How To Test And Treat Allergy

Allergic reactions are very common. In developed world, 20% people suffer from nose allergy, 6% suffers from food allergy and 20% from some sort of skin allergy.

Table of Contents

What is Allergy?

Allergy is a condition in which our immune system gets very sensitive to harmless things/chemicals present in the environment resulting in symptoms like red eyes, runny nose, sneezing, itching and breathing difficulty.

What things can cause Allergy?

Common air allergens

Cat hair	House dust mite
Dog hair	Mold
Horse hair	Grass pollens
Rabbit	Tree pollens
Animal Feathers	Flowers

Common food allergens

Nuts	Seafood	Dairy	Fruits	Vegetables	Meat	Cereal
Walnut	Salmon	Milk	Orange	Tomato	Beef	Wheat
Peanut	Cod	Cheese	Apple	Potato	Chicken	Rye
Cashew	Shrimp	Egg	Strawberry	Soyabean	Lamb
Pistachio	Crab

Common skin allergens

Jewelry	Leather	Shoes	Glue
Perfumes	Hair dyes	Gloves	Topical medicines
Cement	Sticky plaster	Cosmetics

How can we test allergy?

Skin Prick test (SPT) is the most used test for allergy diagnosis. It is quick and results are visible.

Indications	Allergic rhinitis (Nose allergy) Suspected food allergy Refractory Asthma (asthma not responding to usual treatment) Suspected food or drug allergy
Contraindications	Severe red and itchy skin (dermatitis) Severe redness and swelling of skin on pressure or trauma (dermatographism) History of severe allergy (anaphylaxis) Age below 2 years Uncontrolled Asthma

How is Skin Prick test performed?

SPT is usually performed on skin of forearm or back. Skin is cleaned with a sterile alcohol swab, then a drop of suspected allergen is applied on the marked area of the skin in a grid pattern. Then a small prick with a sterile needle is done through the drop to allow allergen to penetrate the skin. Allergy is indicated when a small insect bite size lump appears over the site within 15-20 minutes. Risk of severe reaction is very low because a very small amount of allergen goes into the superficial layer of skin.

How are results interpreted?

Results are assessed size of lump or wheal on prick site.

Wheal diameter 5-10mm	Mild allergy
Wheal diameter 10-15mm	Moderate allergy
Wheal size >15mm	Severe allergy

What are symptoms of food allergies?

It can be divided into two groups.

Immune/allergic reaction
Non-immune (food intolerance)

What are Immune mediated food allergies?

These food allergies are caused by IgE antibodies or non-IgE antibodies.
Immediate symptoms of allergy appear from IgE antibodies.
Skin prick test is good for IgE mediated reactions.

Delayed symptoms of allergy (>2 hours) appear from non-IgE antibodies. Skin prick test may not give definitive results though patient may still suffer from food allergies. You may consider ALCAT test (Antigen Leukocyte Cellular Antibody test).

What is treatment of food allergies?

Avoid the triggering food. Maintain a food diary.

What is immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is a treatment in which body is exposed to known allergens in a controlled way to reduce severity of allergic reactions. It is given in form of injections or sublingual drops from accredited labs.

Who can get immunotherapy?

People suffering from allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, allergic conjunctivitis, insect sting allergy.

Who cannot get immunotherapy?

People who have food allergies, hives or urticaria and eczema cannot receive this treatment.

Disclaimer: The contents of this article are intended to raise awareness about common health issues and should not be viewed as sound medical advice for your specific condition. You should always consult with a licensed medical practitioner prior to following any suggestions outlined in this article or adopting any treatment protocol based on the contents of this article.

Healthy Lifestyle

Published On March 7, 2024

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