I thank God for not giving me and my son allergies. I know how difficult it is for a person with allergy to live a normal life. Some of my friends who have allergies can't eat certain food, if they accidentally encountered an allergen, they always have an antihistamine on their bags so that the allergic reaction won't get worse. A severe allergic reaction can indeed be life-threatening. An individual can have allergies when they are born or can be triggered later in life. The best way to find out if you have allergies is to see a allergist.
“Allergy testing can determine what
substances trigger your allergic response. A detailed medical history and a
thorough physical exam give you precise information about your allergy concerns
and how you can best manage them,” says Dr. Nicky Montoya, president of
MediCard Philippines.
Some types of allergies are easy to
determine because symptoms appear upon contact or ingestion of the allergen,
like allergy and dust, which results in successive sneezing. However, certain
types of allergies are harder to diagnose and can trigger fatal symptoms. Seek emergency treatment if you experience symptoms
of anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction that
is potentially life-threatening. Its warning signs include swollen
throat or a lump in your throat that makes breathing difficult, rapid pulse,
lightheadedness, loss of consciousness, and severe drop in your blood pressure.
An
allergist or a doctor who specializes in allergies may be prompted to conduct
an allergy test if you report various symptoms after exposure to certain
substances, including skin itchiness, watery eyes, nasal congestion, wheezing,
chest congestion, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and swelling of the
face or other parts of the body.
Types of allergy tests
Allergy testing can be performed in
a variety of ways. One of the fastest and most proven ways is skin allergy
testing, which studies your body’s reactions to suspected allergens by
introducing them through your skin. It
includes skin prick test, which lets a drop of an allergen solution penetrate
your skin through scratches
or needle pricks; intradermal test, which directly injects the
allergen solution into your skin; and skin patch test, where a patch containing
allergen is taped to your skin for 24 to 72 hours to determine contact
dermatitis. You may check this link for more information about allergy test.
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| Schematic diagram of allergy skin test (Image courtesy of Your Total Health) |
If you have a medical condition that
may interfere with skin testing, your allergist may perform blood allergy
testing as an alternative. One of these tests is enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay (ELISA or EIA), which measures the level of immunoglobulin E or IgE in
your blood. People who have allergies typically have higher IgE levels.
For suspected
food and medication allergies, you may be asked to take the allergy challenge
test, where you inhale or orally take a very small amount of allergen under your doctor’s
supervision.
Safety precautions to take
Always
make sure to see an allergist for allergy testing to get an accurate diagnosis
and effective treatment plan. Licensed allergists also use allergen extracts or
vaccines that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Avoid unsafe and unproven allergy tests. The American
Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) has identified a list of
allergy testing methods that are ineffective and may lead to inappropriate
diagnosis and treatment. These include applied kinesiology, which links allergy
to your muscle strength or weakness; cytotoxic testing, which determines your
food allergy based on the reaction of your blood cells from blood samples that
are placed on a glass slide
coated with food allergens; skin titration, which places varying
amounts of allergens on the surface of your skin; urine autoinjection, which
injects a small amount of your urine into your skin; and sublingual provocation
and neutralization testing, which places allergens under your tongue.
MediCard
has 12 free-standing clinics located in key cities nationwide that offer
consultations, diagnostic tests and specialty medical services for young and
adult patients. Visit www.medicardphils.com for more information.
