How to distinguish an allergy from another disease?
There are many manifestations of allergies, and some of them are incredibly similar to signs of other diseases. How can you determine that this is an allergy, and not something else? Indeed, the choice of treatment methods and the success of the therapeutic measures taken often depend on the exact diagnosis.
How to distinguish allergies from:
- Heat rash
- Rubella
- Chickenpox
- Scabies
- Colds
- Diathesis
- Insect bite
- Depriving
- Measles
- Herpes
- Diaper rash
- Fungus
- Psoriasis
- Sinusitis
How to distinguish prickly heat from allergies?
Prickly heat, like allergies, is characterized by the appearance of skin rashes. But unlike allergies, they appear in the form of small pink spots that are not prone to inflammation.
In addition, prickly heat and allergic rashes differ in the location of the rash. Allergy manifests itself most often on the face, abdomen, and forearms. And prickly heat practically does not happen on the face, it can occur on the neck, in the armpits, in the elbows, on the chest, on the back. The rash of prickly heat causes a burning and tingling sensation on the skin, and an allergic rash is always accompanied by itching.
How to tell rubella from allergies?
The main difference is enlarged lymph nodes with rubella. This does not usually happen with allergies. A rubella rash first occurs on the face, and only then spreads throughout the body, and allergies are characterized by the appearance of rashes all over the body at once. Rubella is always accompanied by a high fever and goes away faster than an allergic reaction.
How to tell chickenpox from allergies?
Chickenpox begins with the body temperature rises, lethargy appears. A day later, a red rash appears, which quickly grows, affecting the face, chest, arms and the whole body. Then the number of blisters begins to decrease noticeably every day. With allergies, if there is no treatment and the effect of the allergen continues, the number of blisters will continue to increase.
How to tell scabies from allergies?
Both diseases are accompanied by the appearance of itchy red spots on the skin, but with scabies, itching is felt mainly at night, and with allergies - during the day. If allergy symptoms can be relieved with antihistamines, then they have no effect on scabies. In addition, with scabies, there is no tearing and runny nose, and you can see white stripes on the skin left by the mite. Scabies is highly contagious, which is not the case with allergies.
How to distinguish allergies from colds?
If there is a recurrence of a runny nose, watery eyes, sore throat, nasal congestion and sneezing under the same conditions, for example, during house cleaning, then most likely the person has an allergy. Also, with an allergy, unlike a cold, a person should not be bothered by general weakness, increased fatigue, intense muscle pain and aches.
How to distinguish diathesis from allergies?
Diathesis is the presence of a predisposition to allergic reactions. It manifests itself more often in children and is expressed by reddening of the cheeks, their roughness, the appearance of pimples. As a rule, it does not spread further throughout the body, which differs from allergies.
How to distinguish a bite from an allergy?
Animal and insect bites can leave various marks on human skin, but more often these are small reddish dots that do not grow over time. Allergy spots spread quickly, merging with each other. Most often, bites occur only on open parts of the body, and allergies also affect closed areas.
How to distinguish lichen from allergies?
Lichen in most cases is caused by fungi or viruses. It is characterized by the appearance of pink flaky patches on the abdomen, limbs, head and genitals. Sometimes the lymph nodes are enlarged, and the temperature also rises. With shingles, the rash has a clear outline, and with allergies, it is vague.
How to distinguish measles from allergies?
With measles, the temperature rises on the first day, accompanied by weakness, headache, dry cough, sore throat, hoarseness. After 3-4 days, the patient's face, stomach and neck are covered with a rash, which then spreads throughout the body. Allergic rashes do not have such a catarrhal period, and they do not cause severe intoxication. Taking antiallergic drugs, you can quickly notice a positive trend.
How to tell herpes from allergies?
Herpes is a serious viral disease characterized by manifestations on the mucous membranes and skin of grouped watery inflamed vesicles. They cause severe burning of the skin, itching, and may be accompanied by chills and malaise. With herpes zoster, the temperature usually rises, headaches appear, and lymph nodes enlarge. Neuralgic pain persists for a very long time.
How to distinguish diaper rash from allergies?
Diaper rash is manifested by redness on the skin, gradually turning into typical pustules, cracks and even ulceration of the skin if no therapeutic measures are taken. Places of manifestation of diaper rash are areas with skin folds: neck, groin, axillary, intergluteal region. With allergies, such redness appears not only at the folds, but also throughout the abdomen, buttocks, and limbs.
How to tell a fungus from an allergy?
The fungus appears on the hairy areas of the body, as well as on the fingers and toes, and nails. At the same time, noticeable redness with peeling first appears, which gradually expands. The skin in the very middle begins to peel off, and such lesions look like rings. With allergies, there is a typical red rash.
How to tell psoriasis from allergies?
Psoriasis can be distinguished by the appearance of bright red plaques of various sizes and shapes on the skin, covered with silvery white scales. Places of rashes - elbows, knees, head, lumbosacral region.
How to distinguish sinusitis from allergies?
With both allergies and sinusitis, the main symptom is a runny nose. But with sinusitis, the patient is concerned not only with nasal congestion and greenish discharge, but also a headache, a slight increase in temperature and even pain in the teeth. And of course, general fatigue is felt.
The author of the article: Kuzmina Vera Valerievna | Endocrinologist, nutritionist
Education: Diploma of the Russian State Medical University named after NI Pirogov with a degree in General Medicine (2004). Residency at Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, diploma in Endocrinology (2006).
