Symptoms

Most allergic reactions are manifested by watery and itchy eyes, a runny nose, and itchy skin or sneezing.  Rashes are very common and usually itch.  Swelling may also occur is small areas of the skin or in larger areas under the skin.  This may be serious depending on which areas of the body are affected.  Allergens are known to trigger attacks of asthma while Anaphylactic reactions are allergic reactions that are life threatening.  The allergic reactions may affect many parts of the body at once which can cause airways to construct and blood vessels to dilate.  This will then cause wheezing and the blood pressure to fall abruptly.

Allergy diagnosis requires skill, planning and constant and close cooperation between the doctor and the patient. The doctor usually starts by taking a detailed history regarding the patient’s work and home environment, eating habits and family medical history.  The information provides clues that will help pinpoint the problem.

A physical examination and a series of laboratory test may be performed.  The most commonly used is the Allergy Skin Test which introduces small amounts of the possible allergens into the skin.  A welt, swelling or inflammation on the area indicates a positive reaction or the presence of allergic antibodies.  Antihistamine should not be taken before the test as they suppress reaction to the test.

For cases where skin tests cannot be used such as when the skin rash is widespread, a test that measures the blood levels of different types of Immunoglobin E that are specific to particular allergies can be done.  When food allergy is suspected, the patient will be asked to keep a daily food dairy listing of all food and medication ingested.  The patient is at times requested to follow a special diet.  These are all done to help the doctor identify the allergens as the cure would depend on knowing what specific substance is causing the allergic condition.