DIATESIS

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DIATESIS - a group of conditions characterized by a predisposition to certain diseases. Have a family character. The risk of the disease is inherited, which occurs only when adverse environmental factors are influenced by the predisposed organism. Many chronic diseases of internal organs, metabolism and nervous system are known, which arise as a result of interaction of hereditary factors and environmental factors. These include diseases of an allergic nature - bronchial asthma , eczema , neurodermatitis; Autoimmune diseases - rheumatism , diffuse glomerulonephritis , systemic lupus erythematosus; Metabolic diseases ' - obesity , diabetes , urolithiasis ; Diseases of the cardiovascular system - atherosclerosis , hypertension ; Various mental illnesses . From the moment of birth to the onset of the disease, there is sometimes a fairly long period in which manifestations of predisposition, or diathesis, are not so pronounced as to be suspected of pathology. Phenotypic (i.e., external) signs, for example, physique, or constitution (hypersthenic or asthenic), deviations in the behavior of a child or skin reactions may indicate a tendency towards certain diseases. However, these conditions are often nonspecific and do not allow predicting the occurrence of a disease. Detection of predisposition, or diathesis, is based on the analysis of the family tree and the study of hidden signs of diathesis with the help of immunological, biochemical and functional research methods. And only in the case of the same type of deviations found in an apparently healthy child and sick family members, one can speak about the presence of a hereditary predisposition, or diathesis. In modern conditions, the most common is an allergic predisposition, which includes several forms. These include allergic (atopic) diathesis (formerly called exudative-catarrhal diathesis), lymphatic (formerly called lymphocytic plasty) and infectious-allergic diathesis.

Atopic diathesis - a tendency to develop so-called atopic diseases (bronchial asthma, respiratory allergies, neurodermatitis, atopic migraine), due to the inherited ability to synthesize specific antibodies-reactants belonging to immunoglobulins of class E. This feature determines the formation of an allergic reaction to allergens of house dust, Food, pollen of plants, etc. Infants with atopic diathesis are especially prone to skin reactions to food allergens. Skin reactions are observed in them from the first months of life and are manifested by diaper rash, milk crust, seborrhea of ​​the scalp, eczema develops later. The increased vulnerability of the mucous membranes, the folding of the tongue (the so-called "geographical language"), frequent stomatitis, conjunctivitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, etc. In children with atopic diathesis, acute respiratory diseases are often accompanied by an asthmatic component, a false cereal is possible. On the 2nd and 3rd years of life, bronchial asthma is formed. Characteristic is the excessive development of lymphoid tissue - adenoids , an increase in palatine tonsils, peripheral lymph nodes, as well as the liver and spleen.

Lymphatic diathesis is characterized by absolute and relative lymphocytosis in the blood, enlarged lymph nodes and lymphoid formations of the nasopharynx. Often, chest X-rays show an enlarged thymus gland (thymus). Children are more large body, but pasty, sluggish, inactive, lagging behind in development from their peers, quickly become tired. Resistance of the body to infectious agents is reduced, often there are acute respiratory diseases, otitis , tracheobronchitis, pneumonia , the stridor is easily developed. There are cases of sudden death of children with lymphatic diathesis, which is associated with the characteristic for this type of diathesis insufficiency of the sympathetic-adrenal system, hypofunction of the adrenal cortex. At the same time, the nearest relatives show adenoids , chronic tonsillitis and other signs of hyperplasia and insufficiency of the lymphoid system.

Infectious-allergic diathesis is characterized by a predisposition of the organism to autoimmune diseases - rheumatism, diffuse glomerulonephritis, etc. Stable circulation in the blood of immune complexes antigen-antibody and their deposition on the basal membranes of the vessels of the kidneys, skin, on the synovial capsules of the joint capsules.

Nervous-arthritic diathesis is caused by hereditary disorders of purine metabolism and uric acid synthesis. Children suffering from neuro-arthritic diathesis, are distinguished by increased nervous excitability, are prone to joint and kidney diseases. Isolate also the so-called oxalate diathesis, in which excessive synthesis in the body of oxalic acid, which forms with calcium ions insoluble deposits in soft tissues and urinary stones, is observed.

Pathological conditions characterized by a tendency to hemorrhages in the skin, mucous membranes and sometimes into internal organs, define as hemorrhagic diathesis . It is accepted to allocate in children a neuropathic constitution, or diathesis (irritability, timidity, hyperesthesia and paresthesia, an increase in tendon reflexes). It is noted that children of early age who have these symptoms are also prone to frequent repeated respiratory diseases.

Treatment of diathesis includes a protective regime, diet and the rational feeding of children. According to the indications, therapy with sedatives, antihistamines, vitamins, local treatment of skin manifestations is carried out.