Allergic Diseases in Adolescence

Clinical Features of Allergic Diseases in Adolescence

Most common allergies dealt with the Adolescence include:-

1. Food Allergy

Adolescent and adult patients, however, mainly acquire Food Allergy via primary sensitization to inhalant allergens on the basis of cross-reactivity between proteins in inhalant sources and in food. Food allergic reactions in adult patients – similar to those in children – range in severity from very mild and local symptoms, as in contact urticaria of the oral mucosa, to systemic symptoms involving distal organs, to a fatal outcome. Plant foods, such as fruits, nuts, and vegetables, are the most prevalent allergenic foods in this age group.

2. Asthma

It has been suggested that the improvement in Asthma during adolescence may result from diminished clinical and immunological responsiveness directly related to hormonal changes and that the effect of age on the prevalence of asthma in each sex may relate to differences in hormonal status, potentially influencing airway size, inflammation, and smooth muscle and vascular functions. However, few comprehensive studies are available. All wheezing is not asthma. Non-asthmatic wheezing illnesses may in part be attributable to anatomical abnormalities of the lung.

3. Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is a common problem in childhood and adolescence. This is partly the reason why it is often under perceived by patients and families, under diagnosed and its impact underestimated. Allergic rhinitis causes chronic disturbing symptoms which have a negative effect on physical, social and psychological well-being, as well as on school performance of children and teenagers:-

• Patients typically present with sneezing, pruritus and nasal congestion.
• Reduction of blood flow to the nose can lead to progressive nasal atrophy and clinical manifestations of atrophic rhinitis, and thinning and dryness of the mucosa make the elderly especially prone to rhinitis .

4. Atopic Dermatitis (AD)

Atopic Dermatitis (AD) persists from childhood through adolescence in around 40% of cases and some risk factors have been identified: female sex, sensitization to inhalant and food allergens, allergic asthma and/or rhino conjunctivitis, the practice of certain jobs. During adolescence, AD mainly appears on the face and neck, often associated with over infection by Malassezia, and on the palms and soles. AD persistence during adolescence is correlated with psychological diseases such as anxiety; moreover, adolescents affected by AD might have problems in the relationship with their peers. Stress and the psychological problems represent a serious burden for adolescents with AD and cause a significant worsening of the patients’ quality of life.