Mast cell activation syndrome is a rare disease that affects the immune system, leading to the emergence of allergy symptoms that affect more than one organ system, especially the skin and the gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Thus, the person may have allergy symptoms on the skin such as redness and itching, as well as nausea and vomiting, for example.
These symptoms arise because cells responsible for regulating allergy situations, mast cells, are overreacted to factors that would not normally cause allergy, such as the smell of another person, smoke from a cigarette, or kitchen vapors. That way, it may appear that the person is allergic to almost everything.
Although there is still no cure, symptoms can be controlled with treatment, which usually includes the use of antiallergic drugs and immune system depressants. However, as the severity of the symptoms varies from person to person, the treatment needs to be tailored to each case.
Main symptoms
Usually, this syndrome affects two or more systems in the body, so symptoms may vary from case to case depending on the affected organs:
- Skin : urticaria, redness, swelling and itching;
- Cardiovascular : marked reduction of the arterial pessary, feeling of faintness and increase of the heart beats;
- Gastrointestinal : nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps;
- Respiratory : stuffy nose, coryza and wheezing.
When there is a more pronounced reaction there may still be symptoms of anaphylactic shock, such as difficulty breathing, sore throat and intense sweating. This is an emergency situation that should be treated as soon as possible in the hospital, even if treatment is already being done for the syndrome. Learn more about signs of anaphylactic shock and what to do.
How is the treatment done?
Treatment for mast cell activation syndrome is done to alleviate symptoms and prevent them from appearing so often, and therefore must be adapted to each person. However, in most cases, it is started with the use of antiallergics as
In addition, it is also very important that the person try to avoid the factors that he has already identified as causing allergy, because even when doing the medication, the symptoms can arise when you have been exposed for a long time.
In cases where the symptoms are more severe, the doctor may also prescribe the ingestion of drugs that decrease the action of the immune system, such as Omalizumb, thus preventing mast cells from being activated so easily.
