Download Allergies

PATIENT INFORMATION
After obtaining your medical history, your doctor will
conduct a physical exam. He or she will look in your
eyes, ears, and nose, examine your throat, and listen to
your breathing.
Next, your doctor will perform some tests to confirm what
was learned through your history and physical exam. Allergy
tests include skin tests, challenge tests, and blood tests,
among others.
•• Skin (prick or scratch) tests and challenge (food) tests
are usually performed in the office of a doctor who
specializes in diagnosing and treating allergies (allergist).
These tests involve exposing you to suspected allergens
to see if they cause allergic reactions.
•• Blood tests are performed in a lab, and they check
the presence and amount of IgE antibodies to any
suspected allergen(s) in your blood sample. The test
may look for IgE antibodies to a single allergen, like cat
dander, or a group (panel) of allergens, such as food
allergens or inhaled allergens that are common to the
area where you live. Blood testing can tell your doctor
if you have allergies and, if so, what you are allergic to.
This is may be a good approach for testing babies and
young children so their allergies can be identified and
managed at an early stage.
By looking at the completed puzzle—the results of your
history, physical exam, and allergy tests—your doctor
will know what triggers your allergies and can create a
customized treatment plan that may prevent long-term
health problems. Your treatment plan may include one or
more of the following4,8:
•• Strictly avoiding allergy triggers.
•• Taking medication to relieve symptoms, such as a
stuffy nose or difficulty breathing.
•• Receiving allergy shots (immunotherapy) to help
your immune system become less sensitive to the
problem allergen(s).
Allergies and Asthma
Early sensitization to allergens is associated with the later
development of asthma.7 When you are sensitized to an
allergen (like dust mites) and then exposed to this allergen
later in life, it may trigger an asthma attack. Allergies can
trigger asthma attacks in 60-90 % of children and in 50%
of adults.9 Among the most common allergens are house
dust mite, grass pollen, cat dander, and A alternata (plant
fungus).3 A blood test to determine your IgE levels to these
types of allergens is helpful to assess your sensitivity. Once
the allergen(s) that cause your symptoms are determined,
steps can be taken to help you avoid what you are allergic
to and help your doctor decide what, if any, medications
you may need.7,8
References
1. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Allergy overview. AAFA Web site. http://www.
aafa.org/page/allergies.aspx. Accessed April 10, 2017.
2. Fairfax Neonatal Associates, PC - A Neonatal & Pediatrics Subspecialty Group. Allergy and
Immunology FAQ. Available at: https://www.fnapc.com/specialties-services/pulmonologyallergy/allergy-and-immunology/allergy-and-immunology-faq/. Accessed April 10, 2017.
3. Arshad SH, Tariq SM, et al. Sensitization to common allergens and its association with allergic
disorders at age 4 years: a whole population birth cohort study. Pediatrics. 2001;108(2):E33.
4. American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Allergies. ACAAI Web site.
http://acaai.org. Accessed April 11, 2017.
5. Wahn U. The allergic march. World Allergy Organization Web site. http://www.worldallergy.
org/professional/allergic_diseases_center/allergic_march/. Accessed April 10, 2017
6. Zheng T, Yu J, Oh MH, Zhu Z. The atopic march: progression from atopic dermatitis to allergic
rhinitis andasthma. Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Research. 2011;3(2):67-73.
7. Wickman M. When allergies complicate allergies. Allergy. 2005;60 Suppl 79:14–18.
8. Wallace CV, Dykewicz MS, Bernstein DI, Blessing-Moore J, Cox L, Khan DA, et al. The
diagnosis and management of rhinitis: An updated practice parameter. J Allergy ClinImmunol.
2008;122:S1–S84.
9. Kelly WF, Kaliner MA, et al. Allergic and environmental asthma overview of asthma. Available
at: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/137501-overview. Accessed March 28, 2017.
Note: This material is provided for general information purposes
only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice and/or
consultation with a physician or technical expert.
©2017 Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings All rights reserved. L575-0517-7
Allergies
What are
Allergies?
Allergic diseases such as eczema, seasonal allergies,
nut allergies, and allergic asthma, are common health
problems. Allergy symptoms may be bothersome, yet
manageable for some people. Others may be made
miserable by their symptoms or may even be at risk for
life-threatening reactions. Allergies can also lead to other
health conditions, such as asthma, and/or complicate
others, including recurring ear and sinus infections.
Allergy Causes and Symptoms
Allergies develop when your immune system — your
body’s natural defenses — identifies an allergen as a
foreign substance and attacks it. The allergen can be
something you breathe in, eat, touch or get through an
insect sting.1-3
•• The first time you are exposed to the allergen your
immune system makes immunoglobulin E (IgE)
antibodies and releases them into your bloodstream
to defend your body against the allergen. This is
called sensitization.
•• Each thing your body identifies as an allergen will
produce its own antibodies, so if your body identifies
ragweed as an allergen it will create antibodies
specific to ragweed.
•• After you become sensitized, your body will create
allergen-specific antibodies to ragweed every time
you are exposed to it. Over time you will build up
ragweed-specific IgE antibodies until you go beyond
your allergen threshold and start having allergy
symptoms.
Depending on the allergen, allergy symptoms vary and may
include skin rash, headache, sneezing, runny nose, swelling,
nausea, and diarrhea. Anaphylaxis, the most severe reaction,
can be life threatening.4 Allergens that:4
•• are breathed in (inhaled) may cause sneezing; stuffy or
••
••
••
runny nose; red, itchy or watery eyes; itching; wheezing,
coughing, tightness in the chest; or shortness of breath.
come in contact with skin may cause hives or rashes.
are swallowed may cause itching or swelling of the lips and/
or tongue, tightness in the throat, abdominal pain, nausea
and vomiting, and diarrhea. Skin rashes or anaphylaxis may
also develop.
bite or sting, such as insects, may cause pain, redness,
itching, hives and swelling at the site of the bite or sting.
Anaphylaxis may also occur.
Who Gets Allergies?
Allergies tend to be passed down from parents to their children
(inherited), and your risk of developing allergies is greater if
both of your parents have them than if only one parent has
them.2,5,6 You may develop some or all of the same allergies
your parents have or completely different ones.2
Allergic diseases usually first appear in childhood. Studies
suggest that some allergy-prone children develop a series of
specific allergies at certain ages. This “allergic march” usually
starts with eczema appearing during the first 1-3 years of life,
followed by allergic rhinitis (inflammed nasal mucosa), and
finally asthma.5-7
Some children completely outgrow allergies, while others
outgrow some allergies but not others.2,3,6 Diagnosing and
treating allergic diseases as early as possible in young children
may stop the allergic march and may make it less likely that a
child will develop asthma.6-8
How Are Allergies Diagnosed?
Not all symptoms associated with allergies are caused by
allergens. It is important for your doctor to know whether
your symptoms are the result of an allergic response and, if
so, exactly what triggers your symptoms so you can receive
proper treatment.8
Finding the cause of your allergic symptoms is like working
a puzzle. By themselves, the pieces do not mean much, but
together they form a complete picture. First, your doctor
may determine your medical history by asking questions
such as:
•• When did your symptoms start — in childhood, your
teen years, or adulthood?
•• Do you have problems only during certain months?
•• Are your symptoms better or worse during the day or
night, indoors or out?
•• Do any of your relatives have allergies?
•• Do you have pets?
Your doctor will also want to know about foods you
frequently eat, like eggs or milk. Your answers to these and
other questions will give clues as to what your problem
might be.