Allergies

Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to a substance that it deems as dangerous. The truth of the matter is that most of these substances are actually harmless, but the reactions your immune system causes can actually be quite dangerous. Diagnosing and treating allergies is usually a simple process, and there is a wide variety of different treatments available to you depending on the allergy you suffer from.

Diagnosing Allergies

There are several different tests available to help doctors determine whether or not you are allergic to a particular substance. Some of these tests include:

Skin Tests
• Skin Prick Test – This test is completed by placing a drop of water containing the allergen you believe to be allergic to on the skin. Then, the skin is slightly scratched on pricked, and the doctor waits to see if a reaction occurs. If allergy is present, the skin will turn red, puff out, or begin to experience itchiness or slight discoloration.
• Intradermal Test – During an intradermal skin test, a small amount of the allergen solution that is usually used in the prick test will be injected into the skin. This test is usually done if no definite results are offered from the prick test, but the allergen is still believed to be the cause of your symptoms.
• Skin Patch Test – The skin patch test is much like the skin prick test in that a solution is applied to the skin, only with the patch test it is first applied to a pad, which is then placed on the skin. The doctor will look for an allergic reaction present on the skin to determine whether or not that particular allergen is the cause.

Blood Test

Your physician may also suggest that he perform a blood test to determine whether or not you are allergic to a particular allergen. In this test, the doctor is specifically looking for substances contained within the blood called antibodies. The doctor will then measure the presence of said antibodies in the blood. Heightened levels of these antibodies can determine whether or not you are suffering from allergy.

Related posts:

1. What Are Children Allergies? Research shows that every 2 in 5 children suffer from...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.