What is an indication for allergy testing?

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Allergy tests are being done more and more, which is due to people coming who suffer from allergies. There are several types of allergy testing. Which is the best way to eliminate the allergen causing the worrying symptoms that are the most common indication for their implementation? We present the types of allergy tests, highlighting the ones that are best for children and babies.

Allergy tests – the most common causes of allergies

The number of people suffering from allergies is growing systematically every year. People who are allergic to only one allergen that occurs once a year (e.g. pollen from a plant) often mistake allergic symptoms for infection. The situation is different when the allergenic allergen is constantly present in the environment (e.g. cat’s hair) or when there are several of these allergens. Then the bothersome symptoms of allergies, constant runny nose, cough, watery and burning eyes do not allow you to function properly most of the time and significantly worsen the quality of life.

Unfortunately, there is no drug that makes an allergy go away. Antiallergic drugs only alleviate the symptoms of allergic reactions, and the most effective weapon in the fight against allergy is to know the allergen, exclude it from the environment and become resistant to the allergen.

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What is allergy and allergen?

An allergy is an abnormal reaction of the body to contact with an allergen, a factor that is not harmful in itself and does not cause adverse reactions in healthy people. However, in allergic people, it can cause reactions from the respiratory system, digestive system or skin changes.

The first time the body comes into contact with an allergen, specific IgE antibodies are formed in the immune systemwhich, on re-exposure to the allergen, lead to inflammation in various organs (e.g. skin, mucous membranes).

Risk factors that increase the risk of allergies

The risk of allergy is increased not only by genetic conditions, but also by environmental factors such as cigarette smoke, frequent infections and, in children, a sterile environment during development. The occurrence or increase in the risk of allergy is also influenced by viral infections affecting the upper respiratory tract, including asthma, and rhinoviruses, which, by damaging the epithelium, lead to an increase in the surface of action of allergens.

Types of allergies

Due to the way the allergen enters the body, allergies are divided into inhalation, contact and food allergies, drug allergy and allergy to the venom of membranous-winged insects. The most common inhalation allergens include pollen, dust mites, animal hair and mold spores.

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On the other hand, the culprits of food allergies are most often cow’s milk protein, fish, nuts, chicken eggs, fruit. The causes of contact allergies can be metals, cosmetics, detergents.

Who should do allergy tests?

All symptoms that are repeated systematically or only occasionally without specific causes (e.g. infection or poisoning) are an indication for the performance of allergy tests. In inhalation allergy, the most common symptoms are cough, runny nose, heavy runny discharge from the nose and itching, and paroxysmal attacks of sneezing (up to ten times).

These symptoms may be accompanied by conjunctivitis, watery and burning eyes, itching and redness. It is often the case that symptoms appear or worsen in specific cases. For example, when you experience shortness of breath, paroxysmal cough or runny nose after going to bed, and the symptoms disappear the next day, you can be sure that they are caused by an allergen, e.g. mites. But it could also be feathers or some other allergen.

The same symptoms, i.e. shortness of breath, cough and runny nose, can also be caused by some food products, such as yogurt or cottage cheese. In others, consumption of the same food products will cause troublesome symptoms only from the digestive system, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, colic and abdominal pain. It is also often the case that it is very difficult to associate the allergic reactions of the body with a specific allergen.

The allergist, based on a thorough interview and medical examination, selects the appropriate tests and tested allergens. Allergy tests not only determine the allergen, but also allow you to assess the severity of the allergy.

Allergy tests – what are they?

Allergy tests are designed to help detect an allergen causing a sensitization reaction. There are several types of allergy tests. Skin allergy tests are the most frequently performed. They consist in putting a drop of the allergen on the forearm or back and a gentle puncture of the epidermis. 15 to 20 allergens are applied at a time. Allergens that cause sensitization after 15 – 20 minutes cause redness and blisters around the puncture. There are three types of skin tests: intradermal, prick and patch tests.

Another allergy test is a blood test. It allows to determine the content of specific IgE antibodies in the blood for the main allergens. On the other hand, provocation tests consist of spraying into the nose or putting an allergen-soaked cotton ball to the nose. Based on the reaction, the sensitizing allergen is determined.

There are also elimination tests that are performed when food or drug allergies are suspected. In this case, the doctor suggests eliminating other products from the diet, while checking whether symptoms indicative of allergy appear.

When should allergy tests be done?

Skin prick tests are mainly used in people with suspected immediate-type allergic reactions, e.g. in atopic dermatitis. They are also used to determine inhaled allergens (pollen, mites, mold spores).

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In children, they allow the determination of food allergens. In young children under the age of three, skin tests are not performed, only blood tests. Blood allergy tests are also helpful in cases where there is a discrepancy between the history and the results of skin tests.

Inhalation allergy tests – why are they most often performed?

Inhalation allergy tests are actually made of blood. In this case, it is about the name itself, which refers to the most common inhalation allergens causing allergies. The inhalation profile can be said about the test itself. When performing an allergy test, 20 allergens are taken into account. Thanks to this, it is possible to identify allergies to:

1. grasses (water grass, rye, cocksfoot, timothy grass);
2. trees (alder, birch, hazel, oak);
3. herbs (ambrosia, mugwort, plantain);
4. mites;
5. animal allergens (cat, dog, horse hair);
6. mold;
7. inside (CCD).

Allergy tests and CCD

CCD (Cross-reactiveCarbohydrate Determinant) is a molecule that can detect false markers leading to cross-allergy. When performing a test of allergens having a similar structure, it is possible to falsify the patient’s resultwhich may be positive despite not being sensitized. The CCD marker allows you to exclude such a phenomenon.

Children’s allergy tests – how to do them?

As already mentioned, it is best to perform blood allergy tests in children, as they are the least burdensome for the body. The collected blood sample is tested at a diagnostic center (for the presence of 28 allergens that may cause sensitization). The ELISA method is used to perform allergy tests for children. The same applies to allergy tests for infants, who also find it easier to take a blood sample for one test.

Preparations for the allergy test

Before undergoing allergy tests, stop taking antiallergic drugs for a period of one to two weeks in advance. You should also tell your allergist about any other medications you are taking. One week before the examination (skin tests), you should stop applying ointments and medicinal creams, especially those containing steroids, to the skin of the forearm, and on the day of the examination, do not even apply a skin care cream to the area of ​​the examination.

You should come to the clinic on an empty stomach. On the day of the ordered examination, you should also refrain from consuming products that are suspected to be allergenic. Half an hour before the start of the tests, you can drink a glass of water or bitter tea (no added sugar). You can take antihistamines before the examination.

Allergy tests – contraindications to their conduct

Allergy tests are not performed after anaphylactic shock, severe asthma attack, after bacterial and viral infections, and after antibiotic therapy. Contraindication to allergy tests is autoimmune disease, pregnancy, urticaria, and malignant tumors.

Allergy tests – how much does it cost to do them?

The price for an allergy test depends on what type of test will be performed. The cost of a skin allergy test is about PLN 170. On the other hand, the price of an allergic blood test in a package with total IgE is about PLN 200.

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