Recognizing the Symptoms: Is it Really Allergies?
Allergy symptoms can vary widely from person to person. Common symptoms include:
- Respiratory Symptoms: Sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, nasal congestion, itchy nose, postnasal drip, sinus pressure, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, throat irritation.
- Eye Symptoms: Itchy, watery, red, or swollen eyes.
- Skin Symptoms: Skin rashes, hives (itchy welts), eczema (dry, itchy, inflamed skin), contact dermatitis (red, itchy rash caused by direct contact with an allergen).
- Gastrointestinal Symptoms (Food Allergies): Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating.
- Systemic Symptoms: Fatigue, headache, irritability.
- Severe Allergic Reaction (Anaphylaxis): Swelling of the lips, tongue, or face, difficulty breathing, wheezing, dizziness, lightheadedness, loss of consciousness. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and requires immediate attention.
Pinpointing Your Triggers: Types of Allergy Testing We Offer
At Nova Patient Care, we utilize a range of advanced allergy testing methods to accurately diagnose your condition:
- Skin Prick Test (SPT):
- The most common and often the first-line test for detecting allergies to airborne allergens (pollen, pet dander, mold), certain foods, and insect venom.
- A small amount of each allergen is applied to the skin, and the skin is gently pricked to allow the allergen to enter. A localized reaction (redness, swelling, itching) indicates a potential allergy.
- Results are typically available within 15-20 minutes, providing rapid insights into your sensitivities.
- Blood Allergy Test (Specific IgE Antibody Test):
- Measures the levels of specific IgE antibodies in your blood in response to various allergens. This test is also known as RAST (radioallergosorbent test) or ImmunoCAP testing.
- A blood sample is drawn and sent to a laboratory for analysis.
- Particularly useful for individuals with severe skin conditions (eczema, dermatitis) that may interfere with skin prick testing, or those who cannot safely undergo skin prick testing due to certain medications or medical conditions.
- Results typically take a few days to return from the lab.
- Patch Testing (for Contact Dermatitis):
- Designed to identify allergens that cause contact dermatitis (allergic skin reactions from direct contact with substances).
- Various allergens (fragrances, metals, latex, preservatives, etc.) are applied to adhesive patches, which are then placed on your skin (typically on your back) for 48 hours.
- After 48 hours, the patches are removed, and a provider will assess your skin for any reactions. A second reading may be performed a few days later to identify delayed reactions.
- Food Allergy Testing:
- Can involve skin prick testing, blood allergy testing, or a combination to identify sensitivities or allergic reactions to common foods.
- Commonly tested foods include nuts, shellfish, dairy, wheat, eggs, soy, and fish.
- In some cases, a supervised oral food challenge may be recommended to confirm a suspected food allergy. This involves consuming small, gradually increasing amounts of the suspected food under strict medical supervision.
- Environmental Allergy Testing:
- Helps detect allergic reactions to common environmental allergens found indoors and outdoors.
- Includes testing for dust mites, mold spores, pet dander (cat, dog), tree pollen, grass pollen, and weed pollen.
- Typically performed via skin prick testing or blood allergy testing.
If you're unsure of the exact cause of your allergy symptoms, our medical team will conduct a thorough evaluation of your medical history and symptoms and recommend the most appropriate allergy test to identify your triggers.
