How To Diagnose Allergic Reactions?
- The diagnosis of an allergic reaction is based on a detailed medical history, physical examination, and specialized testing.
- Tests may include blood tests, skin tests, and allergy testing.
- Diagnosis can be confirmed with a skin biopsy.
Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions are a common problem, especially among children. When you have an allergic reaction, the body makes antibodies that cause symptoms such as hives and swollen skin. These can be caused by different things such as insect bites or food allergies. Sometimes these symptoms can be so severe that they mean serious medical attention is needed to prevent complications or even death. Allergies are often triggered by foods or medicines but sometimes they cannot be linked to any specific cause at all; this is known as idiopathic anaphylaxis (IA).
Treatment
The best way is to avoid triggers, and the allergy symptoms are relieved by appropriate medications.
Medication
Medication for allergies often includes antihistamines to control symptoms. The drug can be over-the-counter or prescription. The doctor prescribes medicines according to the severity of the allergy.
Examples of Allergic Medication:
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
- Brompheniramine (Dimetapp, Dimetane)
- Carbinoxamine (Palgic)
- Clemastine (Tavist)
- Cyproheptadine (Periactin)
- Hydroxyzine (Vistaril)
Most allergic patients recover quickly when the drug is discontinued, although it may take 10-14 days for the rash to fade.
Allergy Blood Test
Your doctor may prescribe a blood test. Your blood will be tested for allergy-causing antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). These are cells that react to allergens. Your doctor will use a blood test to confirm a diagnosis if they’re worried about the potential for a severe allergic reaction.
Allergy blood tests are used to help find out if you have an allergy. There are two general types of allergy blood tests:
- A total IgE test is used to measure the total amount of IgE antibodies in your blood.
- A specific IgE test measures how much IgE your body makes in response to a single allergen. A separate test is done for each allergen that may be causing your allergies.
Skin Test
The doctor may prescribe you a skin test. It is a common type of test taken by an allergist. In a skin prick test, also called a puncture or scratch test, in this test, your skin is pricked or scratched with tiny needles containing potential allergens. It immediately checks 50 different substances at once that can cause allergies. This test is usually done to identify allergies to pollen, mold, pet dander, dust mites, and foods. The three types of skin tests are scratch, intradermal, and patch tests.
Your doctor may suggest you do a scratch test first. In this test, an allergen is placed in a liquid, then the liquid (containing the allergen) is placed on an area of your skin with a special tool that gently penetrates the allergen into your skin's surface and then your doctor observes you closely, if there are any symptoms such as redness, itching, swelling; You are allergic to this particular allergen.
If the scratch test is uncertain, your doctor may order an intradermal skin test. In this test, a small amount of allergen is injected into the dermis layer of your skin.
Another form of skin test includes the patch test. No needles are used, and allergens are applied to the patch, during this test your skin is exposed to extracts of 20 to 30 substances that can cause contact dermatitis.
Allergy Shots
Allergy shots are regular injections usually given over a period of about three to five years; To prevent or reduce allergy attacks. Every allergic shot contains a limited quantity of the particular substance or substances that trigger your allergic reaction.
In each of your allergy shots, Your doctor increases the dose of the allergen over time. This helps your body get used to the allergen (desensitization). Your immune system develops a resistance to the allergen, causing your allergy symptoms to reduce over time.
Why is Allergy Testing done?
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI), allergies or asthma affect more than 50 million people living in the United States. These diseases are so common that any physician can give adequate treatment to the person who suffers from them.
An allergy test can clarify specifically which type of allergen (pollen, mold, dust, animal dander, and certain food) you are allergic to. In this case, you can determine your avoidance; which can trigger your allergy.
Preparation For An Allergy Test
Before the process of testing, your doctor will take your family history and your medication, they may ask you to stop your medication for the allergy testing process because they can affect the results.
Following are the steps through which you get to prepare for allergy testing:
Medication
Your allergist will provide you with a prescription list that will direct you to which medicine you can take and what you have to avoid. Contact your allergist for their specific medication directions around testing.
Eat
Eat something before the test is always a better idea but make sure not to eat something to which you are allergic.
Avoid Sun Exposure
Avoid sun exposure. Excessive sun exposure can irritate your skin and make your test uncomfortable. It can also affect your test results.
An allergy test is a relatively simple process, you are closely monitored and the result will give you the knowledge of what type of allergy you have.
Risk Factor
The most common side effect in skin tests is red, swollen, itchy skin. In some cases, the wheals develop soon after the test. However, an area of swelling, redness and itching may develop a few hours after the test and last for a few days.
Rarely, allergy skin tests can cause a severe, immediate allergic reaction, so it is important that skin tests are performed in a proper clinic where appropriate emergency equipment and medications are available.
Result
A positive skin test means you are likely allergic to a particular substance. A negative skin test means you probably aren't allergic to a particular allergen. Then according to your test result, your allergist will give you instructions on your next step, what you have to avoid, your meal schedule, further instructions, and your next follow-up.
After a few years of successful treatment, some people don't have significant allergy problems even after allergy shots are stopped. Other people need continuous shots to keep symptoms under control.
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