Do you have any allergies? Let's see how to find out exactly what they are (Allergy Testing)

Do you also get itchy when you eat certain foods? Or do you sneeze when you smell dust? Sometimes these things can be signs of an allergy. So if your doctor suspects this, he or she will probably refer you to an allergist to get a proper diagnosis. Today, we will talk about allergy testing.

What is the doctor asking you?

Okay, now when you go to see this allergist, he will first ask you a few questions. These questions are to get a better understanding of your condition. Let's see what they will ask:

• "What symptoms are you experiencing?" That is, do you get hives after eating that food? Do you have a sore throat? Do you have difficulty breathing? Or do you sneeze or have red eyes? You should tell us everything you feel. Even if it's a small thing, it can be important.
• "How often do these symptoms occur?" Every day? About once a week? Or rarely? This will help the doctor understand how much this is affecting your life.
• "How soon after eating a certain food do these symptoms start?" Some people may feel sick within minutes of eating. For others, it may be hours later. It's important to be precise about this. For example, if you ate some peanuts and felt sick within 10 minutes, tell your doctor .
• "Does anyone in the family have allergies? Or do they have conditions like eczema or asthma?" Some allergies can run in families. So this information is important for them too. If your mother, father, or siblings have these problems, tell them.

In addition to these questions, the doctor can also ask you about the medications you take and your lifestyle. Tell him everything without fear or hesitation. That way, it will be easier to diagnose the exact illness.

What are these skin tests?

After asking you for these details, your doctor will likely decide to do a skin test. This is the easiest method often used to diagnose allergies.

Simply put, this is what happens:

The doctor or nurse will put a very small amount of something (we call it an allergen) on the skin of your hand or back that they think you might be allergic to. Think of it as a little bit of pollen, or a little bit of some kind of food. Then, they will make a very small scratch or a small prick with the tip of a needle. This won't hurt much, will it? It'll feel like a small mosquito bite.

After that, you have to wait about 15 minutes to see what happens.

If you're allergic to something, the area where you scratched it will turn red, swell a little, and start to itch, just like a mosquito bite.

If your doctor thinks you may be allergic to more than one thing, or if it's not clear what exactly you're allergic to, you can test your skin by placing several allergens on it at once.

After this skin test, you may feel some itching in the areas where the test was performed for a while. This is normal. Don't worry about it. The doctor will probably give you a medicine (an antihistamine) or an ointment (a steroid cream) to reduce the itching.

What if a skin test for food is ``Positive''?

Imagine that you had a skin test to see if you were allergic to peanuts and it came back ``Positive``, meaning that you got red and itchy as described. That only means that you may be allergic to that food. It is not 100% certain. In such cases, the doctor may decide to do some more tests.

What other tests are done to detect allergies?

In addition to skin tests, there are other ways to check for allergies.

Blood Tests

To find out exactly whether you have an allergy to a particular food, your doctor may also order a blood test. This involves taking a very small sample of your blood and sending it to a lab.

There, they look for antibodies called ``IgE antibodies'' in your blood that are produced against specific foods. If you have a lot of these ``IgE antibodies'' against a certain food, it is very likely that you are allergic to that food.

Most of the time, doctors use both skin tests and blood tests to come to a conclusion about a food allergy.

Food Challenge Test

Imagine that the skin test and blood test still haven't given a clear answer. At that point, the doctor may decide to do a test called a ``Food Challenge''. This is a slightly different type of test.

What happens in this is that you are given gradually increasing amounts of the food you suspect you are allergic to. All of this happens under the supervision of a doctor. He or she watches to see if you develop any symptoms.

This is very important: Because food allergies can cause very serious reactions in some people, this ``Food Challenge`` test should only be performed in a place where a doctor is present, either in their office or in a hospital. Because, in the event of a sudden severe allergic reaction, the necessary medications and specialist help should be available there.

Often, this type of test is done to see if someone has outgrown a previous allergy. For example, a child who was allergic to milk as a child can do a ``Food Challenge'' to see if it is still there when they are a little older.

Okay, what if a test confirms that you have an allergy?

Imagine, after all those tests, you finally find out that you're allergic to something. Now, don't worry, okay? It's not the end of the world.

Your doctor will work with you to create a plan to keep you safe. These treatments depend on the type of allergy you have.

• For those with environmental allergies , such as dust and pollen, you may need to stay as far away from things that aggravate your symptoms as possible, use certain medications, or get allergy shots.
• For someone with a food allergy , the doctor will tell you what foods you should not eat, how to identify them, and how to avoid them. This is something you need to be a little careful about. When buying food from the store, when reading the label on a package, you need to be careful about these things.

Also, your doctor will prescribe you a medicine called epinephrine to use in an emergency. You should always keep this with you, and use it if you have a severe allergic reaction. Your doctor will also teach you how to use it.

So, what's the most important thing to remember? (Take-Home Message)

Allergies can be a bit of a nuisance. But, once you figure out exactly what you're allergic to, you can control it and live a normal life.

• If you suspect you have an allergy, be sure to see a doctor. He or she will be the one to guide you properly.
• Answer the doctor's questions truthfully. Don't hide anything, even the smallest thing.
• Don't be afraid of allergy tests. They are usually not very painful.
• If you are diagnosed with an allergy, follow your doctor's instructions exactly. It is very important for your safety.
• Always carry emergency epinephrine , especially if you have a food allergy, and know exactly how to use it.

So, I hope you have some idea about these allergy tests. Remember, you are not alone. Doctors are there to help you.

Allergies, allergy tests, skin tests, blood tests, IgE antibodies, food challenge test, epinephrine