In the United States, approximately 32 million people suffer from allergies. Of these, 26 million are adults and 5.6 million are children (2).
Allergy testing can help you figure out if your immune system reacts to certain allergens. If you have an allergic reaction, you are allergic. Most people get tested for allergies because they are experiencing allergy symptoms.
People with allergic reactions should also have allergy testing because if anaphylaxis occurs, it can be life-threatening. Getting an allergy test also requires a review of your medical history to better determine the cause of a severe reaction.
What should I do if I’m not sure if I need an allergy test?
Hay fever occurs if you are allergic to particles in the air such as pollen, pet hair or dust. Hay fever is a common illness
Symptoms include:
Itchy, watery eyes
Inflammation of the throat
Headache
Sneezing, nasal congestion or a runny nose are all symptoms of allergy.
Difficulty breathing
Shortness of breath or a persistent cough
Food allergy symptoms occur 30 ~ 1 hour after eating.
These signs and symptoms include:
Hives, swelling of the cheeks, lips or tongue, itching all over the body
Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, shortness of breath or air tightness are all respiratory symptoms.
Vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, cramps and diarrhea are all symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders.
Pale skin, weak pulse, dizziness or lightheadedness are signs of cardiovascular disease.
People who are allergic to perfumes, latex or metals will have the following skin reactions:
Swelling and hives
Blistering or burning sensation on the skin
Itchy skin or a rash on the skin
What types of allergy tests are available in the United States?
There are several types of allergy tests (3) that are performed primarily in the United States to assist in detecting which allergens your immune system reacts to. Most of the tests listed here must be performed by your doctor, but only blood tests can be performed at home and the sample sent to a lab for further analysis.
Skin prick test
Your doctor will do this test by pricking the skin on your forearm or back with a possible allergen. They will also deposit droplets of these allergens on your skin and scratch the skin to allow the allergen to penetrate the surface of the skin.
To check for food allergies, your doctor will insert a needle into the food and prick your skin to see if you have an allergy. Your doctor will be able to determine within 15 minutes if you are allergic based on your reaction. If you are allergic, a small lump or reddening will appear in the designated area.
How to prepare for the skin test
Avoid any antihistamines and sleep aids that may contain antihistamines for 5 days prior to the test. The disadvantage of antihistamines is that they obscure positive skin prick test results, making the results unreliable.
Intradermal examination
You can do this test if the skin prick test is inconclusive. It involves injecting a tiny dose of allergen into your epidermis. This test looks for allergies to insect bites, as well as allergies to airborne irritants and medications.
Intradermal testing can also be used to identify less severe allergic reactions. This injection is unpleasant and has the potential to trigger more severe allergic reactions. within 15 minutes, you will see the results of the test.
Testing a patch
This test focuses on allergic reactions 1 ½ to 3 days after exposure to an allergen. The following are examples of triggers:
Medications
Jewelry
Condoms or gloves
Makeup
If you have contact allergies, your skin is likely to react in the same way as contact dermatitis. The skin is swollen, red and itchy. Small blisters may also appear.
This test involves putting drops of the allergen on the skin of your arm and wrapping it with a bandage. Within 48-96 hours, you can leave the bandage and return to your doctor’s office. You will see the results within 2 – 5 days after your doctor removes the patch. Your doctor may read it 10 days after it has been removed. If your doctor has placed a waterproof cover over the patch, avoid exposure to moisture while wearing it.
IgE blood test
Because skin tests can sometimes cause severe reactions, a blood test is recommended. In addition, the results of the skin prick test may be affected by skin disease. This is the most common and straightforward test. You can even obtain a test kit online and complete the test in the convenience of your own home. After you receive your test kit, you will need to take a blood sample as instructed and return it to the lab along with your medical history.
Your doctor will test the blood sample for IgE antibodies after adding the allergen to the blood sample. After receiving the results, you can discuss your options with your doctor. Blood tests can also be used to check for other immune system problems such as hives, swelling episodes and primary immunodeficiency diseases. Smoking or parasitic infections are two factors that can affect the blood test.
Challenge Test
Because this test is a bit dangerous, it is performed in a doctor’s office. During this test, you will be asked to ingest a small amount of allergen while your doctor monitors and is prepared to help you if an allergic reaction occurs.
Conclusion
Allergy testing is common in the United States because of the large number of people who suffer from allergies. If you are showing signs of an allergic reaction, you should get an allergy test to see what your body is reacting to. Also, if you are not sure if you have an allergy or intolerance, you can get a test to find out which allergy you have and which allergen is causing it. Because of their severity, allergies and intolerances are very obvious. Allergies are dangerous and can even be fatal.