Fungus Alternaria Alternata: where it lives. Allergy Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

One of the most common diseases is allergy. This is when a sensitive immune defensive reaction of the body aggressively reacts to certain substances, takes them for foreign and dangerous. This process is individual for everyone. Someone is allergic to wool, others are allergic to pollen or certain foods. The development of this process leads to serious diseases, such as asthma. It is very important at an early stage to recognize the allergen that causes this process. One of them may be the fungus Alternaria Alternata. Where does he live, and how to treat the allergy caused by him?

What is a fungus

Fungus Alternaria Alternata m6, what is it? A microorganism is a type of pathogenic mold. A multicellular organism that has mycelium in its structure. Using the threads of its fragment, as well as spores, the fungus actively multiplies.

When viewed under a microscope of Alternaria Alternata, the body looks like a brown segmented mycelium with simple or solitary conidiospores that produce single apical spores or a whole chain.

The appearance of the fungus depends on what nutrient medium it is in. It can be gray, dark gray, dark green or dark olive. The consistency is dense, looking velvety, with an airy mycelium.

Where dwells

Where is Alternaria Alternata m6 fungus located? It can be found both at home and outdoors. The possible habitats for the fungus are as follows:

1. Soil environment.
2. Seeds of cereal crops.
3. Rotten leaves.
4. Fruits.
5. Tomatoes with black spots.
   
6. Pork.
7. Textile products.
8. Rotten wood.
9. Woodworking plants.
10. Hard food.
11. Fertilizers
12. Bird nests.
13. Factories processing agricultural products.
14. Household dust.

The concentration of fungal spores in foods and in house dust is high. Favorable conditions for reproduction: a warm season and high humidity.

The presence of indoor plants in the room has a very weak effect on the reproduction of fungal spores. But the concentration of Alternaria Alternata fungi can increase due to the fact that the flowers are watered and regularly sprayed.

It is worth noting that the presence of spores in wooden houses is greater than in concrete and brick. High humidity contributes to their appearance and reproduction.

During the autumn period, there is also a large number of spores, as often wet weather, a lot of dead, fallen leaves. Leaves with black spots are infected with a fungus.

In rooms where there are indoor flowers, as a rule, as a result of watering, spraying, increased humidity remains. But this does not affect the amount of fungus. And on indoor plants, a large number of spores were not found.

Alternaria Alternata m6 spores are spread by wind. This requires sunny weather with low humidity. The ideal time for this is in the afternoon. They can be carried by the wind over very long distances. As a result, nearby plants become infected.

Risk groups

The groups that are most susceptible to infection with spores of the m6 fungus Alternaria Alternata are as follows:

1. People with a weakened immune system. HIV infected Children with weak immune defenses.
2. If there are allergic diseases in the family, children are usually more likely to get an allergy in the future (and to spores of Alternaria Alternata fungus) if the parents had such a reaction.
3. Being in an apartment where there is high humidity, which contributes to the formation of mold on walls, rugs, wallpaper, tiles.
   
4. Workers in the woodworking industry.
5. Work with vegetables in the kitchen, warehouse, in storage.
6. The farm. Work with feed, silage, manure.
7. Winemakers.
8. Work in rooms with high humidity. Saunas, greenhouses.
9. Rooms with poor ventilation system. Optimum conditions for mold development are created. As a rule, these are bathrooms, basements and kitchens.

When buying food, you should pay attention to the expiration dates and their condition. Not everyone knows that the fungus Alternaria Alternata m6 is the very kind of mold that can be seen on the products. It easily enters the body along with poorly processed or spoiled vegetables.

How does a person get infected

The pathway for the fungus to enter the human body can be as follows:

1. Spores can be in the air and enter the body through the respiratory tract.
2. The fungus can settle on products: dairy products, vegetables, fruits, improperly stored or processed. A person eating them is infected with a fungus.
3. Through unwashed hands or poorly handled after contact with rotten vegetables or things with mold.
4. The fungus, getting on the skin, can cause mycoses. Formations appear on the nails, skin integument. A high probability of infection in common showers, in pools, as well as in contact with a fungal carrier.
   
5. The human body is sensitive to the pathogens of allergies that pets have.

But what is the effect of the fungus on the human body?

Human exposure to the fungus

The fungus m6 Alternaria Alternata is included in the list of main allergens that can provoke:

1. Respiratory disease.
2. Respiratory diseases.
3. Allergic reactions.

What effect do spores have on the human body?

1. Direct infection of a person with an infection.
2. Spores release toxins that poison the body.
3. A person with an increased susceptibility to foreign substances develops an allergy.

High sensitivity to Alternaria Alternata fungi is associated with a disease such as bronchial asthma. Moreover, the fungus causes this disease in children and young people. Infection is explained by increased sensitivity at a certain age and the level of released allergens from spores, as well as protease activity.

People with atopic dermatitis may have an exacerbation of the disease after contact with the fungus Alternaria Alternata.

Work at woodworking plants increases the risk of developing allergic diseases, namely exogenous alveolitis. This is an immunopathological reaction that develops due to the large number of spores of the fungus Alternaria Alternata in such enterprises.

Mold fungi can cause allergic diseases in people with hypersensitive immune defenses. What are the allergies caused by Alternaria Alternata?

Allergy Symptoms

Now it’s clear what it is - an allergy to the fungus Alternaria Alternata, and how it develops.

Among the possible symptoms of the onset of mold allergy development may be the following:

1. Nasal congestion.
2. Sneezing.
3. Cough.
4. Runny nose.
5. Itching of the skin.
   
6. Headache.
7. Vomiting
8. Nausea.
9. Swelling of the respiratory system.
10. Urticaria, rash.
11. Quincke's edema.
12. Disruption of the digestive system.

An allergic reaction is individual for everyone. For some it’s just a sneeze, for someone it’s a rash, but one cannot exclude an acute reaction to an allergen, such as Quincke's edema or angioedema, which can be fatal.

Particularly careful should be given to an allergic child. The response to the fungus Alternaria Alternata can be unpredictable due to the fact that the baby's body is more sensitive, since the immune system is still formed in childhood.

Mushroom reaction in babies

An allergy to the fungus Alternaria Alternata in a child has the same symptoms as in an adult. What should parents pay attention to first of all:

1. The child has difficulty breathing, he is breathing heavily.
2. Dark circles under the eyes.
3. Pallor of the skin.
4. Attacks of coughing and shortness of breath after exercise, outdoor games.
5. During sleep, the child is breathing heavily, noisily.
6. At night, the baby coughs and shortness of breath.
7. Bleeding from the nose.
8. The child quickly gets tired, lethargic.
   

Homemade mold containing Alternaria Alternata fungi is most dangerous for children who often have respiratory illnesses.

It should also be borne in mind that an allergic reaction to a mushroom can be both instantaneous and delayed.

You need to know that untimely treatment of an allergy to the fungus Alternaria Alternata m6 in a child can lead to the development of cardiovascular diseases, mycosis, bronchial asthma and many others.

What can be the complications

If Alternaria Alternata fungus is found, treatment must be carried out immediately, otherwise it can lead to the following serious diseases:

1. Allergic bronchial asthma. The occurrence of asthmatic attacks can be fatal if help is not provided in a timely manner.
2. Allergic fungal sinusitis. Inflammatory processes in the sinuses of the nose make breathing difficult, thereby reducing the quality of human life.
3. Allergic pneumonitis. Disputes, once in the lungs, cause an inflammatory process.
4. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.
5. Infectious processes on the mucous membranes and skin.

Therefore, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible to make a diagnosis and prescribe the right treatment. In no case can you delay!

Necessary diagnostics

Allergy to the fungus is very difficult to diagnose, as it does not have any specific symptoms and the low prevalence of exogenous allergic alveolitis.

In order to choose the right treatment, you need to consult an allergist. To identify an allergen, he is likely to prescribe the following tests:

1. Skin tests. This procedure is carried out as follows. On the skin of the arm or back, the doctor makes small punctures with a special lancet and causes the alleged allergens. If after twenty minutes the skin turns red at the puncture site or the place swells, then the allergen is determined.
2. The study of venous blood for immunoglobulin E. Determination of the number of IgE antibodies in the blood for sensitivity to certain types of mold.
3. Taking a scraping of sputum and from the mucous membranes.

Venous blood is examined in the following cases:

1. Allergy symptoms take a chronic course.
2. You can not conduct skin tests.
3. Antihistamines are taken.
4. In places of irritation on the skin there are blisters.
5. To determine the sensitivity in a child.

In order for the analysis to be accurate, it is necessary to fulfill several conditions before submitting it:

1. Exclude increased physical activity.
2. Avoid nervous and mental stress.
3. The last meal on the eve of the delivery should be no later than nine in the evening.
4. In the morning do not drink water, coffee, any other drinks, do not eat.

Skin tests are taken:

1. To confirm the allergen.
2. If there was anaphylactic shock.
3. If a food allergen is suspected.

Such tests can be done after the child reaches the age of three. But it should be borne in mind that by the age of five, allergens and the reaction to them can change.

For skin tests, special preparation is not required. There are several contraindications for conducting such tests, including the following:

1. Previously, there was anaphylactic shock.
2. Antihistamines are taken.

In advanced cases with severe symptoms of bronchial asthma or alveolar pneumonia, additional studies are needed.

To confirm the presence of pathogenic organisms are necessary:

1. Biopsy of lung tissue.
2. Bronchoalveolar swabs.

Only when confirming that the given fungus is an allergen, does the doctor prescribe therapy.

Treatment methods

Allergy to Alternaria Alternata fungus involves a comprehensive treatment. The following drugs are used:

1. Antihistamines: Suprastin, Loratadin.
2. Anti-inflammatory: "Erius."
3. Decongestant sprays and tablets: Sudafed, Afrin.
4. Hormonal ointments, sprays: Avamis, Elokom.
5. Inhalers, sprays: "Nazaval".
6. Homeopathic remedies: Aconite, Carbonicum.

Hormonal drugs are used only in severe cases. They, in addition to a good therapeutic effect, have a lot of side effects.

Antibiotics are not prescribed in the treatment of allergic reactions. But if, when combing wounds, rashes, pustules appear, a pustular infection has joined, their appointment is recommended. To determine the sensitivity to antibacterial drugs, a scraping is taken from the skin and an analysis is done. Most often, broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed. These may be medicines of the following groups:

1. Penicillins.
2. Macrolides.
3. Cephalosporins.

People prone to allergic reactions are advised to rinse their nose with water and sea salt. 500 ml one teaspoon of sea salt.

The following types of drugs are used:

1. If an allergy manifests itself in the form of a rash, then ointments, gels, suspensions or creams are prescribed. It is also possible to use drugs in the form of tablets.
2. If there is a suspicion of an acute food allergy, gastric lavage, prescription of antihistamines in the form of tablets or injections is possible.
3. In case of angioedema, urgent measures are taken. Antihistamines and injectable corticosteroids are used urgently.
4. With food allergies, a diet is mandatory.

Currently, the method of immunotherapy is widely used. Small doses of allergen are injected under the skin, each time increasing them. This is how mold immunity is developed. This method gives very good results. You can get rid of allergic reactions for a long time.

In modern medicine, for the treatment of allergies, there is an autolymphocytotherapy method. Blood cells of the patient himself are used to increase the protective functions of the body. Lymphocytes are isolated and injected into the shoulder. The doctor calculates the required number of cells. For treatment, you need to go through 6-8 procedures. It depends on the severity of the disease. This method allows you to gradually stop taking antihistamines and a diet. All procedures and the treatment process should be strictly controlled by a doctor.

It should be noted that the treatment of allergy to the fungus by folk methods does not give the desired result. If not cured in a timely manner, complications in the form of the diseases listed above are possible.

At the first suspicion that an allergy to the fungus develops in an adult or a child, it is necessary to consult a specialist. Delaying the problem will only aggravate the situation.

Preventive measures

In order for treatment to be effective, it is necessary to observe the rules of prevention:

1. Timely and regularly carry out sanitary-hygienic measures in the room.
   
2. The bathroom needs a good extract and ventilation.
3. Water leaks must be repaired in a timely manner.
4. Underfloor heating is a good solution for bathrooms.
5. If there are lesions with a fungus, they should be treated with special solutions.
6. Do not use floor mats in the bathroom. They only accumulate moisture and increase moisture.
7. Wallpaper with mold must be removed, the walls - treated with a special antiseptic solution and only then covered with new wallpaper or paint.
8. Do not dry things indoors.
9. When working with vegetables, observe all hygienic processing standards.
10. Molds cannot be stored in the kitchen. In due time it is necessary to carry out an audit of stocks, vegetables and fruits.
11. Do not store old blankets and pillows.
12. When watering plants to prevent fluid retention.
13. Avoid contact with decaying foliage in the autumn.
14. During treatment, the patient should avoid damp areas.
15. If you are cleaning, use a respirator or mask to prevent contact with a high concentration of allergen.

When infected with Alternaria Alternata fungus, the treatment is very long, and it rarely ends with a complete cure. It is much easier to take all measures in order to prevent the penetration of the fungus into the human body. Use preventive measures, take care of your health and the health of your loved ones. This is especially true for those whose body is hypersensitive to various allergens.