What are the differences between allergies and respiratory infections?
Pulmonary infection can be either bacterial or viral of the upper airway, such as rhinosinusitis, laryngitis, laryngotracheobronchitis, etc.; and lower airway such as bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. This type of disease constitutes another group of pathologies, both in children and adults, which are evaluated in Pneumology consultations, especially in the autumn-winter period.
At the same time, rhinitis and allergic asthma are considered to be two manifestations of the same disease, respiratory allergy. In this case the cause is not a germ but an immune reaction to an external agent. Respiratory allergies occur when the susceptible person inhales particles capable of causing an immune reaction.
What types of respiratory allergies are there?
The most common aeroallergens are found in tree, grass and plant pollen grains, house dust, damp fungi and pets. The particles of these aeroallergens are small in size so they are airborne and reach the nasal mucosa through inspired air. A very important part of our defenses are the antibodies that bind to these harmful agents and destroy them, protecting us. However, allergic people produce a special type of antibodies, of the IgE class, in excess. When IgE and the allergen meet, an allergic reaction is triggered. If this occurs in the nasal mucosa, rhinitis symptoms are produced, which is the most frequent allergic disease; but it can occur at bronchial level causing atopic allergic bronchial asthma.
What symptoms do they cause?
Allergic rhinitis occurs when an allergen and IgE antibodies synthesized by the allergic person come into contact and an inflammatory disorder of the mucous membranes lining the inside of the nose develops. This process is known as allergic rhinitis and is characterized by nasal itching, sneezing, abundant mucus and nasal obstruction.
Allergic rhinitis affects 10-25% of the population and has a strong impact on their quality of life: it reduces school and work performance and constitutes a significant economic burden.
Allergic rhinitis is also a risk factor for developing asthma. Other frequent complications are sinusitis, nasal polyps and conjunctivitis.
Allergic bronchial asthma, on the other hand, is an inflammatory disease of the bronchi that causes them to become obstructed, making breathing difficult. The obstruction is due to an immunological reaction between the inhaled allergen and the antibodies produced by the allergic person.
Allergic asthma accounts for 70% of all types of asthma and is the most frequent chronic disease in children and young adults. Inflammation is associated with bronchial occlusion (bronchospasm) and increased mucus secretion. In many cases the bronchi also react in this way to respiratory infections, cold air and physical exercise (bronchial hyperresponsiveness).
The symptoms of asthma are recurrent coughing attacks, shortness of breath (dyspnea), chest tightness and wheezing. Asthma often appears as a flare-up. It can become very severe and requires emergency treatment. Asthma is accompanied by alterations in the functional examination of the respiratory system (spirometry), which allows certifying the diagnosis, determining its severity and knowing the response to treatment.
Allergic asthma is often associated with spasmodic cough and allergic rhinitis, which may precede it in time.
How are these types of allergies treated?
The treatment of respiratory allergy, once it has been correctly diagnosed and the responsible allergens have been determined, is based on three essential aspects that can be complementary:
- Avoidance of exposure to the allergen, which may be sufficient to control the disease, in the case of allergic exclusively to animal epithelia. It is practically impossible to avoid exposure to the great majority of environmental allergens (mites, pollens and fungi), but the application of some hygienic measures can reduce this exposure.
- Administration of drugs with an effect on symptoms, such as antihistamines, anti-inflammatory drugs, bronchodilators or inhaled corticosteroids. It should be considered that the beneficial effect disappears when the medication is withdrawn. It is important to perform spirometric controls to see the evolution of bronchial asthma.
- Desensitizing immunotherapy is considered the most complete treatment for respiratory allergy and is achieved through allergy vaccines. Specific immunotherapy makes it possible to achieve immunological tolerance after prolonged treatment, which should always be carried out under the control of a specialist.
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