The environments we live in are a plethora of particles, chemicals, pathogens, viruses, bacteria, and numerous other substances all the time. To fight off anything harmful to us, our immune systems always work to keep many of these unwanted microscopic materials from getting into our bodies and causing problems. It comprises many different organs, tissues, and chemicals, including your bone marrow, spleen, lymphatic system, adenoids, appendix, tonsils, and thymus.
Sometimes, our immune systems don’t work how they’re supposed to and can overreact to harmless particles as if they were a threat, resulting in an allergic reaction. They can be frustrating, and many microscopic substances can cause them. Allergy tests are a helpful way of identifying the triggers for your allergies to offer you treatment options, and to understand how they help, we can look at how allergies work and the forms of allergy tests available.
Residents of Orlando and Kissimmee, Florida, looking for relief from allergies can find help with Drs. Wade Han, Elvira Livigni De Armas, and their staff at the Florida Ear Nose Throat & Facial Plastic Surgery Center.
When your body reacts to harmless pathogens, it creates immunoglobulin, a type of antibody, to fight them. Its actions against the substance (known as an allergen) lead to the symptoms commonly associated with an allergic response. Allergies come in many forms, including allergic rhinitis (hay fever), asthma, skin allergies (contact dermatitis), eczema (atopic dermatitis), and allergies to foods, insect bites, and medications.
Because there are so many types, the range of symptoms is also wildly different. They can consist of upper respiratory issues similar to colds or flu (coughing, sneezing, nasal congestion, fatigue) or other signs like nausea, vomiting, rashes, wheezing, fever, and headaches. Anaphylaxis is a severe reaction that presents with difficulty swallowing and breathing, wheezing, and swelling (nose, throat, or tongue), which can be life-threatening.
Since there are so many ways to develop allergies and in so many forms, the types of tests to diagnose them are based on the combination of physical examinations (looking for rashes, swelling, and other visual cues) and performing blood and skin tests:
This is the most common type of allergy test, and it can detect many allergens. The allergens are placed on your arm, spaced out so they don’t overlap, and the skin is pricked to allow each one to penetrate the upper layer of skin. This way, we can identify the allergen that causes an adverse reaction, such as swelling, rashes, or other signs.
When the skin prick test fails, a syringe can be inserted deeper into the skin to look for similar responses.
For allergies with delayed responses, such as contact dermatitis, a patch is placed on your skin and left on for up to two days. Then, it’s removed and examined, which can be done around two to three days later if there is no response.
If skin tests are inconclusive, blood tests can help to extract immunoglobulin E (IgE) to examine its responses to various allergens.
This is specifically for food allergies and is done under direct supervision. You consume a food that we suspect you’re allergic to, and we watch for responses.
Allergies can be frustrating, but many ways exist to identify them and help you get treatment. If you’re struggling with the symptoms of allergies, make an appointment with Drs. Han, Livigni De Armas, and the Florida Ear Nose Throat & Facial Plastic Surgery Center today.
