How to distinguish an allergy from another disease?

There are quite a few manifestations of allergies, and some of them are incredibly similar to signs of other diseases. How can you determine that it is an allergy, and not something else? Indeed, the choice of methods of treatment, the success of the therapeutic measures taken often depend on the exact diagnosis.

How to distinguish prickly heat from allergies? 

Prickly heat, like allergies, is characterized by the appearance of rashes on the skin. But unlike allergies, they appear as small pink spots that are not prone to inflammation.

In addition, prickly heat and an allergic rash differ in the places of the rashes. Allergies appear most often on the face, abdomen, and forearms. And prickly heat practically does not happen on the face, it can occur on the neck, in the armpits, elbows, chest, back. Prickly heat rashes cause a burning and tingling sensation on the skin, and an allergic rash is always accompanied by itching.

How to distinguish rubella from allergies? 

The main difference is the enlarged lymph nodes with rubella. This phenomenon usually does not happen with allergies. A rubella rash first appears on the face, and only then spreads throughout the body, and allergies are characterized by the appearance of rashes all over the body at once. Rubella is always accompanied by a high fever and goes away faster than an allergic reaction.  

How to distinguish chickenpox from allergies?

Chickenpox begins with the fact that the body temperature rises, lethargy appears. A day later, a red rash appears, which grows rapidly, affecting the face, chest, arms and entire body. Then the number of blisters begins to noticeably decrease with each passing day. With allergies, if there is no treatment, and the action of the allergen continues, the number of blisters will continue to increase.

How to distinguish scabies from allergies? 

Both diseases are accompanied by the appearance of itchy red spots on the skin, but with scabies, itching is felt mainly at night, and with allergies – during the day. If allergy symptoms can be removed with antihistamines, then they have no effect on scabies. In addition, with scabies, there is no tearing and runny nose, and on the skin you can see white stripes left by the tick. Scabies is highly contagious, which is not the case with allergies.

How to distinguish an allergy from a cold? 

If there is a repetition of a runny nose, watery eyes, sore throat, nasal congestion and sneezing under the same conditions, for example, during house cleaning, then most likely the person has an allergy. Also, with allergies, unlike a cold, a person should not be bothered by general weakness, fatigue, intense muscle pain and aches.

How to distinguish diathesis from allergies? 

Diathesis is the presence of a predisposition to allergic reactions. It manifests itself more often in children and is expressed by redness of the cheeks, their roughness, the appearance of pimples. As a rule, it does not spread further throughout the body, which is how it differs from allergies.

How to distinguish a bite from an allergy? 

Animal and insect bites can leave various marks on human skin, but more often they are small reddish dots that do not grow over time. Allergy spots quickly spread, merging with each other. Most often, bites occur only on open parts of the body, and allergies also affect closed areas.

How to distinguish lichen from allergies? 

Ringworm in most cases is caused by fungi or viruses. It is characterized by the appearance of scaly pink patches on the abdomen, limbs, head and genitals. Sometimes the lymph nodes increase, and the temperature also rises. With lichen, the rash has a clear outline, and with allergies, it is vague.

How to distinguish measles from allergies?

With measles, the temperature rises on the first day, accompanied by weakness, headache, dry cough, sore throat, hoarseness of voice. After 3-4 days, the face, stomach and neck of the patient are covered with a rash, which then spreads throughout the body. Allergic eruptions do not have a similar catarrhal period, and they do not cause severe intoxication. By taking antiallergic drugs, you can quickly notice a positive trend.

How to distinguish herpes from allergies?

Herpes is a serious disease of a viral nature, characterized by manifestations on the mucous membranes and skin of grouped, watery, inflamed vesicles. They cause severe burning of the skin, itching, may be accompanied by chills and malaise. With herpes zoster, the temperature usually rises, headaches appear, and lymph nodes increase. Neuralgic pains persist for a very long time.

How to distinguish diaper rash from allergies?

Diaper rash is manifested by redness on the skin, gradually turning into typical pustules, cracks and even ulceration of the skin, if no therapeutic measures are taken. Places of manifestations of diaper rash are areas with skin folds: neck, inguinal, axillary, intergluteal region. With allergies, such redness appears not only in the places of folds, but also throughout the abdomen, buttocks, and limbs.

How to distinguish a fungus from an allergy?

The fungus appears on the hairy areas of the body, as well as on the fingers and toes, nails. At the same time, noticeable redness with peeling first appears, which gradually expands. The skin in the very middle begins to clear, and such lesions look like rings. With allergies, there is a typical red rash.

How to distinguish psoriasis from allergies?

Psoriasis can be distinguished by the appearance on the skin of bright red plaques of various sizes and shapes, covered with silvery-white scales. Places of rashes – elbows, knees, head, lumbosacral region.

How to distinguish sinusitis from allergies?

Both with allergies and with sinusitis, the main symptom is a runny nose. But with sinusitis, the patient is concerned not only with nasal congestion and greenish discharge, but also with headache, some fever and even pain in the teeth. And of course, there is general fatigue.