Allergy to chlorine: symptoms and treatment

Allergy to chlorine is not only an occupational disease. Such a disease occurs very often in those who face daily disinfectants. The risk group includes those who suffer from hypersensitivity to substances containing chlorine.

Why is this happening? The main reason for this phenomenon is that chlorine is found in almost every household chemical bottle intended for washing tiles, toilets and bathrooms. This substance is present even in tap water, in a certain list of medicines, decoration materials and so on.

What is an allergy?

Allergy to chlorine is an acute reaction of the immune system when exposed to body tissues of a substance in which chlorine is present. In this case, not only local symptoms may occur, but the general condition of the patient may worsen.

Manifestations of allergies can appear either instantly after contact with the substance or after a while. The main symptom of the disease is conjunctivitis, hives, contact dermatitis, rhinitis. In more severe cases, anaphylaxis or Quincke's edema is often observed.

Main symptoms

Allergy to chlorine is manifested by a variety of symptoms. Often, the body can develop a harmless rash, and in other cases - a serious consequence, requiring immediate assistance from specialists and emergency measures. Among the main features should be allocated:

1. Allergic rhinitis. It is manifested by sneezing attacks, as a result of which the nasal congestion occurs. Often there are clear discharge in large quantities.
2. Allergic conjunctivitis. With this symptom, there is burning, burning and itching of the eyes. Such signs are often accompanied by reddening of the mucous membranes and lacrimation.

Often there are both symptoms. In a similar situation, the allergy to chlorine is in the form of rhinoconjunctivitis.

Contact dermatitis

Allergy to chlorine in the pool can manifest contact dermatitis. At the moment there are three main types:

1. Plain. In this case, the skin is reddening, as well as a variety of rashes with vesicles. Similar symptoms occur immediately after a person's contact with a chlorine-containing substance. At the same time, burning and itching can be felt on the affected skin. Inflammatory phenomena of a local nature are manifested only in those places where the skin has come into contact with the disinfectant.
2. Contact-allergic. This symptom does not appear immediately. This kind of dermatitis can occur several weeks after contact of the skin with a chlorine-containing substance. There are a number of distinctive features. First of all skin manifestations go beyond the place where the contact occurred. In this case, a significant inflammation can occur with a low concentration of the substance. Allergy to chlorine, the photo of which is shown below, causes on the skin the formation of redness and blisters, characteristic of mosquito swards. Thus the person can test a strong itch. Upon repeated contact with the substance, redness can go to eczema.
3. Toxicoderma. Allergy to chlorine, the symptoms of which can be varied, can be manifested by the application or inhalation of certain medicines, for example, halogen preparations. Also, signs can arise and when using household chemicals. After all, when they are used, chlorine is also inhaled. With toxicoderma, rashes appear in symmetrical areas. In this case, the form of redness can be any. The patient in these situations feels itchy. It does not exclude the formation of erosion.

Other signs

How else can an allergy to chlorine occur? Photos of skin with a similar disease, of course, impressive. However, redness and blisters are not the worst. Often people develop hives. This is also an allergic reaction, in which blisters form on the skin. They can have a red or white tint, and also cause itching. Blister sizes vary: from 1 millimeter to 10 centimeters. Within a few days, such a symptom completely disappears.

Edema and anaphylaxis

Allergy to chlorine can provoke the development of Quincke edema or angioedema. In this case, the inflammatory process penetrates into the deep layers of the skin. It is worth noting that edema can occur in almost any area. However, most often such a sign is localized in the larynx, lips and gastric mucosa. If the larynx is swelling, then the person suffers from a shortage of air. In this case, the voice may be hoarse or completely absent. If swollen gastric mucosa, then in the area of this body will feel pain.

When in contact with chlorine-containing substances, anaphylactic reaction may suddenly develop. The first signs of a similar phenomenon: urticaria, conjunctivitis, slowly passing into the edema of Quincke. After that, the larynx is affected. There is also edema. In this case, a person may have bronchospasm, causing an attack of suffocation. Often there is a pain in the abdomen, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, lowering blood pressure, as well as disturbing the heart rhythm.

It is worth noting that anaphylaxis and Quincke's edema are symptoms that threaten a person's life. With such manifestations of allergies, emergency care is required.

Allergy to bleach: what to do?

Treatment of such a disease is aimed, as a rule, to prevent any contact of the patient with chlorine-containing substances, as well as to reduce sensitivity to the allergen and to eliminate clinical manifestations of the disease.

What if I have an allergy to chlorine in the pool? Symptoms of such a disease are unpleasant, and Often just dangerous for a person's life. Therapy of allergies in both a child and an adult is reduced to a few basic activities.

Avoid contact with the allergen: when working with chlorine-containing substances, gloves and closed clothing should be used. To avoid inhaling a dangerous component, when using household chemicals, respirators and masks are recommended. In addition, you should stop using tap water and visit the pool.

Drug administration

Desensitization of the body is another way to combat allergy to chlorine. In this case, special medicines are prescribed. Pharmaceutical offers a wide range of drugs that can suppress allergy manifestations. With this disease, most often prescribed antihistamines. Very popular are such drugs as "Tavegil", "Suprastin", "Diazolin" and so on.

In addition, there are medicines that are antileukotrientami, stabilizers of membranes of a certain type of cells, cromones, steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The main purpose of such drugs is the weakening of the body's immune response to the allergen.

Specific drugs

A method of specific desensitization is often used. In this case, certain drugs are used that have chlorine in their composition. Such medicines are prescribed only by an allergist. Before this, the patient must undergo the setting of allergic skin tests. After the detection of the stimulus, the specialist prescribes a scheme for taking specific drugs. The essence of this method is the gradual adaptation of the body to the allergen, as well as the development of an adequate immune response to the effects of chlorine.

When to seek help

Now you know if there can be an allergy to bleach. For any manifestations of allergies, it is worthwhile to consult a specialist. Quite often it is not enough to stop contact with the stimulus. Visit a doctor if you have a regular or periodic occurrence of the main symptoms of an allergy.

With a sharp decrease in blood pressure, signs of suffocation, as well as with pain in the stomach, you should call an ambulance or take the patient to the nearest clinic. Do not forget that allergy to chlorine is a disease that requires adequate therapy, as well as a qualified approach. In no case should not engage in self-medication.