena con allergeni da contatto)
Prick by Prick (test allergico cutaneo dell'avambraccio con alimenti autoctoni)
IDR (test intradermico) con siero autologo (test del plasma sanguigno)
Prick test, IDR e provocazione orale con farmaci (antibiotici, antinfiammatori e anestetici)
Test fisico contro il caldo e il freddo
Prova di esercizio fisico
Esami in vivo, eseguiti sulla pelle del paziente:
IgE totali
IgE specifiche per gli allergeni presenti nell'aria
IgE specifiche per gli allergeni alimentari
IgE specifiche per i farmaci
IgE specifiche per il veleno di insetti come api e vespe
Livello di triptasi sierica ecc.

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.