Midges in the Crimea. Mosquitoes: photo and description of a dangerous human enemy. Places where insects gather

COUNTED 100 BITES

In the Crimea at the height of summer there is an invasion of mosquitoes. Bloodsuckers overcome people not only at night, but even during the day in terrible heat, which is unnatural for these insects.

I rested in Feodosia, rented a house for a week, but returned home to Simferopol three days later - living there is simply unbearable, mosquitoes bitten from head to toe, - a resident complained to us Crimean capital Daria Markina. - For several days I could not sleep from a terrible itch, huge traces appeared, which began to disappear only after a week.

And these complaints are not isolated.

I love Koktebel, but this summer something strange is happening there, - says Olesya, a resident of Moscow. - You can’t lie down on the beach in the evening in a swimsuit, mosquitoes attack in flocks. After resting on the body, I counted more than 50 bites, and a friend - about a hundred.

Vacationers in Gurzuf, as well as residents of the Nizhnegorsky and Krasnoperekopsky districts, also complain about the mosquito invasion.

In the evening, it’s scary to go out into the garden, there are a lot of mosquitoes, and no repellent sprays can save you, it seems that insects are already used to them, ”complained Nikolai, a resident of the Nizhnegorsky village.

Another no less pleasant phenomenon that vacationers noticed is hundreds of ladybugs flying on the beach in the village of Novofedorovka, Saki district, in Kach near Sevastopol and on Tarkhankut.

It’s impossible to lie on the beach, dozens of cows sit on you, I understand that they don’t bite, but it’s still unpleasant, and even worse, some small biting midges are found in the sand, ”Yevgenia Zubova, a resident of Krasnodar, told us. - The only salvation from them is to be in the water all the time.

“PLEASE HAVE ANOTHER 2-3 WEEKS”

Scientists say that the invasion of insects is not an anomaly, but a common occurrence that repeats itself from time to time. In one year, due to various seasonal features, there are more of them, in another - less.

There are more than 50 species of mosquitoes in the Crimea, I suppose that some have bred due to the fact that in May and June we had heavy rains, - told "KP" Professor of the Department of Ecology and Zoology of the Crimean Federal University. Vernadsky Sergey Ivanov.- In small ponds, which dried up last year, and the mosquito larvae should have died, moisture appeared, so the mosquitoes healed. Most mosquitoes are in the area of ​​Karadag and Feodosia. But because of extreme heat"puddles" should soon dry up, and there will be much less bloodsuckers.

As for ladybugs, they should disappear from the beaches within 2-3 weeks. This year there are a lot of them due to the fact that the aphids that they feed on have bred strongly.

Ladybugs constantly fly in search of new habitats for aphids, says Sergey Petrovich. - They are not very good flyers, usually, after flying a kilometer, they fall, often into the sea. They were washed ashore by the waves. Therefore, there are a lot of them now on the beaches. But they are harmless.

IN Rospotrebnadzor the invasion of insects is also not considered anomalous and they say that they are responsible for cleaning the territory local authorities.

Mandatory anti-mosquito treatment is subject to passportized water bodies where mosquitoes breed, - says chief state sanitary doctor for the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol Natalya Penkovskaya.- Gambusia fish are launched into the reservoir, which feed on insect larvae. Such events are being actively carried out on the South Coast.

By the way, in the private sector, mosquitoes can breed if there are barrels of water in the yards for watering plants and trees.

WHAT TO SAVE

If sprays do not help, experts advise using improvised means:

Apply regular ice to the bite site, which acts as a "local anesthetic".

Soda lotions help well: make a solution of soda (1-2 teaspoons per glass of water), apply to a bandage or gauze and apply to the bite site or simply lubricate the affected areas with it.

A weak vinegar solution will help relieve the obsessive itching from midge bites: dilute 9% vinegar with water in a ratio of one to three and wipe the bites with it.

Soothes the skin and relieves itching kefir or sour cream.

An excellent remedy for mosquito and midge bites is tea tree oil, which helps to cope with swelling and itching.

Tea bags can also help relieve swelling from bites.

- Insects that live almost everywhere. The only exception is the territory of Antarctica, which is distinguished by its harsh climatic conditions. Bloodsuckers deliver especially great discomfort during outdoor recreation. They are often driven to exhaustion. Therefore, before planning a vacation on the Crimean beach, it is necessary to clarify whether there are mosquitoes in the Crimea.

Varieties of mosquitoes on the peninsula

About 4 dozen blood-sucking mosquitoes are found on the peninsula. The most common are peeps, and there are especially a lot of them in areas with swampy lowlands. The number of bloodsuckers is critical in June and July, when the air temperature warms up above 23 degrees. With the approach of cold weather, the number of bloodsuckers decreases.

On a note!

You can also meet malarial mosquitoes of the Anopheles species in the Crimea. There are especially many of them in the southern part of the peninsula. Going in search of a favorable place for laying eggs, females prefer areas where there are streams, rivers or reservoirs.

The highest density of Anopheles was noted in the north of Crimea. These regions are distinguished by many rice plantations, fish farms, reservoirs and floodplain wetlands. The representatives of the Anopheles species most common there are An. messae, An. claviger and An. Atroparvus.

Places where insects gather

In Yalta, Sevastopol and Sudak, people are hunted, causing painful marks to a person. These bloodsuckers are also found in some areas of Simferopol. In forests mountain Crimea Tourists "feast" painfully biting hollow mosquitoes.

Warm weather, an abundance of rain in early summer, which often results in the formation of damp places, as well as a decrease in the number of natural enemies of mosquito larvae (birds), contribute to the spread of blood-sucking insects.

However, there are places where there are no mosquitoes in Crimea. They are practically absent in Evpatoria and in the Old Crimea.

For several months, Crimeans have been complaining about the unprecedented activity of mosquitoes: after being bitten, many find themselves in a hospital bed. What led to such an attack by mosquitoes and infection that they carry? Are the Crimeans really to blame for hoarding fresh water, as the head of the Crimean Rospotrebnadzor, Natalia Penkovskaya, says, and what can be done in this situation? We talk about it with the professor National University bioresources and nature management of Ukraine by Mykola Doli and ecologist Margarita Litvinenko.

- Professor of the National University of Bioresources and Nature Management of Ukraine Mykola Dolya is in touch with us. Nikolai, what could cause the dominance of mosquitoes in the Crimea?

Share: Yes, the year is really special. The main reason for the dominance of mosquitoes is weather and climatic factors. In wet years, a particularly intensive process of development and survival of mosquitoes is observed. If we analyze the dynamics of the number of mosquitoes for last years, you can see that they actively migrate and spread precisely under favorable weather conditions, and 2016 is the most favorable in the last 7 years. And this is a test not only of the Crimea, but also of others southern regions. Need to consider weather, the dynamics of the number of mosquitoes and carry out appropriate activities.

No media source currently available

0:00 0:21:47 0:00

- Why are mosquitoes dangerous? According to the stories of the Crimeans, there are even cases of hospitalization after bites.

Share: Question about mosquitoes. They feed on blood and are carriers of pathogens of many diseases. In addition, female mosquitoes can be aggressive - again, this is due to changes in temperature and humidity. This aggressiveness enhances the process of intensive feeding of females, and people feel it for themselves.

- Does the current government in Crimea have the opportunity to limit the mosquito population, to fight them?

The most effective chemical protection

Nikolay Dolya

​Share: Eat. To do this, there are biological and chemical means of protection. The most effective chemical protection. Chemical preparations have been developed for both contact and systemic effects on mosquitoes, and their numbers can be easily controlled. First of all, these are preparations of the pyrethroid group and the organophosphorus group. It is desirable to apply them using aerosol generators. Thus, it is possible to effectively control the adult stage of mosquitoes. These drugs are available, more than 40 such drugs are registered in Ukraine.

- We see stories in the Crimean media about how mosquito control is carried out. For example, in Simferopol they reported on the processing of Gagarin's park. Are these measures timely and safe for citizens? How effective are they?

Share: There should be at least 4 such preliminary stages of treatment. They should be applied at the beginning of emergence, the appearance of the adult stage, against first-stage larvae and during the formation of the overwintering population. If this is done on a one-time basis and on a large scale, the effectiveness will be low. Scientific support of the process is mandatory, otherwise it is impossible to regulate the number of mosquitoes.

- How to protect yourself from mosquitoes to ordinary people?

Share: Use preparations of the demetrate group - these are substances that can be sprayed through aerosol generators. This is an effective method that is used all over the world.

– Margarita Litvinenko, an ecologist from Sevastopol, is in touch with us. Margarita, earlier you said that the growth of the mosquito population is affected by the blocking of the North Crimean Canal. Previously, there were three epidemiologically dangerous area– agricultural region Northern Crimea, foothill and mid-mountain part, South coast and part Kerch Peninsula. Has this classification changed in the current situation?

Litvinenko: Residents of Sevastopol and nearby villages say that there are a lot of mosquitoes and much fewer dragonflies. Many small reservoirs appeared around the villages, even puddles, with stagnant water, and stagnant water is a nursery for mosquitoes. They have fewer natural enemies to eat them, and a favorable environment for reproduction - a decrease in the amount of fresh running water contributes to this. And running water in the Crimea has become less with the cessation of the launch of water through the North Crimean Canal. As a result, the hydrological balance was disturbed, water from wells and stagnant reservoirs appeared, in which mosquitoes breed.

– The head of Rospotrebnadzor, Natalya Penkovskaya, says that the Crimeans are to some extent to blame for the problem, who keep water tanks and do not take measures to combat mosquitoes. So are the Crimeans to blame?

Litvinenko: I think the Crimeans are much less to blame than the authorities. Water tanks are a natural need now that there is not enough of it. What should people do? Only stock up on water for gardens, vegetable gardens, drinking. Of course, mosquitoes will start in all these barrels and baths, but what is the way out for the Crimeans?

- What did the authorities miss in the fight against insects?

It is necessary to regulate the hydrological regime in the Crimea. We need water in the North Crimean Canal - so that there is more running water, so that underground layers and sources are not depleted

Margarita Litvinenko

​Litvinenko: It is necessary to regulate the hydrological regime in the Crimea. We need water in the North Crimean Canal - so that there is more running water, so that underground layers and sources are not depleted. For example, recently I was on the Belbek River. It has become narrower, there is less water - clearly there is an unauthorized intake of water. But here the solution lies in the political plane. No matter how the authorities frighten the residents, no matter what the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station says, the residents will take water and, in fact, create nurseries for mosquitoes.

– How can Crimeans protect themselves from mosquitoes?

Litvinenko: Here everyone should choose a repellent that helps him. I have not found a single effective remedy. Of course, you can contact the local authorities, but this is unlikely to help. yesterday here locals were going to write a letter to Putin. I can imagine how Putin will come and catch all the mosquitoes. Well, there will be no sense from the authorities.

Are there mosquitoes in the Crimea, you need to find out even before you go on vacation. In case of their existence, it is necessary to think in advance about protection. Small blood-sucking insects are ubiquitous, found in the Crimea. However, in some regions of the peninsula, there are still no pests.

Varieties

The most common are squeakers or ordinary mosquitoes, but in total 40 species are found on the territory of the peninsula. Among them there are, which practically do not differ from squeakers.

Their greatest number is observed in June, when the air temperature is stable within +23 degrees Celsius. In July, the number decreases as temperatures increase.

On a note!

Under conditions above +28 degrees Celsius, insects live only near wetlands where high humidity is observed. Otherwise, it just dries up on the fly. The least pests are on the Crimean beach, where a light breeze blows.

The mosquito family completely disappears with the onset of persistent cold weather - below +10 degrees Celsius. Fertilized females hide in the crevices of wooden buildings, under the bark, in the hollows of trees, forest, marsh litter. hibernate in the water in the pupal stage. In spring, at +12 degrees Celsius, insects wake up and continue to develop.

habitats

Most bloodsuckers are in wetlands, forests, fisheries, rice fields. Under such conditions, females lay 150 eggs at a time, repeat laying every 2 days. In Yalta, Sudak, Sevastopol, there are a huge number of pests. A little less in Simferopol, a mountainous area.

“It was noticed that the boy begins to choke when he is in the clearing. At first they thought that he ran a lot, and it was just shortness of breath. But once the reaction was so strong that my mother was very scared. And during. One more such case, and it could be the last. There was a classic variant of Quincke's edema and allergic laryngospasm, in this case allergic edema of the larynx occurs. Death from asphyxiation can occur within minutes. Nobody is safe. Luckily, it worked out this time. The child was brought to us, we did an analysis, conducted research, prescribed treatment.”

The number of people suffering from various manifestations of allergies around the world, including in Russia, is growing every year, and there are many reasons for that. What are the features of this unpleasant and often life-threatening disease in the Crimea? What to do if you have symptoms, and is modern medicine able to resist the disease?

An allergist-immunologist, candidate of medical sciences speaks about this and many other things especially for Mostpress Alexander Marsov (Sevastopol), as well as an expert of the Center for Molecular Diagnostics, Head of the Analytical Planning Department of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor Elena Tivanova (Moscow).

"SURPRISES" OF THE CRIMEAN HOLIDAYS

It cannot be said that in Sevastopol and the Crimea there are some special allergens in the soil and air. But there are problems specific to our region that you should be aware of and better prepared for.

Allergic reactions of various forms and severity can be caused by some of the wild medicinal plants that are very widely represented in our country, and under certain conditions, plants that are dangerous to humans. Wormwood, cow parsnip, belladonna and a few more deserve attention. But the greatest danger is ragweed, because there are a lot of it, and it is found not only in steppe regions Crimea, in the countryside and on the outskirts, but also in the city itself.

There are two peaks of its activity associated with flowering and the spread of dangerous pollen: in late spring - early summer, and the second peak, which few people know about except those who suffer from it, is late summer, August and early September. There is quite a lot of it in the city, where there are uncultivated plots of land along the roads. You can find it near the house. Many people often turn to public utilities, give addresses so that they can come there and mow down the ambrosia. This is not always done promptly. This is indeed a big problem for us.

A rather serious problem is the reaction to the bites of our "Crimean" mosquitoes. These are ordinary southern mosquitoes, of which we have a lot in the summer. At the end of spring - at the beginning of summer, that is, along with the beginning of the expansion of ambrosia, the number of mosquitoes rapidly increases and, accordingly, the number of people who, from their bites, not only have blisters on their skin, but also a zone of necrosis is formed in the center of such blisters, that is, part of the skin dies. Blisters, and there are usually several of them on the body, heal for a very long time - weeks. In this case, swelling of the limbs is observed even due to one bite. One way to get rid of this trouble is allergen-specific immunotherapy. And, if an allergy to mosquitoes is detected, you can conduct the necessary course even in winter. Another way is to use conventional repellents, that is, known products containing substances that repel insects. The allergic process that has already begun can be interrupted by glucocorticoids, that is, light immunosuppressive therapy is needed.

In the apartments of many Sevastopol residents, especially in the houses of the old stock, of which we have quite a lot, it grows in abundance on wet plaster. Every third patient, if the body is examined for antibodies to aspergillus, turns out to be infected with them. In the human body, they feel very good. Here begins the period of their heyday. Very long and hard then all this is treated. Many people have an unreasonable, as it seems to them, cough begins. And this is a very dangerous cough. This is not tuberculosis, although there is such a thing. But that's exactly Aspergillus. That organism, whose immune system is strong, it manages to kill them. And at whom it is weakened, that is subject to a high degree.

According to my observations, in Sevastopol and in general in the Crimea, herpes virus infection is very common. different types and predominantly in women. Different types of herpetic infection have a "tendency" to different parts of the body: some prefer to be located on the lips, others, "shingles", along the costal arch, others, genital, also bring a lot of trouble, and so on. All these herpes are not at all harmless, as some people think. In one of my patients, who decided on a second pregnancy, her first child was born with serious abnormalities and soon died. At the same time, no other reasons “guilty” for such an outcome were observed in the woman’s body. From her I learned that at the very beginning of pregnancy there was an episode of herpes rash. At first, he showed himself as a rash on the lips, then he switched to active replication. The problem is that herpes viruses prefer to settle in the cells of the immune system, making it weak, that is, secondary immunodeficiency occurs. And then a well-known process is activated: since the body cannot defend itself by conventional means, it begins to use free allergic mechanisms.

Transmission of herpes from mother to child during childbirth can indeed lead to serious consequences. This woman came to me when she decided to try her luck again. We were examined, and again found herpes - it was the signs of its presence in the body, and not a rash. Today there are quite effective means that allow you to cope with this. But, before deciding on such a serious step as bearing a child, it is necessary to secure the situation and be treated in order to avoid possible dangerous, including fatal consequences for the child.

What else is typical for the Crimea. In summer, especially in the second half of it, an immunodeficiency state occurs due to the fact that people go to the sea more and more and sunbathe under the sun, there is excessive exposure to sunlight, and as a result, T-immunodeficiency occurs. The body becomes defenseless, begins to get sick with infections or includes allergic mechanisms. Therefore, this factor also acts as the cause of the autumn peak of exacerbation of allergic diseases.

In Sevastopol, large industrial enterprises do not work, but there are car emissions, and we have a lot of them Lately, especially the incredible flow in summer. This is a powerful blow to small town. As a result: salts of heavy metals settle everywhere, first in the soil, then in the sea, then inside a person. Once in the body, they suppress the immune system, cause chronic inflammation and, moreover, act on the cell genome, enhancing mutation processes. This is how, from different angles, the body's ability to control those incredible responses of the immune system, which appear in the form of an allergy, is undermined.

Often the problem is that allergens do not come from outside, but they are formed in the body itself, and constantly. If external ones can be eliminated, then with these everything is much more difficult. One of my patients came and complained: "I have a favorite mink coat, but I'm allergic to mink." Do you understand? Not for fur at all, but for mink. Here the answer is unequivocal, although he will not like it: “You need to get rid of the fur coat. At the very least, hang it in the house in a room from which the air masses filled with allergens cannot come into contact with you.

That is, everything is highly specific. But the trouble is that over time, this specificity of an allergic disease changes. That is, we eliminate one allergen, an allergy to other allergens appears. And this is an endless process. Allergic inflammation was created by nature as a means of additional protection of the body, that is, as a means of emergency response. And usually the body does not use it if it manages to defend itself with the help of cells specially existing for this. In such cases, normal operation is disrupted. If our killer cells are weak, we get the progression of the allergic process.

And here, as with a toothache: sooner or later, most people have a moment of truth when they realize that there is no other way - they have to go to the doctor. And you can do it earlier, it is always easier to prevent than to treat, this is a common truth. When the problem is still small, it is easier to stop it. A preventive measure is the correction of the immune system. It is necessary to solve the problem of immunoregulation, the problem of the entry of foreign substances into the body so that the normal mechanisms of the immune system can bind antigens earlier and block the possibility of a chain reaction of the development of various mixes of allergic reactions.

In some cases, you can protect and protect yourself to some extent on your own.

Vacationers in nature, outside the city, should be careful and pay great attention to children: they are more often attracted by beautiful and bright flowers and their pleasant smell. Pollen, sap and even the whole plant - its stems, fruits and leaves can be dangerous, and the consequences of contact with them can be dire. One of the cases I described earlier.

Of course, you need to carry a special set with you for such cases. It includes an adrenaline pen for emergency intramuscular injections, which is used in the event of sudden, life-threatening allergic reactions to pollen or insect bites, such as anaphylactic shock, angioedema. A lot of people in Europe carry around a pen that contains 0.5 cc of adrenaline, enough to stop them. The introduction of adrenaline relieves laryngobronchospasm and saves a person's life.

Include powerful antihistamines in such a set, for example, Suprastin in injections or tablets, other antiallergic drugs - tablets or syrups, such as Zodak, Allegra.

It is absolutely impossible to use any aerosols for asthmatics in such situations. Such drugs are taken only on prescription, and there are very strict dosages.

If solving environmental problems is not an easy or quick task, then we are quite capable of reducing, for example, the use of aggressive household chemicals. A lot of people, especially wealthy people, abuse household chemicals. They try to take expensive and beautiful bottles with exotic names. And, relatively speaking, the contents of one bottle are used to polish the upper part of the door, the top - the other. Enfilades of these bottles accumulate in houses. Much, ideally everything, should be discarded. And start using old-fashioned remedies more often: soda and laundry soap. No matter how crazy it sounds, but it is, it is protection. We can also monitor the quality of our food, we can not abuse the sun. This is really very important.

Many of the minuses overlap with the pluses of sea bathing. Benefits of bathing in clean water and at a safe time - not at the peak of solar activity - it is difficult to overestimate. Bromine and iodine at this time enter the human body enterally and through the skin, providing stimulation of the immune response, that is, they contribute to strengthening our health. But everything should be in moderation.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

ABOUT TYPES OF ALLERGIC REACTIONS, TRENDS IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE DISEASE IN RUSSIA AND MODERN METHODS OF TREATMENT

Alexander Marsov - allergist-immunologist, candidate of medical sciences (Sevastopol)

The reason for the prevalence and increase in the number of allergic diseases today is complex. This is the deworming of the population, and the deterioration of the environment - the intensification of chemical and electromagnetic attacks on our bodies, and the features of the combination of some climatic conditions with this same condition. environment changing under human influence. Of course, this is also the emergence of the possibility of a more accurate diagnosis - before, doctors simply did not see an immunoallergic basis in some processes.

Over the past ten years in Russia, the number of manifestations of allergies of various etiologies, according to statistics, has almost doubled. Today, 30-40% of patients have one or more allergic diseases. At the same time, the medical community is most concerned about the high growth rates of morbidity in children. This trend is observed all over the world.

40% - the real percentage, this is the stratum of the population that has a pronounced allergic disposition. But in principle, an allergy can be caused in any healthy person under certain conditions. After all, what is the point: these mechanisms, which are realized in allergic reactions, are a powerful variant of the immune response, which is not always used and only when other methods of immune defense do not work.

The main allergic diseases include rhinitis, asthma, anaphylaxis, angioedema, food and drug allergies, urticaria, eczema. Clinical variants of allergic diseases often from the very beginning or as they progress are based on a combination of different types of allergic reactions.

5 types of allergic processes or reactions are known, which are often combined with each other, and this also explains the complexity of the treatment of allergic conditions.

First type reaginic when class E immunoglobulins (igE), the so-called reagins, come to the fore. The produced antibodies sit on the surface of mast cells (immune cells of connective tissues in the body) at one end, and specific allergens (antigens) bind to the other. The process of acute allergic inflammation starts: the mucosa swells, secretions are released, blood flow is disturbed, capillary permeability sharply increases and arterial blood flow increases, and so on. This is a classic allergic reaction of the immediate type. A rash, swelling of the skin, larynx, or bronchi may occur; secretion of bronchial mucus increases, an obstructive cough and an attack of bronchial asthma occur. Typical clinical examples of such a reaction are anaphylactic shock, false croup, vasomotor rhinitis, urticaria.

The second type - cytotoxic when cells attack infected cells in the body, such as hepatitis B virus-infected liver cells. That is, they do it quite legally, but as a result they violate the structure of the organ, a significant part of the cells die, and liver failure occurs. This is one of many examples.

The third type - immunocomplex. What is an immune complex? This is when a normal antibody, which is formed in the body in response to the ingestion of a foreign and dangerous substance, binds to this antigen-allergen specific to it, a conglomerate of these particles is formed, and they grow like a snowball. These immune complexes circulate in the blood or form in the walls of blood vessels. This is how hemorrhagic inflammation occurs, that is, inflammation with necrosis (death of tissue in a living organism) of the skin. This type includes, for example, serum sickness, many arthritis, vasculitis (inflammation of the vessels of an allergic nature), glomerulonephritis (kidney disease).

The fourth type is a cellular reaction, which is generally difficult to treat. In this case, when the cells of the body come into contact with the antigen again, delayed inflammatory reactions occur due to the rapid growth of immune cells, which begin to damage tissues. This type underlies the development of viral and bacterial diseases such as allergic contact dermatitis, tuberculosis, syphilis, and some forms of allergic bronchial asthma.

Fifth - stimulating type of hypersensitivity reaction: when blocking antibodies to receptors, hormones, biologically active substances are formed. In this case, the cells are not damaged, but there is an excessive activation of their functions. This is how insulin deficiency and diabetes occur.

That is, one must understand that allergy itself is a complex problem. Often it has hereditary roots, but even if the heredity is favorable, I will repeat the thought already said: we should not forget that under certain conditions any healthy person can be made allergic, causing a full-fledged allergic reaction. Just like you can give him a reactive psychosis, and he will eventually become a really sick person.

Elena Tivanova - expert of the Center for Molecular Diagnostics, head of the analytical planning department of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor (Moscow)

E.V.Tivanova

Primary prevention of allergic diseases is difficult, since a complete picture of the causes of the body's sensitivity to certain allergens has not yet been formed.

During the first contact with a particular allergen, activation of immune mechanisms occurs, accompanied by the production of specific substances - immunoglobulins (IgE), which bind to immune system cells (mast cells) and begin to circulate with the blood in the human body. Upon repeated contact, the formed complex binds to the corresponding allergen, resulting in the death of mast cells, followed by release a large number biologically active substances - histamine, serotonin, leukotrienes, which, in turn, cause allergic reactions in the form of skin redness, lacrimation, sneezing, itching, swelling, bronchospasm. Other diseases may have similar symptoms. The success of the treatment of allergic diseases mainly depends on the correct diagnosis and selection of an adequate course of therapy.

Laboratory tests can confirm or refute the presence of an allergy: a familiar general blood test with a leukocyte formula, an alarm signal, the results of which are an increase in the number of basophils and eosinophils, as well as an analysis of the concentration of total IgE. However, this information is often not enough to make a diagnosis, since elevated values ​​of these indicators may also indicate other pathologies, including helminthic invasion. Furthermore, in 30% of patients suffering from allergy manifestations, the level of total IgE fluctuates within normal values. Therefore, the doctor may prescribe additional studies: skin tests or a blood test for specific IgE.

A blood test for specific IgE is safer, especially in childhood, and is highly informative and reliable. Skin tests, despite their simplicity and accessibility, have a number of disadvantages, such as: subjectivity in the assessment of the result, the possibility of carrying out only during remission, the risk of developing severe allergic reactions (bronchospasm, Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock), the need to cancel anti-allergy drugs.

As a rule, they are carried out by methods of prick testing (prick) or scarification test (scratch). The difference between these methods is not very significant, but the first method is considered to be safer. No more than 15 samples can be placed at a time.

When conducting a prick test using a special prick-lancet, a standardized depth injection (1.0 - 1.5 mm) is made through a drop of allergen and control liquid. The results in the form of the absence of skin changes, hyperemia (the appearance of an area of ​​redness due to overflow of blood vessels of the circulatory system - ed.) or papules can be assessed after 15-20 minutes. When carrying out scarification tests, a histamine solution, a control liquid and an allergen are applied to the forearm treated with a 70% alcohol solution, through which parallel scratches (4–5 mm) are applied. The results are taken into account after 10 - 20 minutes.

The size of hyperemia and papules indicates the severity of an allergic reaction. However, prick tests quite often give false positive results. In the case of a blood test, the following rating scale is used:

• absent immune response -<0.35 (аллергии на конкретное вещество нет);
• ambiguous immune response, often without clinical manifestations - 0.35 - 0.69 (it is worth avoiding contact with the allergen if possible);
• weakly positive- 0.70 - 3.45 (it is necessary to exclude contact with the allergen);
• positive, with severe clinical manifestations -> 3.50 (any contact with the allergen must be completely excluded). With the help of this analysis, it is possible to determine the effectiveness of the therapy.

When are tests ordered?

• the patient has the above symptoms of unknown origin (lacrimation, sneezing, skin rash, etc.);
• therapy of chronic bronchitis, rhinitis, conjunctivitis does not give a positive result;
• there is a hereditary predisposition;
• it is necessary to determine the effectiveness of the therapy.

The World Allergy Organization (WAO) identifies three main ways to counteract the disease: pharmacotherapy, immunotherapy and elimination of allergens. To date, pharmacotherapy plays a key role in the treatment of allergy manifestations, allowing you to control the clinical manifestations of the disease and improve the patient's quality of life. After the diagnosis, the allergist selects the optimal treatment regimen for the patient and regularly monitors the results.

Allergen-specific immunotherapy, which is the only method of treating allergic diseases that affects all components of the allergic process, is gaining great popularity in modern medicine. The ASIT standard is considered to be subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), which has a prolonged clinical effect and contributes to the disruption of the natural course of allergy development through the introduction of appropriate allergens with a gradual increase in doses. This type therapy can prevent, for example, the development of asthma in patients with a history of allergic rhinitis. When conducting SCIT, the allergist prescribes subcutaneous injections according to the scheme according to the required therapy.

As a rule, in 80-90% of cases, an improvement in the clinical picture is achieved, followed by a weakening of the allergen's effect on the human body. An alternative to SCIT is sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), which involves the introduction of an allergen in the form of drops under the tongue. After an allergological examination and an accurate diagnosis, the patient is given a ready-made allergen or an appropriate mixture of drops is prepared. So far, only the first option is practiced on the territory of the Russian Federation - the issuance of a ready-made allergen. Sublingual Immunotherapy Recognized World Organization Health (WHO) as a possible alternative to injection. The action algorithms of SCIT and SLIT are similar.

It is important to understand that ASIT is preceded by another diagnostic stage - the determination of specific IgE to various components of the allergen, the so-called molecular allergodiagnostics. The presence of an allergy to the main component is an indication for ASIT. Only in this case the therapy will be successful.

In contact with