Overview

Most of us are allergic to something. The reasons for allergies are unclear. It could be a side effect of the living in a relatively sterile environment. It could also be the direct result of levels of pollutants and toxins that we are exposed to everyday. What is known for sure is that more and more people are suffering from allergies and there is a growing need for solutions and ways of managing the symptoms

Asthma
Asthma is a condition that affects the airways to the lungs. Triggers make these airways swell, restricting the flow of air.

Eczema
There is many different types of eczema, ranging from infantile eczema, atopic dermatitis to contact dermatitis.

Dust Mite
Similar to hay fever and now identified to be present as one of the main triggers for asthma and eczema.

Hay Fever
Hay fever is probably the most widely recognised allergy, and pollens are among the most allergic of substances.

Animal Allergy
Animal allergy is an immune reaction to an allergen found in the saliva, dead skin flakes or urine of an animal.

Urticaria
Urticaria, hives or nettle rash, which are a side effect rather than a condition, are red, very itchy, swollen areas of the skin

Psoriasis
Although not an allergy as such, psoriasis can be assisted by many of the methods used for allergies

Mould Allergy
Exposure to mould is widespread and non-seasonal, as moulds grow everywhere; both indoors, such as on window frames and rotting food, and outdoors, with mould on rotting leaves and fungi. Moulds release thousands of microscopic spores into the atmosphere, and it is these spores that cause the allergic reaction in people.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome
MCSS is a chronic condition characterized by multiple symptoms affecting different parts of the body and occurs in response to chemical exposure.

Food Allergy
True food allergy occurs when the immune system overreacts to an ordinarily harmless food, the symptoms ranging from mild to severe.

History

Although asthma was first described at the beginning of the 1st century, and hay fever; and symptoms of nasal allergies have been known since at least the 16th century, modern ideas of allergy date back only to 1890. At that time, the German physician von Behring; described patients who had reactions to diphtheria antiserum; from horses.

Some patients broke out in a rash and developed a transient arthritis, but a rare few succumbed to fatal shock. Subsequent work by Richet; and Arthus; established a distinction between mild reactions, known as anaphylaxis.
Greater understanding of the cellular and molecular bases of these reactions has allowed their mechanisms, and their fundamental relationship to asthma and other allergies, to be discerned. Today, the advent of bio-engineered proteins promises the development of safe, specific therapies for allergy sufferers in the not-too-distant future.

Benefits

Benefits of Food and Inhalant Allergy Testing

• Identifies allergies in order to eliminate the offensive food and inhalants
• Sometimes eliminating the allergy can lead to increased appetite
• Eliminating allergies can sometimes lead to improvements of symptoms

Procedures

Allergy Testing is covered and considered medically necessary for patients:

• Whose history and/or physical examination indicate an allergy such as allergic rhinitis; atopic asthma; eczema; in certain cases allergic reaction to venom, chemicals, or food (e.g., shellfish), or
• Who have atopic dermatitis of uncertain etiology, or
• Who need Challenge Testing to diagnose allergies to foods, drugs, chemicals, or other allergens

The following allergy testing modalities are covered when medically necessary and performed by, or under the direct supervision of a physician:

In-Vivo Testing

Direct Skin Testing for immediate hypersensitivity
The patient is exposed to various substances suspected to be the offending antigen via the placement of small quantities of the substance on or under the skin. The patient is then monitored for localised symptoms (redness and swelling) associated with an allergic reaction.

Percutaneous (Scratch, Prick, Puncture)
In percutaneous testing, the suspected antigen(s) are placed in the skin via small scratches, pricks, or punctures with a sharp instrument.

Intradermal
In intradermal testing, the suspected antigen(s) are injected via a needle and syringe just under the skin.

Patch (Or Application Test)
In patch testing, a small bandage is soaked in a solution containing the suspected antigen and is secured to the surface of the patient’s skin with adhesive tape.

Challenge Testing

Bronchial
This procedure is performed with aeroallergens or other chemical substances such as histamine, methacholine, and volatile chemicals encountered at home, school, or work.

Nasal
This test provides measurements of changes in nasal airway resistance and is seldom used because of the costly instrumentation required. The more commonly known sniff test which a visual assessment of mucosal swelling and rhinorrhea is made after a small amount of dry pollen has been inhaled, is no longer in general use.

Conjunctival
Conjunctival testing is performed by placing an allergenic extract into the conjunctival sac of the eye followed by observation for redness, itchiness, tearing of the eye, and other similar symptoms.

Leukocyte Histamine Release
This test measures the amount of histamine coming from white blood cells and is used mainly for studies of allergy.

Rebuck Skin Window Test
In this test the skin is scraped and the allergen is dropped on top. The reaction to the allergen is measured. This test is used mainly for studies of allergy.

Source of information: www.allergymatters.com | www.greatplainslaboratory.com | www.healthstudies.com