Have you checked for allergens for allergic rhinitis?

Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 01, 2024
00:00
00:00

Allergic rhinitis is a disease characterized by an allergic reaction to external substances. Since it involves allergies to external substances, it is necessary to identify what triggers the allergy, generally requiring an allergen test. Without testing the causes of allergies, the treatment is merely based on experience or a clinical diagnosis lacking in etiological understanding, which is insufficient from a pathological perspective. Moreover, after identifying the allergens, medication can be tailored according to the allergens, or general advice can be given to the patients, such as avoiding certain allergy-inducing substances. For instance, mangoes are commonly known to trigger allergies, and so are fish and seafood, thus specific guidance can be provided to avoid consuming certain foods.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Hui Ming
Pediatrics
45sec home-news-image

Symptoms of baby food allergies

Babies generally start adding supplementary food between four to six months old. Some children may exhibit symptoms after introducing additional foods, which resemble those caused by allergies. These symptoms primarily appear on the skin, in the oral cavity, digestive tract, and respiratory tract. They might present in one area or multiple areas. The most common symptoms include constipation, bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, and pain. Additionally, manifestations on the skin can include eczema, severe cases may develop urticaria or other types of allergic dermatitis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
35sec home-news-image

Mite allergy symptoms

Dust mites are tiny animals that are generally invisible to the naked eye and can only be seen under a microscope. If a dust mite allergy occurs, it can cause many skin symptoms, such as acne, itching, pigmentation, or erythema, severely affecting the patient's quality of life and appearance. Therefore, if a dust mite allergy is present, it is important to pay attention to personal hygiene and skin cleanliness, and maintain ventilation in the house. Treatment can include the use of anti-allergy medications.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
42sec home-news-image

How to Test for Allergens in Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is considered an autoimmune disease, mainly triggered by the body's immune response after contact with allergens, leading to related clinical symptoms such as itchy nose, runny nose, and sneezing. Generally, it is necessary to conduct an allergen test. Currently, there are mainly two methods for allergen screening. The first is the skin prick test, and the second is a blood test. Both methods are commonly used clinically. Relatively speaking, the skin prick test may induce higher risks of side effects or allergies. Some patients may need to undergo both tests and look at the results comprehensively, but most patients can choose one of the two.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
53sec home-news-image

When is the best time to check for allergens in allergic asthma?

The best time to check for allergens in allergic asthma is still during an asthma attack. At this time, due to the body's strong immune response to external allergens, also referred to as a hypersensitive reaction, checking for allergens can likely yield some positive results. However, there are many methods for screening allergens, such as drawing blood to check for IgE antibodies, or using skin prick tests to assess reactions to different allergens. However, if it is during the acute phase of an asthma attack, it is recommended to use the blood drawing method, which is relatively safer. Using skin prick tests might exacerbate the patient's allergic reaction, and may even lead to an acute asthma attack, or severe asthmatic conditions. Therefore, there are significant considerations to be made when choosing different methods for allergen testing.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
45sec home-news-image

How to identify allergens in allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is a relatively common otolaryngological disease. The main cause is the body's immune response triggered by contact with allergens, leading to an imbalance in the immune status and causing a series of clinical symptoms. Therefore, in terms of treatment, it is first necessary to identify the specific types of allergens. Currently, there are two methods for allergen testing. The first method is ex vivo allergen screening, which involves blood tests. The second method is the skin prick test to identify specific allergens. Both methods are commonly used at present, and generally, choosing one of them is sufficient. However, a subset of patients may need a combination of both tests for a comprehensive assessment.