Your body is a complex network of systems that all try to keep you going. When one system stops working properly, it can adversely affect the functioning of many other systems. Your immune system, for example, is designed to prevent viruses, bacteria, and other invaders from harming you. When that part of the body stops working properly, it can lead to many problems, including allergies.
More than 50 million Americans struggle with some type of allergy, and depending on how bad a reaction is, it can keep you from going to work or doing basic things at home. Allergy testing is an important way to help find out what’s triggering your problems, and if you’ve never had one, it’ll be good to know what to expect and what happens after it’s finished.
The team of doctors at Lake Grove ENT can help residents of the Lake Oswego area with allergies and other problems affecting their ears, nose, and throat.
The substances that cause you to have an allergic reaction are known as allergens and are generally harmless. You react the way you do because your immune system assumes the substance is a threat, and that can come from particles in the environment (dust, mold, pollen, pet dander), the food you eat (dairy products, nuts, wheat, soy), bites from insects, or many other sources.
Other allergens include medications and latex. An allergic reaction can present many different symptoms, including rash, itching, nausea, vomiting, runny nose, breathing problems, swelling, wheezing, and dizziness.
To isolate the allergen causing your issues, two common forms of allergy tests are done.
This method consists of several different techniques for detecting airborne, contact, and food allergens. The scratch test involves placing the allergen in a liquid and scratching it into the skin with a specialized device. The intradermal test involves injecting the allergen and monitoring the results, while the patch test involves applying adhesive patches.
These are used for extreme reactions or when skin tests aren’t an option. When the blood is drawn it gets tested for antibodies (IgE antibodies play a major role in allergic reactions) to confirm how your body reacts to specific allergens.
The results of skin tests will depend on the type that’s done. Scratch and intradermal tests will show pretty quickly, and we’ll be able to assess allergies before you leave the office. Patch tests can take several days to get some answers. Once any of these are done, how your skin responds will determine a positive or negative result, which may come in the form of swelling or a rash.
If you’re getting a blood test, you will wait a few days to get answers on what you’re allergic to. You generally get this test after exhibiting symptoms relevant to specific allergens; otherwise, the results will not be as reliable. This is done for allergic issues like insect bites or allergic rhinitis, especially if extreme signs like anaphylaxis are present.
The results of an allergy test will depend on several factors, but whatever the results, we can help you cope with your allergies. Make an appointment with the team at Lake Grove ENT today to get an allergy test and find out what substance is making you miserable.
