Allergic arthritis - acute pathological condition characterized by changes in the joints. This disease is often caused by the progression of allergy to antigens of foreign origin. It differs in that it has an uncomplicated course, is easily treatable and has a favorable prognosis. Along with such a disease, infectious disease often manifests itself. allergic arthritis. It occurs due to the fact that the body is too susceptible to infectious agents during this period. These are two different disorders that have almost the same symptoms and course.

This disease affects middle-aged people of both sexes, but it often occurs in representatives female. Often the disease progresses in children, due to unformed immune system. The causes are immunity disorders, resulting in the development of individual immunity and sensitivity to certain foods, drugs, animal hair, pollen, etc. The infectious-allergic type manifests itself due to the development infectious process in the nasopharynx.

In children and adults, allergic arthritis is expressed by instantaneous swelling of the joint, the occurrence of pain when moving the limbs, the appearance allergic rash and skin itching. In the infectious-allergic type, almost similar signs are observed, to which you can add stiffness of movements, increased heart rate and difficult breathing.

Diagnosis of both disorders is complex and consists of a detailed survey of the patient, finding out the causes of the development of the disease, examining the patient, laboratory tests of blood tests, as well as instrumental examination- Ultrasound. Treatment consists of limiting contact with the allergen, taking drugs that reduce the intensity of symptoms, compresses with pain-relieving ointments.

Etiology

The appearance of allergic arthritis is directly related to the body's increased susceptibility to foreign proteins, as well as any products containing them. This means that it can be expressed in any type of allergy or be part of a serum sickness, in which a similar immune reaction occurs when sera are administered. Allergic arthritis can occur if an individual is allergic to:

• food product;
• medication;
• fluff and feathers;
• animal hair;
• various smells;
• dust and pollen;
• cosmetics or household chemicals.

If allergens repeatedly enter the body, then it produces antibodies to them, which can be collected in various tissues. When such substances accumulate on the joints, the development of the inflammatory process begins. Often the disease is diagnosed in children, because they are much more susceptible to allergies, due to unformed immunity. With a single hit of the pathogen, the disease will not be expressed.

The progression factors of infectious-allergic arthritis are various infections caused by pathological microorganisms that move to the joints with the blood flow. Very rarely, infection occurs after a medical operation. Children are often diagnosed with such a disease caused by a gonococcal infection, which is transmitted to the baby from the mother. In addition, there are several groups that constitute an increased risk of developing such an ailment:

• persons who have been injected or given surgical intervention on the joints;
• people who have symptoms of chronic arthritis, oncology, or;
• individuals with unconventional sexual preferences, as well as excessive consumption of alcohol and nicotine.

Symptoms

Allergic arthritis is also expressed as. The disease can develop immediately after the pathogen enters the human body, but often the expression of symptoms occurs several days after penetration. Thus, the signs of this type of disease are:

• general weakness of the body and malaise;
• rapid heart rate;
• increased tearing;
• increase in body temperature;
• the appearance of a small rash of a reddish hue, which causes a feeling of itching and burning;
• an increase in the size of regional lymph nodes, depending on the location of the disease;
• inflammation of large joints, their swelling and sensation of pain when moving.

Allergic arthritis in children is manifested by such signs as:

• bouts of nausea, which often ends in vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• cardiopalmus;
• swelling of the affected joints;
• intense pain during movement, as well as after a long rest.

Manifestations of infectious-allergic arthritis often resemble signs of the usual, not related to infections or allergies. Symptoms of the disease are:

• soreness and swelling skin in the area of ​​the affected joint;
• acquisition of a red tint by the skin;
• an increase in temperature around the affected area;
• rapid pulse;
• difficulty in mobility and stiffness of the joints.

In addition to the above signs, infectious-allergic arthritis in children is expressed by the following symptoms:

• decrease or total loss appetite
• constant nervousness and capriciousness;
• lameness;
• tries to use the upper limbs as little as possible when performing daily activities;
• constant complaints of pain in the arms and legs.

From the onset of the first symptoms to full recovery takes about a month. The sooner treatment begins, the higher the chance of a full recovery.

Diagnostics

Diagnostic measures for allergic arthritis include a detailed study of the patient's life history, a detailed survey about the presence of an allergy that the person knows about, an assessment of the presence and severity of symptoms. In addition, the physician without fail examines for the presence of rashes, swelling and redness of the skin at the site of the affected joint. Also important role play laboratory research blood. With allergies, the concentration of eosinophils increases and the ESR is accelerated. Joint damage can be detected by ultrasound. If after this the diagnosis is not confirmed, a biopsy is necessary. With infectious-allergic arthritis, the above procedures are also performed.

Treatment

The elimination of allergic arthritis in a patient, regardless of age, is complex, and consists of:

• complete protection of a person from exposure to an allergen;
• prescribing antihistamines medicines. With their inactivity, hormones are needed;
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - to relieve intense pain;
• providing complete rest to the affected joints.

Often, after the start of drug treatment, all symptoms disappear, so the need for physiotherapy is extremely rare. The prognosis of the disease in most cases is favorable. Prevention consists of preventing the future entry of an allergic pathogen into the body.

Treatment of infectious-allergic polyarthritis consists in the use of such means:

• the introduction of glucocorticoids directly into the joint;
• anti-inflammatory drugs;
• inhibiting the development of allergic reactions;
• antimicrobial medicines;
• antibiotics for no more than ten days.

In addition, it is necessary to provide peace to the patient and it is important strict observance individual diet. To prevent this type of disease, it is necessary to treat infectious disorders in a timely and complete manner.

Allergic diseases are different forms and manifestations. Allergic arthritis is an inflammatory process in the joints due to exposure to allergens. The disease usually occurs against the background of systemic allergic reaction or symptoms of lesions of other organs and systems.

Allergic arthritis is more common in children and people prone to allergies. The disease can proceed as an acute or subacute inflammation of the joints. If diagnosed early and taken therapeutic measures, pathological articular destruction can be stopped, recovery occurs without severe consequences for the body.

Causes

The occurrence of allergic arthritis is associated with increased sensitivity of the body to foreign proteins and their decay products.

The disease can be the result of any form of allergy and various allergens:

• ( , other);
• medications (serums, injections, anesthetics);
• cosmetics and;
• air (plant pollen, chemical reagents,).

Allergens that enter the body interact with antibodies, forming immune complexes. With the bloodstream, they penetrate and accumulate in the joints and cause inflammation.

Allergic arthritis is often caused by infectious diseases. Allergic mechanism development also have arthritis that occurs against the background of exposure to rubella viruses, hepatitis B. This occurs under the condition of immune disorders, when the protective function of the body is weakened.

Clinical picture

In the early stages, allergic arthritis has all the signs of allergic synovitis. Symptoms may be noticeable as soon as they are exposed to the antigen, but are more likely to occur within a week of being exposed to it. At first, the disease can be mistaken for the onset of a cold.

At the first stages of the development of the disease, the patient is concerned about:

• malaise;
• weakness;
• tachycardia;

Sudden swelling of one or more large joints. The area of ​​inflammation becomes hyperemic. There is pain in the joints, their stiffness. After rest, pain increases with movement or palpation. There is a local increase in temperature.

At the next stage, there are elements similar to , which are accompanied by . Lymph nodes may enlarge. In complicated forms of the disease, exudate collects in the joints, and destructive processes occur.

Important! If you stop the effect of the allergen on the joints, the symptoms may go away on their own within a few days. This allergic arthritis can be distinguished from other inflammations of the joints. With repeated contact with the irritant, relapses of the disease are possible.

Rarely allergic form arthritis is long-term. It is usually caused by drug allergens. Except the strong pain and accumulation of fluid in the affected joints, the death of articular tissues can occur, the surface of the joints can be destroyed.

There are cases of affecting the respiratory system with allergic arthritis:

• sneezing
• swelling of the nasal mucosa;

Allergic arthritis in a child

Arthritis is considered a disease of the elderly, often diagnosed in children. Moreover, even babies are affected. The main cause of childhood arthritis is considered to be a defect in the immune system, as a result of which it develops individual intolerance some allergens (food, drugs, pollen). When a foreign agent enters the body again, they interact with antibodies. The formed complexes are deposited in the joints, provoke an inflammatory process.

The manifestations of pathology in children are the same as in adults. But they are more pronounced. More often in childhood diagnose acute and subacute forms of the disease. Acute arthritis begins at lightning speed, the affected joints swell strongly, the general condition of the patient worsens. In severe cases, the larynx swells, bronchospasm develops. The subacute form may be the result of taking certain medications for several days in a row.

As a result of the infectious process in the body of a child, infectious-allergic arthritis may occur. The exact reasons for it are still not fully understood. The development of this form of arthritis depends on the sensitivity of the body to the pathogen of one or another infectious disease. The disease appears 10-15 days after the infection.

Distinctive symptoms of pathology

On a note:

• are affected, as a rule, large joints;
• after a while, in addition to inflammation of the joints, appear systemic symptoms allergies;
• the inflammatory process can go away on its own after the cessation of exposure to the allergen;
• relapses can occur after repeated contact with the allergen or an infectious disease.

Diagnostics

Difficulty of staging correct diagnosis in the similarity of manifestations of allergic arthritis with other diseases. Great importance has a relationship between the development of joint damage and exposure to allergens.

The doctor must examine the patient, fix the nature of the symptoms. A general blood test is performed, in which attention is paid to the ESR and the number of eosinophils.

X-rays for allergic arthritis will not reveal pathological changes because there is no destruction of bone tissue. Informative for the diagnosis of allergic arthritis is ultrasound of the joints. You can detect the expansion of the articular cavity, the presence of cloudy sediment and effusion. For the final diagnosis, a puncture of the joint with a study of exudate can be performed. If allergic arthritis occurs, eosinophils and immune complexes are found in the material.

Effective Treatments

Allergic arthritis needs to be treated comprehensively. The treatment regimen will depend on the causes of the disease, its form and severity of symptoms. The main task is to eliminate the provoking factor.

Medical therapy

If the reason acute inflammation became an infectious agent, specific antibiotic therapy is prescribed for 7 days:

• Erythromycin;
• Amoxil;
• Amoxiclav.

To stop the intensity of the inflammatory process, NSAIDs are used:

• Diclofenac;
• Nimesil;
• Ibuprofen.

In parallel with anti-inflammatory therapy, anti-allergic therapy is carried out using antihistamines:

For local treatment apply anti-inflammatory ointments to the area of ​​inflamed joints:

• Diklak;
• Long;
• Ketonazole;
• Cinepar.

In subacute allergic arthritis, it is preferable to use steroid drugs:

• Hydrocortisone;

Physiotherapy procedures

Physiotherapy will help speed up recovery:

• paraffin therapy;
• peat applications;
• diathermy;
• ozokerite treatment.

In most cases, allergic arthritis is treated favorably and does not cause permanent joint damage. To avoid relapses, it is necessary to exclude as much as possible the ingress of allergens that provoke inflammation.

If there is a history of allergic diseases, constant monitoring by an allergist is necessary. If necessary, the use of one or another medicinal product, it is usually assigned in parallel with. If you do not take precautions, then a new penetration of the allergen into the body will cause more severe manifestations of the pathology.

Allergic arthritis is a reversible disease if detected and treated early. Not only adults are exposed to the disease, it is often diagnosed in children. You need to be very attentive to the manifestations of allergic arthritis, with the slightest changes in the joints, contact a specialist.

This disease is quite common. It manifests itself primarily in inflammation of the joints, due to the ingestion of various infectious agents.

main reason infectious-allergic arthritis in children - weak, undeveloped immunity

main reason this disease hypersensitivity the patient's body to an infectious agent. It is because of the infection that a violent reaction occurs in the form of damage to several joints at once.

Activators can be very different. Most often this is a simple respiratory infection e.g. streptococcal, staphylococcal. It enters the baby's body through the nasopharynx, or through a cut in the skin and proceeds first as common cold. Incubation period after infection - 7-14 days.

A bacterium or virus, getting on the mucous surface of the nasopharynx, penetrates into the blood and spreads throughout the body, multiplying and accumulating in internal organs. Once in the joint cavity, microbes provoke an inflammatory process in them - a bacterial or viral nature.

In young children, immunity is just being formed, so they are more prone to infectious arthritis than adults. V rare cases penetration pathogen may happen after surgical operation. Sometimes it is passed on to babies from their mothers. gonococcal infection, which can also provoke inflammation of the joints.

The main causative agents of the disease

1. Streptococci.
2. Staphylococci.
3. Gonococcus.
4. Haemophilus influenzae (Pfeiffer's bacillus).

In summer, in areas where ticks are common, borreliosis arthritis occurs, which is caused by a spirochete that enters the blood supply through an insect bite.

At-risk groups

1. Children who have recently undergone intra-articular injections of drugs or surgery.
2. Patients suffering from oncology, HIV infection, gonorrhea, diabetes.
3. Children with chronic diseases organs responsible for the formation of immunity.

Symptoms of the disease

Infectious allergic arthritis in children appears suddenly. gradual development disease is extremely rare. Swelling of the joints begins, movements are constrained, painful. This disease is characterized by damage to several joints at once, moreover, various groups. The most commonly affected are the ankles, knees, and joints of the upper extremities.

The pains are slight or mild, they are more disturbing when moving. Sometimes you can visually notice a change in the shape of the affected joint. There are also disturbances in the work of the heart and respiratory organs.

In children younger age the course of the disease is especially rapid, the allergy is significantly expressed:

1. The baby has a sharp rise in temperature, he is tormented by chills.
2. Because of the growing pains, he becomes moody, cries and behaves extremely restlessly;
3. The baby has no appetite.
4. The defeat of the joints can be guessed by the swelling and redness of the skin.
5. The affected limb becomes unnaturally curved.
6. Joint mobility is severely limited.
7. Any touch to the sick arm or leg gives the baby pain.

Symptoms will depend to a large extent on which treatment was chosen in the most early period disease and the severity of the disease. Usually, severe symptoms last 2-3 weeks. Sometimes the arthritis is sluggish and the patient has symptoms for 1.5 months. Viral arthritis is characterized by transience.

How the disease is diagnosed

Timely diagnosis of arthritis of an infectious-allergic nature is largely hampered by the fact that its symptoms are similar to other pathologies. Often even experienced doctors make mistakes. For example, the course of gout, some types of fevers, borreliosis is similar to the course of an infectious-allergic process.

Infectious allergy is a difficult disease, it can proceed atypically. Often the symptoms are "blurred", not expressed. Therefore, in order to correctly diagnose and prescribe adequate treatment, the doctor conducts a thorough multi-stage examination of the baby, scrupulously studies the history of his illness, determines necessary tests to confirm suspicions about a particular disease.

Often the child is not able to objectively answer the doctor's questions, so additional tests are carried out:

• biopsy of the synovial membrane of the joint;
• urine and blood cultures for infections.

The results of tests in small patients directly depend on the course of the disease. Yes, for acute period characterized by an increase ESR indicator up to 40-50 mm/h. Should alert increase over normative values the number of neutrophilic eosinophils and granulocytes. This indicates the beginning of the suppurative process. In the blood, titers of antibodies to streptococcal infection are also noted.

Basic Treatments

The importance of timely therapy is explained high risk complications that accompany the underlying disease. A prolonged form of allergic arthritis is dangerous high probability degradation cartilage tissue and the onset of septic shock, which is fatal to the patient. The infection can also affect adjacent tissues, which can lead to the development of an abscess or blood poisoning.

The disease should be treated comprehensively. Experienced doctors implement complex pathogenetic therapy.

The main goals of this therapy are:

1. Correct the immunological and general reactivity of the body. For this, desensitizing agents are used. pharmacological agents. Certain immunosuppressive drugs are used. The impact can be local, directly on the foci of infection. Normalize metabolism and vitamin balance.
2. Stop general and local areas of inflammation. To do this, resort to physiotherapy methods. The use of medicinal hormonal preparations. The decision to use corticosteroids in children should only be made by a doctor.
3. Restore joint mobility. This is achieved with therapeutic gymnastics, massage. Balneotherapy has also proven itself, which is based on the patient taking baths filled with mineral water.
4. Stop the main pathological process - allergies. For this, various antihistamines.

In purely viral arthritis, therapy should be symptomatic and supportive, as antibacterial drugs do not work on viruses. Treatment here is directed, rather, to the removal of unpleasant symptoms.

Properly selected drugs and their regular intake is the key to success. In this case, the patient must be in a state of constant rest and follow the conditions of a strict diet in order to successfully fight the causative agent of the disease. Special attention is given to the intake of vitamins to improve immunity and increase the protective functions of the body.

Prevention of future diseases

Prevention of a disease is better than its cure. This is also true for infectious allergic arthritis. In the first place here is the protection of the baby from the penetration of an infectious allergen into his body. The child should be protected during cold epidemics, regularly ventilated, disinfected the premises. The baby needs to carefully treat wounds and cuts on the skin, monitor his nutrition.

If a cold has already begun, treatment should be carried out strictly under the supervision of a doctor. These simple rules will significantly reduce the risk of recurrence of the disease or even avoid this unpleasant ailment.

Arthritis is a disease that affects one or more joints and is different characteristic symptoms. In childhood, the disease develops due to injuries, infectious lesions and unstable immunity. Most often, children suffer from infectious-allergic arthritis.

Discovery history and description:

• The disease was first described in 1965.
• Russian scientist A.I.
• Nesterov conducted observations on adult patients and found that the disease is inflammatory disease joints (benign nature).
• It is characterized by short-term, rarely recurrent arthritis that does not lead to joint deformities and is not accompanied by depression of the functions of the heart valves.

In the infectious-allergic form of the disease in children, the joints of the legs, including the knees and ankles, often suffer. Inflamed areas increase in size.

Subsequent observations have shown that this type of arthritis can develop in childhood. The pathogenetics of the disease has not been studied. An association with the nasopharyngeal streptococcal infection, which leads to an allergic response from the body and the onset of symptoms of the disease.

Types and classification

Infectious-allergic arthritis is subdivided as follows:

• Toxic-allergic. Several joints are involved in the pathological process, so it is classified as polyarthritis.
• Bacterial-metastatic.

Types of disease:

Infectious-allergic arthritis is reversible and does not cause consequences, the functions of the joints are fully restored.

• Pneumococcal. The lesion is usually concentrated in several joints, but is reversible. The disease develops against the background lobar inflammation lungs.
• Septic. The disease is formed against the background of a general purulent infection, for example, when blood is infected. The disease can be caused by coccal microflora, Escherichia coli. With a toxic-allergic type, the disease can develop in acute and subacute form like polyarthritis. The pathological process is reversible.
• Tuberculous. The disease proceeding in a toxic-allergic form resembles rheumatoid arthritis when the small joints of the limbs are affected.
• Syphilitic- can develop against the background of congenital syphilis.

Causes

The reasons contributing to the development of the disease are as follows:

• intestinal, urinary infections(arthritis is a complication of the underlying disease).
• Viral infections - hepatitis B, rubella, enteroviruses, parvoviruses.
• Transferred artstreptococcal infection (most often formed after unsuccessful vaccination).

Symptoms

Description of the symptoms of the disease that occurs in childhood:

• Refusal of food.
• The child is naughty and nervous.
• Low physical activity.
• The occurrence of complaints of pain in the extremities.
• Allergic rashes.
• Increase in body temperature.
• Violations general condition organism.

Diagnostics

The principles of diagnosis are based on the study of the patient:

• Collecting anamnesis - establishing a connection between articular lesions with infectious and allergic diseases, identifying the features of the course of the disease.
• Establishment of characteristic clinical data (presence of inflammation, pain syndrome, deformities, progressive limitation of mobility). A physical examination is carried out for the presence of soft tissue seals, local swelling, pain on palpation, temperature changes on the skin surface, and effusion.
• Availability of laboratory data on the presence of an inflammatory process. Clinical Analysis blood can show high content eosinophils, granulocytes (neutrophilic), streptococcal antibody titers.
• X-ray data (ankylosis, narrowing of the joint space, etc.). The method can be used in the course of differential diagnosis.
• According to the indications - the study of synovial fluid.

For children suffering from infectious-allergic arthritis, it should be organized special meals excluding the presence of allergens in food.

Treatment

An integrated pathogenetic therapy, whose main purpose is to:

1. Correction of the immunological and general reactivity of the patient:

• The use of desensitizing pharmacological agents.
• Use of immunosuppressive drugs.
• Impact on infectious foci.
• Recovery of metabolism.
• Normalization of vitamin balance.

2. Elimination of general and local inflammation localizations:

• Implementation of physiotherapy methods.
• The use of medications, including hormonal drugs.
• Spa/sanatorium treatment.

3. Recovery functional activities joints:

• Therapeutic gymnastic exercises.
• Massage.
• Physiotherapy.
• Balneotherapy is a treatment based on taking general and local baths with mineral water.

4. Therapy of the main pathological process– allergies.

Pharmacological agents

Groups medications used to treat children are listed below.

Anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs:

• "Diclofenac" (no more than 100 mg daily in two divided doses).
• "Ibuprofen" (depending on age, 200-1000 mg daily).
• "Indomethacin" (young children are prescribed ½ pill 2 r / day, at an older age - up to 100 mg daily).
• "Voltaren".
• "Butadion".
• "Naproxen" (an average of 250-750 mg daily).
• "Acetylsalicylic acid" (after eating 3-4 r / day).

Medicines restore mobility to the affected tissues, eliminate inflammatory processes, stop the pain.

Desensitizers:

• "Dimedrol".

Antibiotics:

• "Minocycline".
• "Doxycycline".

Drugs are prescribed to be taken strictly in certain cases.

In young children, arthritis is most often diagnosed between the ages of 12 months and four years.

Glucocorticosteroids:

• "Perdnisolone" (taken orally 1 mg / kg - daily).
• "Metipred", "Diprospan" - intra-articular.

Drugs are involved in the treatment of severe forms of the disease, when nonsteroidal drugs ineffective.

Immunosuppressive agents:

• "Diprospan".
• "Consupren".

Other drugs:

• "Etanercept".
• "Tocilizumab".

Prevention

Preventive measures should be carried out in two directions.

Non-specific activities:

• Correct feeding of the child (if possible, natural breastfeeding, selection of special high-quality mixtures).
• Organization of the day.
• Regular hardening (air baths, water procedures).
• Gymnastics, including daily physical activity, outdoor activities.
• Prevention of pathologies of pregnancy and prematurity.

Specific events:

• Prevention of the development of infections.
• In the case of the development of the disease - early treatment.
• Timely treatment of caries, diseases of the tonsils, ENT organs.

Parents should be attentive to the health of their child. The sooner the diagnosis is made, the sooner treatment will begin with a high chance of favorable outcome. Effective Therapy returns to children a full quality of life, without compromising their physical activity.

Know-how in the treatment of arthritis:

Allergic arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that is integral part allergic reaction to various foreign antigens. hallmark of this disease is the benign course and reversibility of the lesion.

Every year the number of patients is growing, which is directly proportional to the increase in allergic reactions among the population.

Allergic arthritis is associated with high sensitivity organism to foreign proteins and any products formed during their decay. It can appear with any type of allergy and be an integral part of serum sickness. Serum sickness is an allergic reaction of the immune system that occurs when therapeutic sera are administered.

Thus, allergic arthritis can occur in any form. food allergies, medicinal (more often the causes are antibacterial drugs and painkillers, vaccines and serums), contact with professional allergens (in pharmacology, chemical and oil refining industries). These allergic reactions are due to wrong reaction immunity to a number of substances that he perceives as excessively dangerous and threatening, destroying his own tissues.

As a result of exposure to the body of the antigen (allergen), antibodies and immune complexes are formed, which enter the joint cavity with the blood flow and, accumulating there, cause inflammation. The deposition of immune complexes in tissues is associated with a defect in the immune system.

Symptoms

This type of inflammation proceeds as a typical allergic synovitis (inflammation of the synovial membrane of the joint). Its occurrence is subject to all the main canons of the course of allergic reactions. Arthritis can develop almost immediately, but more often 2-7 days after exposure to an allergen or the use of a therapeutic serum. Most often, this disease affects women and children who are prone to allergies. In most cases, it starts only after reintroduction the same serum. Initially, there is a feeling of general weakness, malaise, weakness, frequent heartbeat, lacrimation, temperature may rise. On the initial stage Many people think that they have caught a cold or caught the flu. With the appearance of pain in the joints, patients refer to an exacerbation of previously acquired chronic arthritis or age-related changes. Then a small red rash on the body (urticaria) becomes noticeable, which itches and itchs.

May increase The lymph nodes anywhere, usually close to the injection site . At the same time, joints begin to become inflamed, as a rule, no more than two are affected, and more often large ones. They swell and start to hurt when moving or touching, the skin over them becomes hot to the touch and reddens. The pain may be different nature, often aching, intensifies even after minor physical activity or rest.

An effusion can form in the joint cavity (fluid accumulates), while the patella (calyx) becomes excessively mobile, doctors call this balloting of the patella and consider it one of the signs of arthritis. Around the joint, the tissues also swell and become inflamed. Such inflammation of the joints lasts no more than a couple of days and can go away on its own without any treatment, provided that the irritant allergen is stopped, which significantly distinguishes allergic arthritis from all other types of joint inflammation.

But repetitions (relapses) of allergic arthritis are also not uncommon, which is associated with repeated exposure to the allergen. All this does not mean at all that with this arthritis there is no need to be treated. On the contrary, if any allergic reaction occurs, it is necessary to consult an allergist-immunologist, since even a harmless allergy can later turn into a more severe form (asthma, Quincke's edema).

In very rare cases, allergic arthritis occurs in a severe, long-term form. Most often, this form occurs in contact with medicinal allergen. There are intense unbearable pains in the joints. The inflammation is so strong that not only exudate accumulates in their cavity, but necrosis of the articular ends of the bones with destruction can also occur. articular surfaces. Such patients are forced to take not only painkillers, but also hormonal drugs to relieve inflammation.

Diagnosis of the disease

Of great importance for the doctor is the connection between the occurrence of inflammation of the joints with the action of the allergen and the development of an allergic reaction. Especially if the patient himself knows about the presence of an allergy to something in the past. On examination, attention is drawn to the manifestations of allergies: red small rash and itching. V general analysis blood, the number of eosinophils can be increased, ESR is accelerated, which occurs when an allergy occurs. When performing ultrasound in the joint cavity, one can detect a cloudy effusion with a suspension, an enlarged articular cavity, signs of bursitis and synovitis are noticeable. On the radiograph of the inflamed joints, pathological changes are not detected, since bone is not destroyed.

In cases where it is still not possible to identify the final cause of inflammation of the joint, it is punctured (puncture with a needle under local anesthesia) with content exploration. In allergic arthritis, immune complexes and eosinophils are detected in the punctate.

Prognosis of the course of the disease

The prognosis for both life and function of the affected joints, with the exception of a protracted severe form, is favorable. The disease resolves on its own and does not cause irreversible damage to the bones and joints.

Treatment

The treatment is carried out comprehensively, the basis of treatment is the complete cessation of contact with the allergen.

For inflamed joints, complete rest is necessary. Their soft bandaging is performed with giving the correct physiological position. Appointed dry heat, compresses with analgesic liquid ointments. If the effusion accumulated in the cavity slowly resolves or inflammation and pain long time do not pass, then spend more active thermal treatment: paraffin treatment, ozokerite treatment, peat applications, diathermy courses.

Also carried out in parallel general treatment allergic reaction. Antiallergic antihistamines are prescribed: suprastin, zirtek and others. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs relieve swelling, reduce pain and inflammation, but their use is contraindicated in people who suffer from peptic ulcer or had it in the past. According to strict indications, glucocorticoid hormonal preparations are prescribed orally, which effectively fight inflammation and increase the effectiveness of analgesics.