Why should perform an allergy test?

"My son was 7 years old, from three months to suffer with itchy bumps, bumps on the skin. If food allergies are given drugs physicians, the complaint disappeared. But once the drug is stopped, the bumps, bumps on the skin comes back.

According to doctors, disorders suffered by my child is hives. Doctors recommend to avoid foods that contain shrimp, crab, and nuts. He also should not drink beverages that contain preservatives.

All the doctor's advice had been followed, but the bumps, bumps on the skin still comes back. That doctors recommend to my child tested for allergies at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital.

What are the benefits these tests? How the test procedure? "

Allergy tests are able to support to determine the cause of allergies. But this new test can be used when it's done a thorough interview about the occurrence of hives in your child. So for example in the history of the disease arise obtained hives after eating peanuts and tests showed positive results on peanut allergens, then it can be concluded because of the possibility of hives nuts.

On the contrary may happen, positive allergy tests to shrimp, whereas those who tested allergy when eating shrimp allergies did not arise. In this situation, allergy tests can not support the cause of allergies. In addition to allergy testing is usually performed in the arm, can also be performed laboratory tests to determine the allergens causing allergic attack.

This examination is only time consuming and more expensive cost. Allergy tests in the form of puncture tests (prick test) can be seen the results in 15 minutes. The principle of this test is a substance suspected allergens (in liquid form) dropped on the arm and puncture performed on the droplets.

If the patient is allergic to one ingredient, it will appear swollen and red. Bumps the size of the patient described the degree of sensitivity to these allergens. Usually this allergy test can be performed in children over the age of 4 years. This test can not be done if there are abnormalities in the skin area to be tested. These tests also can not be done when the patient was in a state of pregnancy.

To avoid the influence of drugs that can reduce allergic reactions in these tests, the drugs belonged to antihistamines should not be taken before the test. So allergy tests can help, but not sure the cause of allergies.

The principle of allergy treatment is to avoid allergens, treating the symptoms with allergy medications, as well as immune therapy to reduce sensitivity to allergens. For hives, if the cause can be known, then the cause should be avoided. When a child to a food allergen, so the food should be avoided.

To eliminate the symptoms of hives, may be prescribed antihistamines groups. In general, to treat hives immune therapy is not necessary.