Allergy to folic acid - could it be, what are the symptoms?

Folic acid (vitamin B9) is a B vitamin that is involved in synthesis in the body’s biochemical processes. This vitamin has a lot of beneficial properties; it is believed that this vitamin can lift your mood.

It plays an important role in the formation of the nervous system in the fetus during pregnancy. It is also always prescribed to young couples when planning pregnancy. It has a positive effect on the fertility function of women and men.

A large amount of folic acid is found in greens: parsley, dill, celery. Also in beans, chicken eggs, dairy products, meat and fish products.

Causes of an allergic reaction to vitamin B9

Can you be allergic to folic acid? Maybe doctors note several reasons for its formation when a substance enters the body. As a result, the immune system perceives it as foreign and begins to reject it. The main factors that provoke the development of allergies are:

1. There are too many foods containing this vitamin in your diet.
2. There is increased sensitivity to folic acid.
3. Genetic predisposition to an allergic reaction. It is noted that if parents have it, then there is a high probability that the child will also suffer from it.
4. Overdose of vitamin B9. It occurs when a person simultaneously takes several multivitamin preparations containing folic acid.
5. A weak immune system cannot adequately perceive certain substances and perceives them as foreign.

It is problematic to independently determine the deficiency of a particular vitamin, so a doctor should prescribe multivitamin preparations. Uncontrolled use of such drugs often becomes the culprit of allergies. An adult body needs only 200 mcg of folic acid per day; if this amount is greatly exceeded, there is a risk of developing an allergic reaction.

Skin rash is one of the symptoms of an allergy to vitamin B9

The benefits of acid

The body needs vitamin B9, as it has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the hematopoietic system.

We recommend reading: Hydrocortisone ointment. what it is used for, instructions for use, indications, composition

Its other properties include:

• liver restoration;
• digestive system;
• ensuring the transmission of various impulses between nerves;
• regulation of stress arousals.

Folic acid is essential for pregnant women.

It reduces the likelihood of early birth and, moreover, prevents the occurrence of pathologies. The vitamin allows you to stabilize your emotional state.

• feeling of depression, depression, anxiety, not justified by certain reasons;
• feeling of fear and confusion, memory loss;
• acid deficiency is accompanied by problems with the digestive system;
• anemia;
• the appearance of early gray hair.

Folic acid has many beneficial properties. It is believed that it is necessary for the production of the happiness hormone. Therefore, it is often called the “vitamin of excellent mood.”

It affects cell division, tissue growth, and immune development. The vitamin has a significant effect on the activity of the cardiovascular system.

How does the body react to vitamin B9?

Can you be allergic to folic acid? It can be recognized by the following symptoms:

• Redness of the skin.
• Rashes in the form of small red spots and blisters.
• Hives.
• Mild burning and itching.
• Labored breathing.
• In serious cases, Quincke's edema.
• Anaphylactic shock, manifested by difficulty breathing and pale skin.
• In rare cases, nausea and abdominal pain may occur.

If a person suffers from bronchial asthma, then an allergic reaction to folic acid can cause an attack. Immediate assistance is required. If anaphylactic shock develops, you cannot do without calling an ambulance.

Itchy skin is one of the manifestations of an allergy to folic acid

Allergy pills during pregnancy: what can be done for treatment?

The success of allergy treatment in expectant mothers depends, first of all, on the accurate identification of the allergen and the exclusion of further contact with it. It is important to understand that there are no drugs that are absolutely safe for pregnant women. All antihistamines should be taken under strict medical supervision when the expected benefit to the mother outweighs the potential risk to the health of the fetus. To relieve an allergy attack in pregnant women, doctors most often prescribe the following medications :

• Allertek;
• Suprastin;
• Claritin.

potential allergens during pregnancy :

• plant pollen;
• dust, pet hair, fluff;
• household chemicals;
• cosmetics with fragrances and fragrances;
• chocolate, citruses, eggs, strawberries, nuts, honey, red fish.

By following simple recommendations and all your doctor’s instructions, you will be able to avoid developing allergies during pregnancy.

Irina Levchenko, obstetrician-gynecologist, especially for the website Mirmam.pro

Diagnosis of pathology

After neutralizing the acute manifestations of an allergic reaction, you should visit a doctor. The presence of an allergy to folic acid can be determined using skin allergy tests.

A small incision is made on the skin and a small amount of allergen is injected. The body's reaction will confirm or refute the diagnosis.

Only after confirmation can the doctor prescribe therapy.

The scratch test is a reliable method for diagnosing allergies.

Establishing diagnosis

After providing first aid and eliminating the primary symptoms, the patient must make an appointment with an allergist. He conducts an initial survey, finds out the details of the manifestation of a negative reaction, and gets acquainted with the medical history.

Blood tests are taken to identify the allergen. Then skin allergy tests are done: suspected irritants are injected one by one into tiny scratches on the skin. The test is completed after swelling appears at the insertion site.

The causes of the disease and the individual characteristics of the patient’s body influence the intensity of symptoms and forms of allergies.

Treatment of folic acid allergy

If it is determined that the allergic reaction of the immune system is caused by folic acid, then it is necessary to stop consuming products containing it. To eliminate symptoms, the following medications are prescribed:

• Antihistamines. Their use is recommended for a week. The following medications are suitable: Suprastin, Tavegil. For the treatment of children, Zyrtec or Zodak is prescribed in the form of drops or syrup.
• To quickly remove vitamin B9 from the body and neutralize its effect, it is recommended to take adsorbents: “Polysorb”, “Activated carbon”. It is advisable to take the medications within 3-5 hours after the first allergy symptoms appear.
• When anaphylactic shock develops, hormonal medications are prescribed.
• A mild form of an allergic reaction can be eliminated with external agents that relieve inflammation, eliminate itching and redness: Panthenol, Fenistil.
• If a bacterial infection occurs as a result of scratching itchy areas, then you should use ointments containing antibacterial agents, for example, Levomekol.
• In some cases, the doctor prescribes intravenous administration of calcium chloride.

To reduce symptoms, you also need to review your diet; it is advisable to remove the following foods from it for a while:

• Leafy greens: spinach, parsley, lettuce.
• Beef and lamb.
• Eggs.
• Cottage cheese.
• Tuna and salmon.

You should not self-medicate; only a doctor can select effective remedies that will quickly relieve allergy symptoms. We must remember that in this situation, traditional methods will not help; emergency medical assistance is needed.

Treatment

In traditional medicine, allergies are treated with antihistamines and vasoconstrictors. But these 2 groups, with rare exceptions, are contraindicated for women in the first and second trimester.

Medicines

During pregnancy, you should pay attention to the following medications:

1. Most antihistamines are contraindicated during pregnancy and are taken only if the effect of treatment outweighs the harmful effects on the fetus. In this case, second and third generation drugs are prescribed - Claritin, Fexadin.
2. Enterosorbents are drugs that can remove allergens from the body. Unlike antihistamines, the effect of enterosorbent does not occur immediately. But with long-term allergies, this is the only possible way to alleviate the condition of a pregnant woman.
3. Allergic rhinitis can be relieved by rinsing the nose. For this, saline solutions and sprays (Dolphin, Aqualor) are used. Rinsing will cleanse the nasopharynx of allergens, relieve swelling and eliminate residual secretions.
4. Allergic dermatitis is treated with healing ointments (Bepanten, Panthenol).

Important! During the period of bearing a baby, you should treat medications with special attention.

ethnoscience

Traditional medicine recipes can relieve skin itching and eliminate inflammation.

If you are confident that you are not allergic to the natural ingredients used, you can consider the following recipes:

1. Against skin itching, lubricate the skin with a mixture of lard and elecampane root. To prepare, mix 5 tbsp. l. warmed lard and 2 tbsp. l. crushed elecampane roots. Boil, cool, apply to itchy areas morning and evening.
2. To combat hives, apply compresses made from a clean cloth soaked in boiled Kalanchoe juice.
3. To relieve inflammation, treat the skin with a decoction of chamomile, string and celandine (a mixture of 1 tsp of each ingredient, pour 500 ml of boiling water and cool).

Important! Most components of folk recipes are strong allergens that can aggravate the course of the disease.

Features of allergy to vitamin B9 during pregnancy

A lack of folic acid during pregnancy is dangerous not only for the developing baby, but also for the expectant mother. The dosage during this period increases to 400 mcg per day, even taking twice the amount will not cause harm.

Most often, an allergy to folic acid during pregnancy develops against the background of individual intolerance to the vitamin. The substance does not have a toxic effect, but there is a danger of oversaturation of the body.

Before visiting your doctor, you should avoid taking multivitamins containing B9 and products with folic acid.

Typically, your doctor will recommend stopping it for a while and then prescribing a lower dosage.

Hypersensitivity to folic acid is especially dangerous in the first three months of pregnancy, when all organs are developing. In addition, at this time it is undesirable to take antihistamines, so the expectant mother should be careful about taking any medications, even vitamin ones.

To eliminate allergy symptoms in pregnant women, you can use ointments that do not contain hormonal substances: Panthenol, Protopic.

What products does it contain?

This vitamin is produced in small quantities by the body itself. However, this is not enough for the body to function properly.

To replenish reserves, it is recommended to consume foods containing it:

• first of all, these are green vegetables and herbs (parsley, green onions, chives);
• beets, carrots, cucumbers;
• beans, peas;
• oranges and bananas;
• meat (beef, lamb, pork), liver;
• curd products, eggs.
  Photo: B9 content in different products

How to Prevent an Immune Reaction to Folic Acid

If you take precautions and follow some rules, you can prevent the development of an allergy to vitamin 9. To do this you need to:

• When taking vitamins, the rule that the more the better does not work. The dosage must be strictly followed.
• It is advisable to take a test to determine the level of vitamin B9 in the body before starting vitamin therapy. So that the doctor can accurately calculate the dosage required for you.
• Do not overuse foods containing folic acid.
• It is not recommended to take any medications with folic acid for more than three months to prevent oversaturation.
• Monitor the functioning of the digestive tract. If there is a violation, take medications that restore the microflora.
• Strengthen immunity.
• Lead a healthy lifestyle.

Foods High in Folic Acid
If you have already had an allergic reaction to folic acid, you should continue to be especially careful when taking vitamin supplements or foods containing vitamin B9.

Recently, the number of people who have suffered from allergies since childhood has been increasing. The body’s reaction can occur at any time after contact with an allergen. To combat an inadequate immune system response, it is important to determine what substance the body reacts to so strongly. Having a tendency to allergic reactions significantly increases the likelihood of unpleasant symptoms occurring when taking folic acid. Knowing this feature of your body, it is important to be careful and listen to the opinion of your doctor.

Prevention

The only safe way to treat chronic allergies in pregnant women is prevention. A severe allergic attack is easier to prevent than to treat.

To prevent allergies, follow these rules:

1. Do not exceed the prescribed daily dose of folic acid. In this case, the rule “Too much is not good” applies.
2. Listen to your body. Any new sensations while taking the drug are a wake-up call.
3. When taking folic acid supplements, do not rely on foods rich in vitamin B9 (liver, spinach, etc.).
4. Before taking this drug, get a blood test to check for antibodies to the folic acid allergen.

If a woman is a chronic allergy sufferer, it is necessary to inform the doctor about this when registering with the antenatal clinic. The doctor will select a safe treatment regimen and tell you about the possible causes of the exacerbation.