Table of contents:
- Various causes of cold allergies
- 1. Immune system reaction
- 2. Parental genetic factors
- 3. Autoimmune disorders
- 4. Diseases that affect the blood and skin
- What increases the risk of a cold allergy?
A cold allergy is a skin reaction that occurs a few minutes after the skin is exposed to cold temperatures. The triggers come from air, water, and cold objects that come into direct contact with your skin. Although the trigger is clearly known, it turns out that the exact cause of a cold allergy is not fully understood.
A person experiences an allergic reaction when their immune system reacts to foreign substances that are actually harmless. This reaction also occurs with a cold allergy, but there are many other factors that come into play and may not be present in other types of allergies. What are these factors?
Various causes of cold allergies
There are several factors that are thought to be associated with cold allergies. These factors can be idiopathic, meaning they appear suddenly without knowing the cause. Most cases of cold allergy are idiopathic and suspected to be related to genetic factors.
Cold allergies can also arise as a result of infectious diseases, diseases that affect the blood and skin, and other medical conditions. Here are some known factors that cause cold allergies.
1. Immune system reaction
Most cases of cold allergies are caused by an immune system reaction. When you are in an air-conditioned room, taking a cold shower, or holding a cold drink, your skin detects a sudden and drastic drop in temperature.
The immune system perceives cold temperatures as a danger, even though it is not. The immune system then responds by activating mast cells and releasing antibodies, histamine, and various other chemicals that trigger inflammation.
The release of histamine causes allergic symptoms on the skin in the form of itching (hives), bumps, and a red rash. Inflammation contributes to cold allergy symptoms and makes the skin feel hot. These symptoms can last up to two hours.
In rare cases, cold temperatures can cause a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. The immune system sends out a massive defense against allergens, but this produces a dangerous reaction:
- hard to breathe,
- heart palpitations with a weak beat,
- a drastic drop in blood pressure,
- nausea and vomiting, as well
- passed out into a coma.
2. Parental genetic factors
Your chances of developing a cold allergy are higher if your parents or close relatives have the same condition. The reason is, there are conditions in certain genes that are alleged to be the cause of this allergy. These genes can be passed from parent to child.
The genetic traits of living things are determined by the tens of thousands of genes that accumulate in chromosomes. Each chromosome has a p arm and a q arm. Both arms carry genetic traits and sometimes these traits can manifest as disorders or diseases.
Researchers have so far discovered a cold allergy carrier trait on the long arm of chromosome 1 (1q40). People who have this gene carry a cold allergy trait in their body, but they do not necessarily have a cold allergy.
When he has offspring, his genes will meet the genes of his partner. If the gene carrying cold allergy traits is more dominant than healthy genes, this trait can appear so that the child born will experience a cold allergy.
3. Autoimmune disorders
Source: The Conversation
In some cases, the cause of cold allergies can come from autoimmune disorders. Autoimmune disorders occur when the body's immune system attacks healthy body tissue by mistaking it for harm.
These disorders can arise without a cause or effect from a genetic mutation, as found by the research team from National Institutes of Health in 2012. Mutations in the PLCG2 gene are known to interfere with the reactions of immune cells.
Gene mutations are common, but they can also cause disruption. In the study, the PLCG2 mutation caused the immune system to release antibodies that attack healthy tissue, putting patients at increased risk of autoimmune disorders.
The PLCG2 mutation also activates mast cells and B cells, the two cells that release histamine when an allergic reaction occurs. As a result, the patient experiences cold allergy symptoms in the form of hives, bumps, and a reddish rash.
4. Diseases that affect the blood and skin
Diseases that affect the skin and blood are thought to be the cause of hives, especially in people with cold allergies. If the cause is various of these diseases, the allergy that appears is referred to as secondary cold urticaria.
Diseases and medical conditions that are believed to be associated with cold allergies include the following.
- Cancer of the lymphocytes
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- Viral hepatitis
- Syphilis
- Chicken pox
- Cryoglobulinemia , namely the condition when the blood contains a lot of protein that is sensitive to cold temperatures (cryoglobulin)
- Mononucleosis (glandular fever)
- Thyroid gland disease
- Other infectious diseases of the respiratory system
What increases the risk of a cold allergy?
Anyone can experience a cold allergy. However, the risk is greater if you have the following conditions.
- Young adults. Regardless of the causative factor, cold allergies are more common in young adults.
- Have experienced certain diseases. Hepatitis, cancer, and other medical conditions can cause secondary cold urticaria.
- There are certain genetic conditions. Although rare, cold allergies can be inherited from parents. Symptoms may be slightly different and similar to flu.
Cold allergy is a very common medical condition with an unknown cause. This condition occurs due to the immune system's response to cold temperatures, but genetic factors and certain diseases may play a role.
If you experience cold allergy symptoms, the best thing you can do is avoid the triggers. Try to consult with your doctor to get the right cold allergy treatment and set strategies to prevent the recurrence of allergies in the future.
