Allergy Diagnostics: Specialists and Information

Allergy diagnostics encompasses all procedures aimed at determining the cause of allergic symptoms.

The field of allergology includes, for example,

• allergic rhinitis, commonly known as “hay fever,”
• hives, and
• so-called contact allergies. Potential triggers include foods as well as allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and animal dander.

Based on the allergy diagnosis, appropriate treatment follows, which helps the affected person achieve a better quality of life.

The allergist is the point of contact for diagnosis and for initiating the necessary therapeutic steps. Ideally, your primary care physician already has this specialized training. Some

• pulmonologists,
• ENT specialists,
• dermatologists, and
• pediatricians

have the appropriate additional training.

Typical allergy symptoms that require you to consult your doctor as soon as possible include

• sneezing,
• cough,
• runny nose,
• reddened and swollen mucous membranes,
• pustule formation,
• breathing difficulties,
• itchy, watery, and/or burning eyes, as well as
• a tingling sensation in the nose and throat.

A wide variety of different substances can act as triggers. Fundamentally, an allergy is always a defensive reaction of the body’s immune system. It reacts to contact with incompatible, mostly harmless substances. The body classifies these substances as dangerous and responds with symptoms ranging from mild to life-threatening, depending on the severity.

Prompt action is especially important in children. The risk of the condition becoming chronic—particularly the development of asthma—is especially high in children. This also applies to the risk of the symptoms spreading from a single allergy to a variety of allergic reactions.

In addition, children are particularly susceptible to allergies because their immune systems are still underdeveloped. This applies especially to food allergies. In the majority of cases, however, these allergies disappear by adulthood.

Common risk factors—or even causes—of allergies include

• a weakened immune system resulting from an unhealthy lifestyle,
• medication use, and
• genetic predisposition.

Accordingly, children whose parents suffer from allergies are at particularly high risk. People who come into contact with potential allergens regularly and/or over a prolonged period of time are also prone to developing allergies.

The concept of sensitization or “hardening” also appears to play a role in susceptibility to allergies. Studies show that city children develop allergies more frequently than children from rural areas.

The number of patients suffering from pollen allergies, for example, is increasing dramatically. This is attributed to changes in climate and environmental conditions.

The foundation of allergy diagnosis is the medical history interview with the doctor, during which you describe your symptoms or those of your child. The doctor will also ask you questions about your medical history. Among other things, similar symptoms in family members are taken into account.

If the doctor suspects an allergy, relevant diagnostic procedures will follow. You can read about these here.

The Prick Test

In a prick test, a small amount of the suspected substance is introduced into the skin using a lancet.

A comprehensive test is particularly common. In this case, the doctor tests not just for one substance, but for several common allergens at once, such as

• foods,
• insect stings,
• animal dander,
• house dust mites,
• pollen, etc.

Solutions produced using molecular techniques and containing various allergens are used for this purpose.

This is followed by a waiting period of 15 to 20 minutes. That is how long it takes for a reaction to the allergens to occur.

If the skin reddens during this time or wheals form at the prick site, the result is positive. This means that you do indeed have an allergy to one or more of the substances tested.

The patch test

This test is used to investigate suspected contact allergies to certain

• chemical compounds,
• preservatives, and/or
• fragrances.

To do this, the respective substances are applied to the upper back using a patch.

The first reading of the results is taken after 48 hours, and the second after an additional 24 hours.

The Basophil Stimulation Test (BST)

This procedure, also known as CAST (“Cellular Antigen Stimulation Test”), is a complementary method to

• medical history,
• epicutaneous testing, and
• other methods for determining specific IgE antibodies.

The immediate test is primarily used to diagnose intolerances to

• certain additives,
• bee and wasp venom, and
• medications.

Doctors also use it to screen for pseudoallergies to chemical substances such as X-ray contrast agents, lectins, etc.

The specific target group includes, among others, young children and people suspected of having a medication intolerance.

An alternative to this procedure is a blood test that checks for the presence of IgE antibodies.

The blood test (RAST test)

The so-called RAST test is performed in a laboratory. It provides information about the presence of antibodies in the blood, which in turn indicate specific allergens.

The test result shows whether your immune system has already developed antibodies against the respective allergen as a result of previous exposure.

The results of allergy testing determine whether therapeutic measures are initiated.

If an allergy is present, specific immunotherapy (SIT) is often used. It is designed to strengthen the immune system so that it can better tolerate specific allergens in the future.

The focus is on the substances identified by the diagnosis as the cause of the allergic reaction. The chances of success for this treatment method are rated as “very good.”

As a preventive measure, experts recommend generally strengthening the immune system through an overall healthy lifestyle.