Find allergens from your diary

For people who are prone to allergies, avoiding contact with allergens is the most effective measure to prevent allergic diseases. However, there are many substances in nature that can cause allergic problems, and it is difficult to find the real allergens relying solely on doctors. If allergy diaries can be used reasonably and effectively, this problem can be effectively solved.

1. Allergies, allergens and allergy diaries

Allergic diseases such as measles, allergic rhinitis, and asthma affect many people. For patients, the number of patients with allergic diseases is increasing. Some patients find it difficult to find the cause of their own disease when they see a doctor, which will have a certain impact on diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, for these patients, if they want to effectively solve their own problems in daily life and find allergens in a timely and effective manner, they need to reasonably record allergy diaries to help them quickly deal with related problems. Diseases such as urticaria are common allergic diseases. Patients will have red and swollen patches of different sizes, which appear quickly and disappear very quickly. If they are not separated from allergens or treated in time, it may recur and cause itching. Some patients will be seriously affected, and in severe cases, mucosal edema, dyspnea, anaphylactic shock, etc. may also occur. In addition to taking anti-allergic drugs, the most important thing for treating urticaria is to find allergens and avoid contact. There are many factors that cause this type of allergic disease, and external factors include food, drugs, infection, animals and plants, physical factors, mental factors, etc. The internal cause is visceral or systemic diseases. For example, patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction are prone to allergies. Allergens can cause the body's mast cells to release chemicals, causing allergic symptoms. Because different people have different physical constitutions and there are relatively more allergens, it is difficult for most patients to find the cause of allergies. When patients go to the hospital for treatment, doctors will diagnose through blood tests, patch tests, and other methods. However, compared to this type of method, it is more effective for patients to keep their own allergy diaries, and it is also the easiest way to find allergens, especially for patients with chronic urticaria. This method is of great value. When patients have allergic symptoms, they must recall the food and foreign objects they have come into contact with within a day before the onset of the disease, and observe changes in the environment. On this basis, they can help them quickly find allergens.

2. Allergy diary records

For people who are prone to allergies, keeping an allergy diary can help them find allergens. Doctors can compare and analyze the diaries of patients before and after the onset of the disease to find the same cause of the disease and then determine the allergens. When recording an allergy diary, you need to consider the following aspects.

The first point is the contact with inhaled gases or the need to record how the weather conditions of the day are different from usual; whether there are some special substances, such as the season when plants and flowers are in full bloom, or whether some bad gases are emitted by surrounding factories and indoors; whether various air fresheners and perfumes are used, whether there are paints or other volatile substances in the room. The second point is the physical object. Patients need to record the food, beverages and snacks of three meals a day, especially the use of drugs. If it is confirmed that the patient is allergic to food, the food screening method can be carried out. Only two foods are eaten on the first day. If there are no allergic symptoms, one food is added every day, and detailed records are made in the diary. With this method, allergen screening can be carried out. The third point is objects and environment. Patients need to record the changes in the environment they are exposed to in their diaries, such as whether new items have been added to the home or whether they have gone on business trips. If you find that you have never had allergies when you are not in a home environment, it may mean that some substances in the home have caused the patient to have allergic problems. When recording, it is best to focus on the 24 hours of the day. When an allergic attack occurs, you should recall all the food items you have contacted with in the 24 hours before the onset of the disease, and judge the changes in the environment, so as to use the allergy diary to find the allergens. (Wang Ting and Li Weiling from the Nursing Department of Shanghai Wuqiao Community Health Service Center and Shi Jindong from the Respiratory Department of the Fifth People's Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai)