In moments, your body's condition may change due to an internal emergency that is invisible and incomprehensible, and this is what happens with blood allergy, the hidden enemy that puts the immune system on alert without exposure to injury or infection. Rather, a wrong reaction to a drug or food that enters your body at any moment is sufficient. Learn with us in this article about this condition in detail, its causes and symptoms, along with effective treatment methods.
What is blood allergy?
A blood allergy is a rapid and dangerous allergic reaction that may, in some cases, become life-threatening if it is not treated immediately. It occurs due to the immune system overreacting to certain substances, whether in medications, some foods, or insect bites, which leads to the secretion of substances in the body that cause some disturbing and severe symptoms that appear on the body quickly.
Types of blood allergies
There are several types that indicate a blood allergy, and they differ according to the causes and the severity of the body’s allergic reaction, and they include:
Hypersensitivity reaction
It also contains 4 different types of severe and exaggerated immune reactions such as:
- Immediate sensitivity Hypersensitivity From food, medications, or insect bites, which appears within minutes of exposure to any of these causes. Examples include allergic asthma or allergic rhinitis.
- Cytotoxic hypersensitivity Hypersensitivity It forms antibodies against the body's cells until those cells are destroyed by the immune system due to faulty blood transfusion reactions or immune hemolytic anemia.
- Hypersensitivity by immune complexes Hypersensitivity Immune complexes are formed in the blood and then deposited in the tissues, resulting in acute and chronic infections, such as lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Delayed type Hypersensitivity This type does not depend on antibodies and appears two or three days after exposure to causative substances, such as tuberculosis, allergy to nickel and latex, and Crohn's disease.
Anaphylaxis shock
Anaphylactic shock is a very rapid and severe allergic reaction that involves the entire body and is caused by medications or certain foods such as peanuts or fish, leading to severe symptoms that begin with shortness of breath and may end with loss of consciousness.
Chronic urticaria
Chronic urticaria is a condition in which the patient appears with bruises or red blisters that rise from the surface of the skin, also called rashes, which last for more than a month and a half and appear and disappear suddenly due to an autoimmune disorder or triggers such as some medications, or a chronic infection.
Eosinophilia in the blood
Blood eosinophilia is an abnormal condition in which the number of white blood cells of the eosinophil type is higher than the normal percentage. These cells are known to fight parasites and participate in allergic reactions. This condition may occur due to severe allergies or some cancer and immune diseases.
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Symptoms of blood allergy
Symptoms of blood allergy include skin symptoms, digestive system disorders, in addition to respiratory symptoms, which are of course the most dangerous, and include the following:
- Severe itching felt by the patient in different areas of the body.
- Urticaria means the appearance of red spots raised on the surface of the skin.
- Angioedema means swelling of the lips, eyelids and face.
- Severe redness and a rash that comes and goes suddenly.
- Chronic cough without any pathological cause.
- Nasal congestion with runny nose.
- Itchy eyes with redness.
- Severe shortness of breath.
- Wheezing or chest wheezing.
- Constant fatigue and dizziness.
- Itchy throat.
- Chronic headache.
- Frequent sneezing.
- Stomach bloating.
- ألم في البطن.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
Symptoms of severe anaphylactic shock
In the case of severe respiratory shock, as we talked about previously, serious symptoms appear, including:
- Severe drop in blood pressure.
- Severe shortness of breath and sometimes even cessation of breathing.
- In some cases, this may lead to loss of consciousness.
What are the causes of blood allergy?
There are multiple causes of this condition, and as we mentioned, it occurs as a result of an abnormal reaction of the immune system to some substances that it considers to be the enemy even though they are harmless, the most important of which are:
- Some medications, such as penicillin, anticonvulsants, and materials used in x-rays.
- Some foods that cause food allergies such as peanuts, eggs, milk, soy, wheat, and tree nuts.
- Transplanting organs or tissues, the body may treat them as foreign bodies and the immune system begins to react to them.
- Insect bites, especially those that emit toxins, such as bees, which enter directly into the bloodstream and lead to hypersensitivity.
- Some vaccines and immunoglobulins, such as vaccines, contain proteins that interact with the body incorrectly.
- Blood transfusion to a person that does not match the donor's blood type, so the immune system begins to attack the components of the blood as soon as it enters the body.
احجز استشارتك الأن فى Laboratory At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital
Blood allergy analysis
Blood allergy analysis is a screening method used by doctors to detect IgE antibodies that the body secretes in response to allergy-causing substances. This analysis helps determine the type of allergy and its cause, whether food or other irritants. A blood sample is drawn for testing, which helps in diagnosing the condition and determining the appropriate treatment.
You can contact the Al Mousa Specialist Hospital laboratory accredited by the College of American Pathologists to perform all necessary examinations and tests with the highest level of accuracy. It represents a qualitative leap in the world of medical diagnosis, so you can rely on it for all tests without fear.
Normal blood sensitivity rate
The normal percentage of IgE antibodies in the body in adults ranges from 100 to 150 IU/ml, while in children the percentage is slightly higher due to the activity of the immune system at that stage.
Methods of treating blood allergies
After conducting a blood allergy test, the doctor begins to develop an integrated treatment plan that includes the following:
First: Avoid the triggers
Doctors recommend first avoiding all causes that lead to an allergic reaction, whether foods such as milk, eggs, or fish, or exposure to certain chemicals, which must be avoided completely. It is best to read the nutritional label on the food before eating it to ensure the substances it contains.
Second: treatment with medications
The doctor recommends some medications depending on the condition and cause of the allergy. The most common medications to treat blood allergies are:
- Antihistamine medications that treat itching and rashes, in addition to runny nose, the most important example of which is Claritine.
- Corticosteroids are used in severe cases and are taken either orally or by injection, depending on the case, including prednisone and dexamethasone injections.
- Epinephrine in cases of severe anaphylactic shock, swelling of the throat and shortness of breath. The doctor always recommends carrying the medicine anywhere to treat emergency situations.
Third: Immunotherapy
It is an advanced, long-term treatment that depends on exposing the patient to the substances that cause blood allergies in small and repeated proportions, whether foods or chemicals, until the body gets used to them. It is necessary that this treatment be done under complete medical supervision.
Fourth: Lifestyle care
We offer you some tips that help along with drug treatment and include lifestyle care:
- Avoid smoking completely and avoid sitting with smokers completely.
- Reducing tension and stress and taking enough time to rest and sleep to reduce stress.
- Eat anti-inflammatory foods such as olive oil and leafy green vegetables such as lettuce and arugula.
- Maintaining the health of the stomach and digestive system in general because it is closely related to allergies in the blood.
- Avoid exposure to any harmful chemicals or house dust, clean the house regularly, and reduce the use of perfumes.
Learn about: Allergy symptoms Your guide to recognizing early signs and common types
When do you visit the doctor?
In general, you should follow up with a specialist doctor when symptoms recur with exposure to irritants. Cases that require an immediate visit to the doctor include the appearance of serious signs such as severe swelling of the face and tongue, a sudden drop in blood pressure, rapid heartbeat and irregular pulse, or severe shortness of breath with a wheezing sound in the chest, as occurs in cases of allergic asthma.
If you encounter a case of blood allergy and signs of this condition appear on your body, do not hesitate and immediately contact the doctors at Al-Mousa Specialized Hospital to do the necessary. You will then undergo some tests, such as analyzing the allergies in the blood and detecting antibodies, then take all necessary measures and begin the treatment journey so that you are not exposed to a dangerous emergency. With Al-Mousa, you are safe.
اسئلة شائعة
Below we answer in detail the most frequently asked questions that we receive from our followers:
Does blood allergy cause itching?
Yes, blood allergies may cause itching, which is one of its common symptoms, including types such as eczema, urticaria, and eosinophilia due to the secretion of histamine, which causes itching and redness, from immune cells.
Does blood allergy prevent pregnancy?
No, in most cases this condition does not prevent pregnancy unless it is linked to an immune disorder or antibodies that only negatively affect fertility and reduce the incidence of pregnancy.
Can blood allergy be cured?
Some simple types may disappear with time and the patient will recover from them, while immune-related types may last a long time and can be controlled with medications and follow-up.
Sources
Allergies – nhs
Allergy Blood Test – nhs
