This blog is a way of sharing the information and resources that have helped me to recover my son Roo from an Autism Spectrum Disorder. What I have learned is to view our symptoms as the results of underlying biological cause, which can be identified and healed. I say "our symptoms" because I also have a neuro-immune disorder called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

And, of course, I am not a doctor (although I have been known to impersonate one while doing imaginative play with my son)- this is just our story and information that has been helpful or interesting to us. I hope it is helpful and interesting to you!


Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Allergy and Hypersensitivity Symptoms, Conditions, and DIseases

Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Glossary (from the AAAAI)
Video Library (from the AAAAI)

Allergy is an aspect of hypersensitivity, which is defined in Encyclopedia of Infection and Immunity as "Hypersensitivity as an immunological dysfunction is defined as exaggerated or inappropriate response of the immune system, which is mostly targeted at innocuous antigens with consequent tissue damage."  Hypersensitivity reactions are grouped into 4 categories or types; "type I (Immediate), type II (antibody-mediated), type III (immune complex-mediated), and type IV (cell-mediated or delayed-type) hypersensitivity."  

"Type I hypersensitivity or allergy, the most common immune disorder, is mainly mediated by immunoglobulin (Ig)E and mast cells. It can cause anaphylaxis, food allergy, and asthma. Type II hypersensitivity can lead to tissue damage by three main mechanisms: (1) direct cellular destruction (e.g., autoimmune hemolytic anemia and immune thrombocytopenia), (2) inflammation (e.g., Goodpasture's syndrome and acute rheumatic fever), and (3) disrupting cellular function (e.g., myasthenia gravis and Graves’ disease). Type III hypersensitivity is caused by excess production of immune complexes or impaired clearance of them and includes serum sickness, systemic lupus erythematosus, and post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. Type IV hypersensitivity is mediated by T cells and macrophages, causing diseases like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis."

From xPharm: The Comprehensive Pharmacology Reference "Hypersensitivity reactions can involve immunological or non-immunological mechanisms, with the latter also being known as idiosyncratic reactions or pseudo-allergy. Johansson and colleagues Johansson et al (2001) states that “Hypersensitivity causes objectively reproducible symptoms or signs, initiated by exposure to a defined stimulus at a dose tolerated by normal subjects.” The stimulus could include both exogenous and endogenous antigens and haptens. A broader definition of allergy that includes all immunologically-mediated hypersensitivity reactions is now more widely accepted. Allergy is still commonly used to refer to IgE-mediated hypersensitivity."

Specific Symptoms, Conditions, and Diseases:
Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

Anaphylaxis -see this post

Anaphylactoid Reaction - Anaphylactoid reactions are defined as those reactions that produce the same clinical picture with anaphylaxis but are not IgE mediated, occur through a direct nonimmune-mediated release of mediators from mast cells and/or basophils or result from direct complement activation.

Anaphylactoid Syndrome of Pregnancy -

Angioedema  Angioedema is the swelling of the deeper layers of the skin, caused by a build-up of fluid. 

Asthma

Burning Mouth Syndrome

Eczema

Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP) and X-Linked Protoporphyria (XLP) - certain kinds of light cause a reaction in red blood cells, causing them to release chemicals that build up in the liver and damage it.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Familial Tryptesemia

Gastroparesis (from Strong Medicine channel)

HATS

Hereditary angioedema 

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis)
"The term hypersensitivity pneumonitis (also known as extrinsic allergic alveolitis) refers to a group of lung diseases in which your lungs become inflamed as an allergic reaction resulting from exposure to dusts of animal and vegetable origin.  Intense or prolonged exposure to animal or vegetable dusts can result in hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The dust particles must be 5 microns or smaller to get into the alveoli. Animal and vegetable dusts are complex mixtures originating from many different sources such as husks, bark, wood, animal dander, and microorganisms including bacteria and fungi. The microorganisms produce toxic chemicals that form part of the mixture. Insects and insect fragments, bird droppings and dried urine of rats may also be found in the dusts. Moldy hay, straw, grain, and feathers are other sources of dust."

Idiopathic Anaphylaxis

Kounis Syndrome

Mastocytic Enterocolitis
"As mast cells have been highlighted in the pathogenesis of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, a new term "mastocytic enterocolitis" was suggested by Jakate and colleagues to describe an increase in mucosal mast cells in patients with chronic intractable diarrhea and favorable response to treatment with antihistamines."

Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS)

Scombroid Syndrome or histamine fish poisoning is a histamine toxicity condition resulting from the consumption of spoiled fish [12]. Fish flesh contains the amino acid histidine. When fish is infected by gram-negative bacteria that contain the enzyme histidine decarboxylase, this enzyme converts histidine to histamine, which induces Kounis syndrome.

 Anisakiasis is another condition associated with ingesting raw or undercooked fish or seafood. It occurs when seafood is infested with anisakis simplex, a common nematode parasitizing fish, which secretes allergenic substances. Therefore, unlike scrombroid syndrome, anisakiasis is an IgE-mediated food allergy and future abstention from eating raw or undercooked fish or seafood is always required.

Posted by at
Labels: , , , ,