Reasons for development
Based on clinical studies, scientists have identified the main reasons for this reaction:
- Serious pathologies of the cleansing organs (kidneys and liver).
- Decreased immune defense, including after antibiotic therapy.
- Deficiency of group E immunoglobulins.
Aquagenic urticaria can occur upon contact with almost any type of water, especially chlorinated and fluoridated water.
In this case, ordinary swimming in the pool will result in a strong allergic reaction, and after taking a bath or shower with chlorinated tap water, the allergic person will develop pockets of redness and the mucous membrane of the eye will become inflamed.
In severe cases, respiratory tract irritation may occur. Fluoridated water sometimes causes minor skin rashes and dark spots on tooth enamel. Despite the well-known benefits of sea bathing, salt water can cause an allergic reaction . This is due to fragments of marine plants, animal waste, microorganisms and mineral salts contained in it. The combination of unfavorable factors is also important: the severity of the allergic reaction to sea water is greater if, after bathing, the skin is exposed to ultraviolet irradiation.
Symptoms
The disease has symptoms common to many allergic pathologies. Skin symptoms and intoxication phenomena predominate. The most common signs of aquagenic urticaria are:
- hyperemia of the skin and mucous membranes of the eyes,
- headache and difficulty breathing,
- irritation similar to microburns,
- a characteristic rash localized on the skin of the abdomen, face, neck or on the folds of the arms and legs,
- cough, often from chlorine fumes,
- irritation, severe itching and dry skin,
- gastrointestinal disorder.
The rash that appears with this type of allergy can be seen in the photo below.
Not a single case of serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis, Quincke's edema) or deaths due to allergies to ordinary drinking water has been recorded. Such reactions are possible only when toxic substances and strong irritants enter the water.
The symptoms of aquagenic urticaria in an adult and in a small child are absolutely the same. But even if the cause of the rash seems obvious, to establish an accurate diagnosis and undergo adequate treatment, you need to visit a doctor and follow his recommendations.
Allergy to tap water: photos and main symptoms!
Allergy to water, symptoms in adults photo , which reflects the best, can manifest itself in completely different ways.
Initially, it is worth noting symptoms such as redness and severe itching. Most often they appear as a result of taking a bath. Additionally, a severe rash may occur.
A huge number of photographs of an allergic reaction to water, which can be easily found on the Internet, are best not viewed by people who fall into the category of faint-hearted individuals.
In certain situations, all kinds of disorders may arise. For example, this includes headaches, nausea, and intestinal disorders.
Although in the presence of maximum severity, an allergic reaction can indeed be managed.
The main rule is consultation with a professional specialist and full compliance with all these recommendations.
Reaction to tap water
Tap water, despite purification, may contain many impurities that are designed to further disinfect the water. This is a necessary measure, since the water pipes are in poor condition and are usually laid next to the sewerage system. Consequently, not only allergies to rusty tap water may occur, but also bacterial infections. Therefore, when drinking such water, it is recommended to additionally filter it and boil it.
True aquagenic urticaria is rare, but it causes a lot of suffering to the patient. Without taking allergy medications, a person develops a rash on the face and body upon contact with any water (tap, sea, river, melt, rain, mineral, spring) . Patients with reactions to purified tap water are rare. Much more often there are people who are allergic to dirty river or stagnant fresh water, but do not react this way to marine organisms. There are also many allergy sufferers whose rash occurs due to swimming in the sea, but they do not react to purified tap water.
What to do if aquagenic urticaria appears?
It is impossible to completely cure an allergy to water. Treatment is limited to relieving symptoms and preventing future allergic reactions.
Table of medications for water allergies with prices.
Name | Release form | From what | price, rub. |
Suprastin | pills | Perfectly relieves itching and redness | 120 |
Diphenhydramine | pills | Soothes itching from water, removes manifestations of allergic conjunctivitis | 25 |
Fenkarol | injections | Relieves allergic rhinitis, removes urticaria | 150 |
Fenistil | gel | Relieves symptoms of allergic dermatitis, soothes itching | 350 |
If you are allergic to water, it is recommended to reduce contact with liquid as much as possible. Bathing should last no more than 5-7 minutes. If possible, replace washing with regular water with micellar water. Use wet wipes more often, and if forced into contact with water, use rubber gloves.
It is best, if possible, to use filtered drinking water instead of ordinary water. And also avoid traveling to the sea and drinking mineral water.
Important! Allergies to water can be inherited.
Article on the topic: Akriderm instructions for use. What does the ointment help with and patient reviews?
Allergies in children
With aquagenic urticaria, a child may experience serious symptoms:
- skin rashes and hyperemia of the mucous membranes of the eyes,
- Gastrointestinal disorders (nausea, diarrhea, vomiting with dehydration),
- disruption of the pancreas,
- headache, dizziness and other signs of intoxication.
Children are often allergic to table mineral water. When making such products, some manufacturers use chemical salt concentrates, so it is recommended to purchase mineral water for children at a pharmacy. This guarantees the purchase of natural water, since for sale in pharmacy chains a certificate of quality conformity is required. A reaction to drinking water in infants and young children occurs 10-15 minutes after drinking it and consists of the appearance of nasal discharge, difficulty breathing, and hyperemia of the mucous membranes of the eyes.
Allergy to tap water: features and signs!
An allergy to water in a child, photo shown on the website, is a fairly common problem. If there are small children in the house, then it is initially recommended to take care of the quality of the water.
Speaking about an allergic reaction to water, it is worth noting that there are some people in the world who have a rather rare disease.
They have an allergic reaction even to ordinary distilled water.
In all other situations, it is an allergy to some individual component. The main reason here is precisely the quality of the water.
An allergic reaction to water in young children occurs quite often when compared with adults. Their body is very sensitive even to temperature.
This is why allergies often occur not to the water itself, but to its temperature. It can be either quite high or, accordingly, low.
Professional experts strongly recommend purchasing a special thermometer to regulate the water temperature even when swimming. The most optimal mode is 37 degrees. In the opposite situation, the sensitive skin of a small child will react in the form of rashes and redness.
Additionally, it is recommended to reduce the water temperature only gradually. But such a procedure as hardening should be carried out as thoughtfully as possible.
The most allergenic component present in water is considered to be chlorine. In this regard, an allergic reaction may be a symptom of an allergy to this particular type of component.
Water is often chlorinated in almost every region of the state.
The component is used to ensure fairly effective disinfection. Due to the presence of chlorine in water, it is considered one of the most serious problems for any person with allergies.
Allergy when swimming
Water procedures can also cause skin irritation. This mainly concerns the reaction to tap hot water.
The high concentration of chlorine in the pool often provokes irritation, so after leaving you should immediately take a shower and carefully examine your entire body. If you have even small rashes, it is better to avoid swimming in the pool.
Hot tap water can significantly aggravate the condition of the affected skin, so if you have a rash, it is better to wash your body with warm boiled water.
Aquagenic urticaria most often affects weakened adults, children and young people under 25 years of age. After sea swimming, allergies often occur on the arms or on the bends of the legs, the front of the neck and other parts of the body in the form of hyperemia, itchy spots and rashes. Some algae are strong allergens and are especially dangerous during blooms. The reaction can also be caused by toxic industrial waste and various pollutants.
Prevention
To strengthen immune forces, especially in a child, it is necessary to eat a lot of vegetables and fruits, excluding salty and fatty foods. In the autumn-winter period, it is advisable to carry out a course of vitamin therapy, since the body greatly needs it. Treatment must be combined with long walks in the fresh air, avoiding active physical activity. This will avoid increased sweating and the possibility of negative manifestations. Before using a new product that contains any water, it is recommended to conduct an allergy test by applying a small amount of the product to the wrist and waiting 24-48 hours. In the absence of an obvious reaction, this drug is approved for use. When working with water, protective measures must be observed. First of all, you should wear rubber gloves, and if you are allergic to latex, wear cotton gloves underneath them.
Thanks to these recommendations, a person is able to reduce allergic symptoms to a minimum and improve the general condition of the body.
Diagnostics
Aquagenic urticaria can be differentiated by the characteristic type of rash, but to identify the cause of the allergy, it is necessary to undergo a series of tests and undergo certain tests . First of all, a stool analysis to rule out the presence of helminthic infestation. With helminthiases, a rash similar to aquagenic urticaria often occurs. The doctor may recommend an ultrasound scan, since such skin rashes sometimes occur with tumors of internal organs.
When determining the cause of sensitization of the body, during a visit to the doctor, a survey and examination of the skin is carried out. Anamnesis collection includes establishing:
- presence of allergic diseases in the family,
- patient's daily routine,
- diet,
- history of allergies.
The predisposing factor is weak immune defense of the body, previous infections and diseases of the internal organs (kidneys or liver) responsible for eliminating toxins.
After excluding other causes and possible diseases (temperature reaction, helminthiasis, neoplasms), a specific test is performed. To do this, place a warm water compress on the patient's skin. If after half an hour hyperemia and irritation do not appear at the site of exposure, the test is considered negative. To ensure the reliability of the result, it is necessary to avoid taking antihistamines 5 days before the study.