
Tens of millions of Americans suffer from undiagnosed allergies. The symptoms can vary from irritating to life-threatening. Whatever the severity of your reaction may be, the truth is many types of allergy symptoms are preventable or easily treated. For that to take place, though, you need to determine the underlying cause of your allergy symptoms: that is, what you are allergic to.
Depending on their cause, symptoms can range from continuous to seasonal, and every patient’s reaction is unique. That makes it hard to diagnose the cause without sound, scientific testing. The expert team at Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates S.C. offers a wide range of specific diagnostic services for patients living with allergy symptoms. At your first appointment, you will go over each test’s benefits and determine the best course of action to get on the path to relief.
What to Expect from Allergy Testing
Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates S.C. works closely with each patient to alleviate symptoms and determine the underlying cause of allergic reactions, mild to severe. They offer a range of tests, including:
- Skin prick – This low impact test can detect the majority of allergies. It’s quick and easy, offering almost immediate results. It involves exposing a minimal amount of potential allergens to the surface of your skin with a painless prick. We then monitor the area to look for reactions. A small bump the size of a mosquito bite will signal an allergic reaction.
- Skin patch – This is another type of skin testing that takes longer than the skin prick test. A small number of potential allergens are placed on the skin and covered with an adhesive patch. You’ll head home and return after two or three days to check for any reaction.
- Blood test – In some cases, a blood test can be an effective method of clarifying skin test results.
- Oral challenge – Most food allergies can be detected with a skin test. When skin test results are inconclusive, a small amount of a suspected allergen may be consumed under close supervision to determine if an allergy is present.
- Lung-function test – We measure lung functionality using a low-impact, sophisticated device. It can be beneficial with diagnosing asthma and a variety of other allergy-induced respiratory issues.
The type of testing you’ll need will depend on your symptoms and your goals. The majority of allergies can be detected using skin testing, and blood or lung-function tests are used only in rare instances. They are, however, easy, low-impact, and very accurate.
Whatever your symptoms, the professionals at Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates S.C. are here to help. They will work closely with you, helping alleviate symptoms while working to determine the underlying cause. They will discuss your goals, lifestyle, and needs with you, making sure you stay in the driver’s seat of your care plan.
Call (847) 888-8802 today to schedule a consultation and find out how we can help you. This number serves offices in both Crystal Lake and Elgin, IL.