Why is immunoglobulin E increased in children

When the pathogen microflora (bacteria, viruses) penetrates into the body of a small child, it begins to actively fight it. Nature for this came up with a special mechanism - the immune system. She recognizes an "extraneous" microorganism and begins to rapidly develop antibodies to it. There are five types of them all. In this article, we will describe in more detail one of them, namely, immunoglobulin E.

general information

Immunoglobulin - this is the main human immune instrument, which has a unique specificity. To neutralize the existing focus of infection in the body, special molecules are constantly produced.

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is a kind of blood proteins. Normally, it should be present in small quantities. Increased level of immunoglobulin E should alert.

When any allergen enters the body, IgE attacks the pathogen, forming a specific antigen. Then the source of the allergy begins to release histamine into the intercellular space. As a consequence, there is a slight inflammatory reaction, for example, rhinitis or bronchitis. IgE was opened in 1966.

Content standard

To know whether immunoglobulin E (general) is elevated in a child or not, the results of the analysis should be compared with the age of the child. The thing is that as you grow up, the amount of this component in your blood increases proportionally.

For example, in children up to six months, the IgE norm is no more than 10 kE / l. At children from a year and about till five years - no more than 50 kE / l. In adults this indicator can vary from 20 to about 100 kE / l. Detailed tables of the ratio of the norm of IgE and the age of a person are presented in specialized medical reference books.

Characteristics of immunoglobulin E

According to experts, IgE is in the body from 5 to about 14 days. Moreover, its quantity in a healthy organism is extremely small. However, if there is a direct contact with the allergen, the level of immunoglobulin at times increases.

It is important to take into account that throughout the year its indicators may also vary. As a rule, immunoglobulin E is elevated in a child in May, and its decline is observed in December. This trend is explained by the excessive concentration of air allergens in a warm time, when there is an active flowering of plants.

What does increased immunoglobulin E in children mean?

Only a specialist can determine the specific reason for this increase. If you make the right diagnosis, you can count on correct therapy. For general information, we list below which factors influence the increase in IgE in children:

• Atopic dermatitis.
• Worms.
• Hay fever.
• Intolerance of some food products.
• Bronchial asthma.
• Allergy to medicines.
• Myeloma.

What is the evidence of increased immunoglobulin E in adults?

According to specialists, after 12-14 years the IgE content in the blood does not have a large diagnostic value. In adults, overestimated indicators are most often explained by constant contacts with allergens from the external environment. Normally, the parameters of the immunoglobulin range from 20 and up to about 100 kE / l. In this kind of situation, even a strong hypersensitivity to any irritant does not entail a significant increase in the concentration of protein compounds. IgE can be increased only if there is an allergy to a variety of histamines. As a rule, it is combined with bronchial asthma.

In some cases, increased immunoglobulin E in adults is due to lesions of non-allergic nature, for example, helminthiases. Parasites living in internal organs, gradually destroy their mucous membranes. This entails a direct reaction from the immune system, which consists in the increased production of protein cells.

In addition, the pathology described above can be triggered by the following diseases:

• Immunodeficiencies, including congenital ones.
• Myeloma.
• Bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

What is the evidence of excessively high IgE in children?

Sometimes the results of laboratory studies 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.
• Repeated rhinitis.
• Abscesses on mucous membranes and skin.
• Osteoporosis, frequent fractures of bones.
• The sinusites.
• Scoliosis.
• Autoimmune diseases.

How correctly to hand over the analysis?

Sometimes incorrect treatment with drugs may distort the results of the tests, and parents will be concerned that immunoglobulin E is elevated in a child for no apparent reason. To prevent such a situation, it is important to know how to properly pass this test.

The analysis is recommended to take in the morning, better 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, the day before it is better to abandon physiotherapy, X-ray or fluorography. If all of the above recommendations are followed, the results of the analysis will be as reliable as possible. Otherwise, if the test shows that immunoglobulin E is elevated in a child, a specialist consultation will be required. After additional research the doctor, as a rule, recommends appropriate treatment.

Determination of IgE concentration is an excellent tool for diagnosing many pathologies. It helps to determine the presence of allergic inflammation and differentiate it from infectious diseases with a similar clinical picture. This method also allows you to choose an effective therapy against the existing allergy. The definition of IgE helps predict the likelihood of hereditary pathologies.

What should be the treatment?

After the tests confirmed that immunoglobulin E is elevated in the child, it is necessary to identify the allergen or undergo additional research for helminth infection. In the first case, doctors prescribe special allergic tests to determine agents (food, fungal, respiratory, household). It may take a long time to find a specific source of allergy. In any case, a formal decrease in antibodies is not a solution to this problem.

On the other hand, if the immunoglobulin of class E is elevated, you can slightly change the child's habitual diet by adding spirulina. To resort to this kind of treatment is recommended only after consulting a specialist. The thing is that the organism of the allergy sufferer can react unexpectedly to the supplement.

How else can a child be helped if immunoglobulin E is elevated? Treatment with folk remedies implies a change in the habitual life of the child. First of all, it is recommended to spend more time outdoors, to engage in feasible sports, to eat fully. All these factors contribute to the normalization of IgE concentration.