Alcohol allergy causes

Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
Updated on September 02, 2024
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Alcohol allergy, also known as ethanol allergy, occurs because normally, ethanol in the body is converted into acetaldehyde. People with alcohol allergies lack the enzyme needed to convert acetaldehyde, therefore cannot expel acetic acid from the body, resulting in acetaldehyde poisoning and various allergic symptoms. People who can consume large amounts of alcohol usually have a higher amount of this acetaldehyde converting enzyme, allowing them to quickly convert it without experiencing poisoning or allergic symptoms. Alcohol allergies are mostly linked to an allergic constitution; thus, individuals with this constitution will display various allergic symptoms upon exposure to alcohol, the allergen.

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Allergic rhinitis is a relatively common otolaryngological disease. The main cause is the body's immune response triggered by contact with allergens, leading to an imbalance in the immune status and causing a series of clinical symptoms. Therefore, in terms of treatment, it is first necessary to identify the specific types of allergens. Currently, there are two methods for allergen testing. The first method is ex vivo allergen screening, which involves blood tests. The second method is the skin prick test to identify specific allergens. Both methods are commonly used at present, and generally, choosing one of them is sufficient. However, a subset of patients may need a combination of both tests for a comprehensive assessment.

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