When pathogenic microflora (bacteria, viruses) enter the body of a small child, it begins to actively fight it. Nature for this came up with a special mechanism - the immune system. It recognizes a "foreign" microorganism and begins to rapidly develop antibodies to it. There are five types in total. In this article, we will describe in more detail one of them, namely, immunoglobulin E.
general information
Immunoglobulin is the main human immune tool with unique specificity. To neutralize the existing focus of infection, special molecules are constantly produced in the body.
Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is a type of blood protein. Normally, it should be present in small quantities. Elevated levels of immunoglobulin E should alert.
When an allergen enters the body, IgE attacks the pathogen, forming a specific antigen. Then the source of allergy begins to release histamine into the intercellular space. As a result, a minor inflammatory reaction occurs, for example, rhinitis or bronchitis. IgE was discovered in 1966.
Content rate
To know whether immunoglobulin E (total) is elevated in a child or not, you should compare the results of the analysis with the age of the child. The thing is that as they grow older, the amount of this component in the blood increases proportionally.
For example, in infants up to six months, the IgE norm is not more than 10 kE / L. In children from one year to about five years old - no more than 50 kE / l. In adults, this indicator can vary from 20 and up to about 100 ke / l. Detailed tables of the ratio of IgE norm and human age are presented in specialized medical guides.
Characteristic features of immunoglobulin E
According to experts, IgE is in the body from 5 to about 14 days. Moreover, its amount in a healthy body is extremely small. However, if direct contact with the allergen occurs, the level of immunoglobulin increases significantly.
It is important to consider that throughout the year its indicators can also vary. As a rule, immunoglobulin E is elevated in a child in May, and its decrease is observed in December. This trend is due to the excessive concentration of air allergens in the warm season, when there is an active flowering of plants.
What does elevated immunoglobulin E mean in children?
Only a specialist can determine the specific reason for the increase in this indicator. In the case of making the correct diagnosis, you can count on the correct therapy. For general information, we list below which factors affect the increase in IgE in children:
- Atopic dermatitis.
- Worms.
- Hay fever.
- Intolerance to some foods.
- Bronchial asthma.
- Allergy to medicines.
- Myeloma
What is the evidence of increased immunoglobulin E in adults?
According to experts, after 12-14 years, the IgE content in the blood does not have a great diagnostic value. In adults, overestimated rates are most often explained by constant contact with allergens from the external environment. Normally, immunoglobulin parameters range from 20 and approximately to 100 kE / L. In this kind of situation, even a strong hypersensitivity to any stimulus does not entail a significant increase in the concentration of protein compounds. IgE can only be elevated if you are allergic to many histamines. As a rule, it is combined with bronchial asthma.
In some cases, increased immunoglobulin E in adults is explained by non-allergic lesions, for example, helminth infections. Parasites living in internal organs gradually destroy their mucous membranes. This entails a direct reaction from the immune system, which consists in enhanced production of protein cells.
In addition, the following diseases can provoke the pathology described above:
- Immunodeficiencies, including congenital.
- Myeloma
- Bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.
What is the evidence of excessively high IgE in children?
Sometimes the results of laboratory tests show abnormally high values of the concentration of immune proteins, that is, immunoglobulin E is elevated. The reasons in this case are explained by the presence of a rather serious pathology called hyper-IgE syndrome. This disease develops exclusively at the genetic level and is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Pneumonia.
- Recurring rhinitis.
- Abscesses on the mucous membranes and skin.
- Osteoporosis, frequent bone fractures.
- Sinusitis
- Scoliosis.
- Autoimmune diseases.
How to pass the analysis?
Sometimes incorrect drug treatment can distort the results of the tests, and parents will be concerned that immunoglobulin E is elevated in the child for no apparent reason. To prevent this kind of situation, it is important to know how to pass this test.
Analysis is recommended to be taken in the morning, preferably on an empty stomach. Before the procedure, heavy physical exertion and overeating should be avoided. It is allowed to drink ordinary still water, and in unlimited quantities. The day before the test, it is necessary to exclude fried and fatty foods from the diet. In addition, on the eve it is better to abandon physiotherapy, radiography or fluorography. Subject to all the above recommendations, the analysis results will be as reliable as possible. Otherwise, if the test shows that immunoglobulin E is elevated in a child, specialist advice will be required. After additional research, the doctor usually recommends appropriate treatment.
Determining the concentration of IgE is an excellent diagnostic tool for many pathologies. It helps to determine the presence of allergic inflammation and to differentiate it with infectious ailments with a similar clinical picture. This method also allows you to choose an effective therapy against existing allergies. The determination of IgE helps to predict the likelihood of hereditary pathologies.
What should be the treatment?
After tests have confirmed that immunoglobulin E is elevated in a child, it is necessary to identify an allergen or undergo an additional study for helminth infection. In the first case, doctors prescribe special allergy tests to determine the agents (food, fungal, respiratory, household). It may take a long time to find the specific source of the allergy. In any case, a formal decrease in antibodies is not a solution to this problem.
On the other hand, if the class E immunoglobulin is elevated, you can slightly change the child’s usual diet by adding spirulina to it. It is recommended to resort to this kind of treatment only after consulting a specialist. The thing is that the body of an allergic child can unexpectedly react to the supplement.
How else can you help your child if immunoglobulin E is elevated? Treatment with folk remedies implies a change in the usual life of a child. First of all, it is recommended to spend more time in the fresh air, engage in feasible sports, fully eat. All these factors contribute to the normalization of IgE concentration.