You’ve been diagnosed with an atopic condition, but what does it mean?

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with ‘atopic’ eczema or dermatitis you might be wondering what the ‘atopic’ bit means.

Basically, atopy is the term used to describe those people who develop allergic conditions including allergic rhinitis (including hay fever), asthma and atopic dermatitis/eczema (AD).  It usually means that the diagnosed individual has greater immune response, or ‘atopic reaction’ to common allergens including environmental triggers such as pollen and grasses etc.) and food.

Atopy versus Allergy 
Atopy is a Type I hypersensitivity reaction, which means that there is an immediate hypersensitivity to an antigen which results in an over-exaggerated IgE mediated immune response. Allergies are an exaggerated immune response regarding of the mechanism. This means that whilst all atopic reactions are considered allergies, not allergies are considered atopic. 

Could Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) be atopic? 
In 2008 scientists published a paper naming a new subtype of IBS, atopic IBS (1). More recent studies appear to confirm the connection between atopy and IBS, with those diagnosed with atopy being at much higher risk for IBS and even Intestinal Bowel Disease. (2,3)

Which symptoms are linked to atopy? 

• Skin irritation – including welts, hives, and atopic dermatitis (eczema)
• General itching of the eyes, nose, or skin 
• Blocked nose
• Red and sticky eyes, indicating allergic conjunctivitis 
• Runny nose or postnasal drip.
• Sore sinuses not linked to a cold
• Sneezing. 

Medical attention should be sought if these more serious symptoms are experienced. 

• Difficulty breathing, wheezing and shortness of breath 
• Palpitations
• Mental confusion or loss of consciousness. 

Nutrition and atopy 
Nutrition to support an atopic medical diagnosis will need to be individualised to the food or environmental triggers involved and the specific atopy – skin, gut, lung etc.  

If you would like to hear more about how nutrition could support your atopy diagnosis, please book in to tell me your story. https://p.bttr.to/2Lh2ifV

​References
 
1.         Tobin MC, Moparty B, Farhadi A, DeMeo MT, Bansal PJ, Keshavarzian A. Atopic irritable bowel syndrome: a novel subgroup of irritable bowel syndrome with  allergic manifestations. Ann allergy, asthma Immunol  Off Publ Am  Coll Allergy, Asthma, Immunol. 2008 Jan;100(1):49–53. 
2.        Walker MM, Talley NJ, Keely S. Follow up on atopy and the gastrointestinal tract – a review of a common association 2018. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol [Internet]. 2019 May 4;13(5):437–45. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/17474124.2019.1596025
3.        Koloski N, Jones M, Walker MM, Veysey M, Zala A, Keely S, et al. Population based study: atopy and autoimmune diseases are associated with functional  dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome, independent of psychological distress. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2019 Mar;49(5):546–55.