According to the WHO, up to 75% of the population suffers from various allergic reactions. There may be even more people with allergies, but some are lucky enough not to encounter "their" allergen during their lifetime. What should you do if you notice symptoms of allergies?

Is it an allergy?

Many people know that allergies are manifested by a runny nose, tearing, and itchy rashes on the skin. Additionally, there are several other signs including nausea, digestive disorders, peeling and reddening of certain areas of the skin, difficulty breathing in and out, frequent sneezing, itching in the nose and throat, conjunctivitis, swelling of mucous membranes, and swelling of the face and hands.

What tests should I take?

If you have a suspicion that your symptoms are due to an allergen, it is worth undergoing diagnostics to understand who your hidden enemy is. The first thing to take under the care of a doctor is a blood test for eosinophils and immunoglobulin E. The results of this will show whether or not you have an allergic reaction in your body. You will not be able to identify a specific allergen, but it is worth starting there. 

The normal values for immunoglobulin E are:

- Children under 1 year old - up to 15 IU/mL

- Children under 10 years of age - up to 90 IU/mL

- Adolescents under 16 years of age - up to 200 IU/mL

- Adults age 16 and over - up to 100 IU/mL

The normal value of eosinophils is less than 500 units/μL.

The next test that your doctor is likely to do is a skin test. To identify a specific allergen, a skin reaction to contact with it is tested. The test is typically performed in several stages: first the reaction to the most common allergens (e.g. pollen) is tested, and depending on the body's response specific types of this type of allergen are selected (elm, maple, willow and more.

NOTE: These two methods are not used in acute allergies, since the body can give false-positive reactions when it is agitated.

 

After taking the tests, you should consult an allergist-immunologist with the results to develop an allergy control method.