Allergy Testing

Allergies are so common that most of us never think of doing much against them. People usually believe that taking an allergy pill or staying indoors at the height of allergy season is the best way to keep your allergy symptoms at bay. 

However, there is more to allergies than just nasal discomfort. Allergies can have a huge impact on a person’s overall quality of life. Depending on the severity of your allergy symptoms, allergies can make it quite difficult for you to feel your best or to enjoy everyday activities. 

Allergies can attack anyone, regardless of age, race, or occupation. They can also occur at any given time. Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to a substance that is not usually harmful. Allergens don’t always trigger reactions among most individuals. Unfortunately, among those suffering from allergies, their immune systems usually wrongly considers the allergen to be a potential threat and mounts an inappropriate response towards it. This is how allergic reactions happen! 

Allergies can affect many parts of your body. Skin allergies usually result in swellings over body areas such as eyes, lips, mouth. These areas may also result in an itchy skin rash or resemble eczema. 

In your respiratory tract, allergies can trigger a number of symptoms, including sneezing, cough, itchy runny nose, breathing difficulties, or wheezing. On the other hand, in your gastrointestinal tract, allergies may display a number of symptoms such as cramps, abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea. 

In extreme cases, the affected individual may develop a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening, especially when not attended to on time. When this happens, you may experience symptoms such as swelling on the eyes, throat, lips, and mouth. What’s more, you will also experience some breathing difficulties, a decrease in blood pressure, and rashes. It usually occurs within minutes or hours after your exposure to allergens, and this allergic reaction is medically described as anaphylaxis. You are highly encouraged to always seek immediate medical attention anytime you suffer from this life-threatening experience. What’s more, you should always carry with you an adrenaline pen for emergency purposes. 

Allergy testing is a procedure offered to help identify the specific allergen responsible for your symptoms. By successfully pinpointing the specific allergen responsible for your woes, doctors can help you develop a plan tailored toward avoiding those particular allergens.  

Our clinic offers two main types of allergy testing procedures, the skin prick or IgE RAST test. 

This is a very simple, straightforward way to detect an allergy. It is usually performed over wither the upper back or inner forearm of the patient. During the test, your doctor will first mark the area to be tested, after injecting allergen droplets into your skin through a small prick that doesn’t penetrate through your skin’s surface. The entire procedure is nearly painless. After a short while, the test will be analyzed for any visible evidence of swelling and raised red bumps. 

The frequency with which you visit your doctor for allergy testing largely depends on the new onset of your allergy symptoms and potential association with new allergy triggers.