Allergy is the most common disease among Thai people and can affect all genders and ages. It occurs when the body’s immune system is sensitive to allergens from the surrounding environment. Normally, these substances are harmless to people with a normal immune system, but for those with allergies, they are easily sensitive to airborne allergens such as dust, mold, animal dander, pollen, food, etc. Many allergy patients may still be unsure about what exactly they are allergic to. Therefore, medical professionals have developed allergy tests to help identify the causes of allergies, making it easier for patients to take care of themselves.
When exposed to allergens, these symptoms often appear…
When allergens enter the body by any means, such as inhalation, skin contact, or ingestion, the number one cause found in over 70-80% of cases is dust mite allergy. This causes allergy patients to often experience coughing, sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, watery eyes, itching around the eyes, irritation all over the face, itchy red rashes on the skin, peeling and inflamed skin, or severe allergic reactions such as diarrhea, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing after exposure to allergens. If patients already know what they are allergic to, it will be easier for them to avoid triggers that cause allergic symptoms.
Want to know what you are (allergic) to… find out with this test
To test and help patients know what substances they are allergic to, whether it is food allergies, allergic rhinitis, asthma, or atopic dermatitis, besides diagnosis through history taking and physical examination, patients should also undergo additional allergy testing. There are two types of allergy tests:
- Skin Prick Test: This involves applying extracts of various airborne allergens such as dust, dust mites, animal dander, cockroaches, pollen, mold, etc., to the patient’s skin for testing.
- Blood test for allergen-specific antibodies (Serum Specific IgE): This involves drawing blood to measure the level of immunoglobulin E (IgE) specific to each allergen in detail in the laboratory, allowing doctors to assess which allergens the patient is sensitive to and the severity of the allergy.
Why is finding the cause of allergy from IgE levels better than Skin Prick Test?
The difference between the two tests is
- Blood IgE testing is suitable for patients with skin diseases or those who easily have skin allergic reactions. Patients do not need to stop taking antihistamines before the test. The test takes a short time, requiring only one blood draw to detect multiple allergens. Blood testing is considered safer and less likely to cause systemic allergic reactions, but results may take several days.
- Skin Prick Test results are available within 15-20 minutes, but patients must stop taking antihistamines before the test. There is a risk of severe allergic reactions during the test, and the number of allergens tested is fewer than in blood testing.
