Know What Is Causing Your Allergic Reaction with an Allergy Test

Allergy Testing

An allergic reaction can be annoying and, in some situations, life-threatening. When you have an allergic reaction, your immune system overreacts, producing antibodies likely to trigger an allergic reaction. Thus, allergy testing is the only way your healthcare provider can identify the allergies, helping you avoid potential problems in the future. Fortunately, Kingwood allergy testing can help detect your irritants with different tests, including intradermal, skin prick, and blood tests. Different tests work differently. For instance, while a blood test might need a blood sample, a skin test might entail irritating your skin with an allergen.

How Does Allergy Testing Work?

Several allergy tests have the same goal- to detect an allergy antibody responsible for your reactions. Unlike a blood allergy test that entails drawing blood to check for allergy triggers, a skin allergy test might prompt your healthcare provider to apply an allergy-causing substance on your skin with equipment that pricks your skin surface. The primary advantage of a skin test is its sensitivity. The test allows your doctor to test for various allergens, giving you quick results. Thanks to the immediate results, your doctor will devise a treatment plan.

What Happens During an Allergy Skin Test?

Allergy skin tests help your doctor and your physician diagnose allergic conditions. During the test, your doctor exposes your skin to allergens likely to cause a reaction then waits for the results. The medical professional will then use your results and review your medical history to confirm specific substances you are likely to react to when you eat, breathe, or touch an allergy-causing substance. The allergic conditions you are likely to have include:

  •         Food allergies
  •         Allergic asthma
  •         Dermatitis
  •         Bee venom allergy
  •         Hay fever
  •         Penicillin allergy

Though skin tests are safe and defective for adults and children, your doctor might not advise you to go for the test. For instance, the healthcare professional may not recommend a skin test when you:

  •         Take drugs like antihistamines likely to affect your results.
  •         Have a severe allergic reaction likely to result in life-threatening reactions.
  •         Have skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema that might affect extensive areas of your skin.

How Will You Know the Allergy Test That Is Right for You?

Though both blood and skin tests might be effective, your goals, preferences, skin condition, and the medications you might be taking significantly play a role in your preferred allergy test. The medical professional will inquire about your symptoms and the medications you are taking. After a thorough evaluation, your doctor may suggest an option that best suits your needs.

How Will You Know You Need Allergy Testing?

You are likely to react to various things including food, allergens in the air, fragrances, latex, and metals. Different allergies take time to show symptoms. For instance, you may start showing symptoms approximately 30 minutes after a food allergy. The symptoms you might have with the allergy include swelling and generalized itching. On the other hand, you will start experiencing immediate signs if you react to substances in the air. Therefore, your doctor might need you to contact him for allergy testing if you notice symptoms after exposure to an allergen.

Do not let an allergic reaction pose a threat to your life when you can seek help. Contact your doctor to know how allergy testing can help you manage your symptoms.

Effective Allergy Testing and Treatment Services in Marrero, Louisiana

Allergy Testing

Allergies are among the common issues that affect both children and adults. The condition causes irritating symptoms that frequently affect your life. If you have a respiratory allergy, Gregory Pippin, MD, and Adil Fatakia, MD, at ENT of New Orleans are the experienced and skilled specialists that can help treat your allergy. Dr. Pippin and Dr. Fatakia run state-of-the-art allergy testing facilities to find the basis of your symptoms. They also offer the most effective allergy treatments to give you a healthy lifestyle. For more information about Marrero allergies treatment, call or book an appointment online today.

What are allergies?

An allergy refers to a body’s immune system’s reaction to a substance you breathe in, eat, or touch. Substances that cause allergies are normally things that aren’t going to cause you harm. When you get an allergy, your body reacts as though the allergic substance is hazardous to your health. Trigger materials are known as allergens. Some of the common respiratory allergens include pollen, mold, dust, and pet dander. Getting into contact with an allergen produces unfriendly symptoms that can interrupt your daily life and make you feel miserable.

Which are allergic symptoms?

The symptoms of allergy vary depending on the type of allergy you have. For instance, if you have a food allergy, you could develop rashes, swell up, and feel like vomiting. At ENT of New Orleans, the team specializes in respiratory allergies that affect your throat and nose. These allergies cause rash, itchy eyes, blocked nose, runny nose, cough, and swollen or watery eyes. Unless you get the proper treatment for your allergy, you may develop a chronic condition like a post nasal drip. You are also more probable to get regular headaches and suffer from upper respiratory infections like sinusitis.

What should you expect during allergy treatment?

Finding the primary cause of your allergy is the key to effectively treating it. ENT of New Orleans has facilities for allergy testing that are very beneficial for patients having effects of allergies. The provider starts by diagnosing the cause of your allergy and then develops a personalized treatment plan designed to minimize allergy symptoms you are experiencing. One remedy the doctor may recommend for the allergic effects is avoiding the known allergens as far as possible. The doctor might also give medication prescriptions to reduce the symptoms caused by your allergies. Other available allergy treatments include:

Immunotherapy

This is an effective treatment that helps clear up chronic conditions such as allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma. Immunotherapy involves having allergy drops under your tongue that contain minute quantities of the allergens you are sensitive to. By exposing your body to little, regular doses, it gets used to the allergen with time, which eventually results in allergy symptoms calming down.

Balloon Sinuplasty

This treatment method is used to open up your airways and allow you to breathe more easily if you have blocked sinuses. The board-certified surgeons at ENT of New Orleans use the state-of-the-art operating facilities to do image-guided sinuplasty.

To sum up, ENT of New Orleans has an allergy department with an on-site laboratory to offer a convenient and quick diagnosis of your allergies. If you have allergies in and around the Greater New Orleans area, call or book an appointment online.