Allergies

Allergy Symptoms

How Are Allergies Diagnosed?

An allergic reaction may occur anywhere in the body, but usually it appears in the skin, eyes, nose, sinuses, lungs, stomach lining, and throat. These are the places where the IgE’s, the special warrior immune system cells, are stationed to fight off the invaders that have recently been inhaled, swallowed or have come into contact with the skin. In addition, the part of the body that comes into contact with the allergen plays a role in the symptoms you develop and where the symptoms manifest.  For example, if the allergen is in the air (pollen, dust mites) and it is inhaled, the allergic reaction will likely occur in the nose in the form of stuffy or runny nose, in the throat in the form of itchy throat and mucus production and/or in the lungs in the form of wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath. If the air allergen is rubbed into your eyes, the allergic reaction will likely occur in the eye, in the form of itchy, red eyes. If the allergen is ingested (peanuts or shellfish), the allergic reaction often occurs in the mouth or stomach in the form of abdominal pain, cramps, or diarrhea, and/or intestines.

Generally, possible allergy symptoms may include:

• Abdominal Cramps
• Abdominal Pain
• Breathing Problems
• Chest Tightness
• Choking
• Choking Sensation
• Conjunctivitis (red, swollen eyes)
• Cough
• Coughing Up Phlegm
• Coughing Up Yellow Sputum
• Diarrhea
• Eye Redness
• Ear fullness and popping
• Headache
• Hives
• Irritation Of Nose
• Itching
• Itching Of Eyes
• Mental Confusion
• Mouth Irritation
• Nausea
• Pain
• Pressure in the nose and cheeks
• Rashes on Skin
• Runny Nose
• Shortness of Breath
• Stuffy Nose
• Swelling
• Swelling Around The Eyes
• Throat Irritation
• Vomiting
• Watering Eyes
• Wheezing

Allergy Testing

What allergy tests do doctors use to diagnose allergies?

To diagnose allergies, a thorough health history review and physical examination with a physician is a great first step.  If you have allergy symptoms that occur in association with exposure to certain things, that is highly significant, so make sure you tell your doctor about the association.

Allergy diagnostic tests, such as skin or blood tests, provide similar information and may confirm what your health history tells the doctor.  If you and your doctor were to rely exclusively on the results of skin or blood tests (without information about your medical history and physical examination), you may potentially be misdiagnosed with having an allergy problem that you may not necessarily have.

Allergy Skins Tests

Skin tests for allergies are a good option choice because:

• The results are available immediately
• They can be more sensitive to subtle allergies
• They are less expensive

There are 3 types of skin tests for allergies:

1.       Scratch (Puncture or Prick) Test

First, your health care provider examines the skin either on your forearm or back and cleans it with alcohol. Next, areas on your skin are marked with a pen to identify each allergen to be tested. A drop of extract for each potential allergen is placed on the corresponding mark. Now, a small disposable pricking device is used to prick the skin so the extract can enter into the outer skin layer. The skin prick is not a shot and does not cause bleeding. Lastly, the skin is closely watched for signs of a reaction, which include swelling and redness. Often such reactions occur in as little as 15 minutes.

2.       Intradermal Test

First, your health care provider examines the skin either on your forearm or back and cleans it with alcohol. Then a small amount of the allergen is injected just under the skin. Lastly, you must wait about 15 minutes to see how your skin reacts.

3.       Patch Test

The allergen is applied to a patch that is then placed on the skin. Sometimes, this is done to pinpoint a trigger of allergic contact dermatitis. If there are IgE’s (allergic antibodies) in your body, your skin will become irritated and may itch. This reaction means you are allergic to that substance. Patch tests take approximately 48 hours (do not bathe or swim while wearing these patches). You must return to your physician to determine whether your skin has reacted to the allergens.

Before your skin allergy test, your doctor will give you a list of medications to be avoided before the test since those drugs may interfere with the test. Specifically, allergy medicines, including over-the-counter antihistamines, stop allergic reactions, so you should not take them for 48 hours before the test. Speak to your doctor about discontinuing any allergy medicines or other medications prior to the test.

Blood Tests

While general blood tests give a picture of your overall health, specific allergy related blood tests can measure levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), a key antibody that’s released during an allergic reaction.  While everyone’s body produces IgE, people who have allergies make larger quantities of this protective protein.

A blood test called RAST (radioallergosorbent) measures the levels of specific allergy related substances in your blood.

Blood testing for allergies is another good option particularly if:

• You cannot suspend antihistamine therapy which may inhibit skin tests;
• You are so sensitive to the allergen that the test might be risky;
• You have widespread skin disease making skin testing difficult; or
• If your skin cannot be skin tested for some other reason.

One problem with both blood and skin tests for food allergies is they are highly sensitive. So if you do have any remote or slight food allergy, the tests are likely to catch it. However, the tests are not specific enough. This means that the tests often are positive even when there is no significant food allergy.

Additionally, your physician may have you perform “use or elimination testing,” which is often used to check for food or drug allergies. Here, you will simply have to avoid certain items to see if you get better, or use suspected items to see if you feel worse.