How to identify allergens in allergic rhinitis

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 27, 2024
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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.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Do you need to check for allergens for allergic rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis is a type of hypersensitivity disease. The first thing we need to know about allergic rhinitis is that it requires allergen testing. Traditionally, the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is based on clinical symptoms, without involving etiological diagnosis. Testing for allergens is aimed at diagnosing based on its etiology. Secondly, we need to be aware of the allergens responsible for allergic rhinitis, which include food allergies and asthma-related allergies. By identifying food allergens, we can avoid consuming these substances in daily life. For instance, if one is allergic to fish and seafood, they should avoid eating these foods. Similarly, if allergic to mangoes, one should also avoid mangoes. Thus, overall, it is necessary to identify the sources of allergens in allergic rhinitis.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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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.

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Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
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Symptoms of alcohol allergy shock

Patients with an allergy to alcohol can experience allergic shock, exhibiting symptoms like chest tightness, palpitations, a sensation of throat blockage, breathing difficulties, and a flushed face. Additional symptoms include dry mouth, dizziness, blurred vision, numbness in the face and limbs, and circulatory system failure, indicated by chills, cold sweats, cyanosis, restlessness, a weak pulse, and even a drop in blood pressure. Some patients may also experience loss of consciousness, coma, convulsions, and incontinence. Due to the alcohol allergy, patients may show allergic reactions like skin itching, hives, or other rashes. A minority of patients may also have abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, sneezing, and fever.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Can an allergic cough be cured by staying away from the allergen?

Allergic cough is a very common type of cough clinically, with many complex triggers. Some triggers may be related to exposure to allergens in the environment, while others may be due to oral medications or certain foods that cause an allergic cough. Therefore, depending on the different triggers, some cases of allergic cough might persist even after removing the allergen, as the severity of allergic cough varies. For mild allergic coughs, some patients may see gradual improvement in symptoms shortly after avoiding the allergen. However, most patients with allergic cough might continue to experience a persistent dry cough even after avoiding the allergen.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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How long will it take for allergic asthma to improve after avoiding allergens?

Allergen-induced asthma is a very common disease in clinical practice. The recovery time after exposure to allergens varies from person to person. Some patients, who are less sensitive to certain allergens, usually experience gradual improvement in symptoms after avoiding the allergen, which may take two to three hours. However, some allergens may cause more severe allergic asthma attacks, in which case medication is necessary to manage the symptoms. Commonly, appropriate use of anti-allergy medication and drugs to relieve bronchospasm are required for relief. Therefore, the severity of allergic asthma symptoms caused by different allergens and the individual’s physical constitution varies. Thus, the recovery time after exposure to allergens varies from person to person.