When do you need an allergy test and how to prepare for it?

Allergies, even if they are not linked to long-term health repercussions, can be annoying, reduce your quality of life, and in rare circumstances lead to death. Even yet, allergies can be avoided and their adverse effects mitigated if people understand what causes them. This post will introduce you to an allergy test that will help you determine what you are allergic to and how to deal with it efficiently.

What is an allergy, and how problematic is it?

Allergies are a reaction to allergens, which are innocuous proteins found in nature. However, the patient’s body overreacts to the allergens, producing Immunoglobulin E (IgE), one of the antibodies that take the allergens and eliminate them by transporting them to the mast cell. This removal of allergens causes the allergy cell to release Histamine, which then triggers allergy symptoms.

Allergy symptoms vary according to what you are allergic to. The two most common allergies include food allergies, caused by common foods such as milk, eggs, wheat, nuts, and shellfish, which may result in itching, swelling around the mouth, throat, tongue, and face, hives, nausea and vomiting, and some may suffer from anaphylaxis, and inhalant allergy, caused by airborne substances from pets, pollens, dust mites, molds, and cockroaches, which leads to sneezing, runny and stuffy nose, and itchy and watery eyes. Natural latex, medicines, and venoms can also induce allergies.

Antihistamines can also be used to treat allergies. Thus, allergies can be problematic, ranging from frequently having to go to great lengths to avoid allergens, which can be difficult and sometimes socially isolating, significantly impacting a person’s quality of life as chronic symptoms can lead to fatigue, disrupted sleep, decreased productivity, and limitations in daily activities, and risk of anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate medical attention.

How do you know what you are allergic to?

Some allergies can emerge later in life, even if they were not present as a child. As a result, allergy testing is critical for determining your body’s reaction to certain allergy triggers or allergens, which aids in determining the core cause of your allergy. There are currently some allergy testing methods available, such as 

• Skin prick, or scratch test: Using a thin needle to prick the skin on your forearm or back with 10 to 50 different potential allergens, or placing droplets of potential allergens onto your skin and use a device to scratch and lightly puncture the area, causing the liquid to enter your skin. Reactions such as redness typically occur within 15 minutes of exposure. Your reaction might be a rash or raised, round spots called wheals. This test checks for airborne allergies, food allergies, and penicillin allergies.
• Intradermal skin test: You may get an intradermal skin test if skin prick test results are negative or inconclusive. Your provider injects small amounts of the allergen into the outer layer of your skin (epidermis). This test checks for allergies to airborne irritants, medications, and insect stings.
• Patch test: This test determines the cause of contact dermatitis. Your provider places drops of an allergen onto the skin on your arm and covers the area with a bandage. Or your provider may apply a patch (bandage) that has the allergen on it. You leave the bandage on and return to the provider’s office within 48 to 96 hours. Then, your provider removes the bandage to check your skin for a rash or other reaction.
• IgE test through blood samples: Your provider sends a sample of your blood to a lab. The lab adds allergens to the blood sample and measures the levels of IgE antibodies in it. Blood tests can have a higher rate of false-positive results.
• Challenge tests: This test occurs only under a provider’s direct, in-person supervision. People with suspected food or drug allergies ingest (swallow) a small amount of an allergen. An allergist, a doctor who specializes in allergies, typically performs this test. Medical supervision is a must. If you develop anaphylaxis, the provider quickly gives an epinephrine injection to stop the reaction.

When do you need an allergy test and what must you do?

We require an allergy test if you experience allergy symptoms on a regular basis or for more than two weeks. Asthmatic patients also require a test to identify allergic triggers that exacerbate asthma or cause an episode. Patients who have anaphylaxis need a test after they have recovered from their symptoms to assist them in avoiding their life-threatening allergic triggers. 

Three to seven days before an allergy test, your healthcare practitioner will instruct you to discontinue taking allergy drugs such as antihistamines. On test day, the tests are carried out according to the procedure. If you are allergic to something, you may experience mild symptoms such as itchy skin, watery eyes, and congestion that go away within a few hours, or in rare cases, you may experience anaphylactic shock, which providers are trained to handle and give emergency care for.

If you test positive for some allergens, you should limit your exposure to them and take allergy medications if you have allergic symptoms. Immunotherapy can assist you in reducing your immune response to specific allergens. If you are diagnosed as having a high risk of a severe allergic reaction, an epinephrine injection or EpiPen is advised as a lifesaver in an emergency.

Allergy test at Phyathai 1 International

The Check-up Center at Phyathai 1 International offers allergy testing via prick test, blood test, and challenge test, all of which are overseen by allergy specialists and our team of medical professionals to ensure accurate results and utmost safety. Our allergy specialists are also prepared to treat allergy symptoms such as food allergies, inhalant allergies, and medication allergies in both children and adults.

If you are currently seeking an allergy test, or you are suffering from allergic symptoms, we recommend you consult with our team at the Check-up Center of Phyathai 1 International directly as it is open daily from 7 am to 4 pm. The consultation can be done by phone at number (+66)2-201-4600 ext.2149 or by E-mail at [email protected].