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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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
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Alcohol allergy symptoms

If a patient is allergic to alcohol, the following symptoms may occur: the patient will feel itchy all over, their skin will turn red, and they may experience welts and rashes. Some patients may also experience chest tightness, shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, and even fainting, profuse sweating, and transient loss of consciousness. If a patient exhibits profuse sweating along with transient fainting and loss of consciousness, this indicates a severe condition that requires emergency medical treatment at a hospital. Anti-allergic measures should be taken to alleviate the allergy symptoms. Additionally, due to the allergy, the patient may experience a relative insufficiency in blood volume, necessitating fluid replenishment treatment. Therefore, patients with an alcohol allergy should avoid exposure to alcohol to prevent triggering allergic symptoms and endangering their lives. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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How to test for allergens in allergic rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis is very common in daily life, and its main trigger is the inhalation of allergens in the air by patients. In the south, the allergens are mostly mite allergies, with an incidence rate of over 90%. In daily life, allergic rhinitis can also be caused by food, hair, pollen, and other allergens. The most common method to identify allergens for allergic rhinitis is the use of an allergen test kit, through a skin prick test to determine the patient's allergens and the degree of allergy, etc. A series of targeted anti-allergy treatments can then be carried out to achieve a cure for allergic rhinitis.

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Pulmonology
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When is the best time to check for allergens in allergic asthma?

The best time to check for allergens in allergic asthma is still during an asthma attack. At this time, due to the body's strong immune response to external allergens, also referred to as a hypersensitive reaction, checking for allergens can likely yield some positive results. However, there are many methods for screening allergens, such as drawing blood to check for IgE antibodies, or using skin prick tests to assess reactions to different allergens. However, if it is during the acute phase of an asthma attack, it is recommended to use the blood drawing method, which is relatively safer. Using skin prick tests might exacerbate the patient's allergic reaction, and may even lead to an acute asthma attack, or severe asthmatic conditions. Therefore, there are significant considerations to be made when choosing different methods for allergen testing.

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Have you checked for allergens for allergic rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis is a disease characterized by an allergic reaction to external substances. Since it involves allergies to external substances, it is necessary to identify what triggers the allergy, generally requiring an allergen test. Without testing the causes of allergies, the treatment is merely based on experience or a clinical diagnosis lacking in etiological understanding, which is insufficient from a pathological perspective. Moreover, after identifying the allergens, medication can be tailored according to the allergens, or general advice can be given to the patients, such as avoiding certain allergy-inducing substances. For instance, mangoes are commonly known to trigger allergies, and so are fish and seafood, thus specific guidance can be provided to avoid consuming certain foods.

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How to test for allergens in allergic asthma

Allergic asthma is a subtype of bronchial asthma. As the name suggests, allergic asthma refers to asthma symptoms that are related to contact with external allergens, such as dust, pollen, dust mites, pet dander, etc. When these substances are inhaled into the trachea, they can trigger asthma symptoms. Clinically, when testing which substances a patient is allergic to, it is called allergen testing. Common methods include blood tests and skin prick tests, which can be combined for comparison to identify the allergens.