How to Diagnosis Allergic Diseases

The severity of allergic diseases can range from being deadly or just annoying, depending on the type and extent of a person's sensitivity to a substance and the way the body reacts to its presence.

To diagnose an allergic disease, an allergist (doctor who specializes in treating allergies) will usually start with a detailed family history. Allergic diseases tend to run in families, so a family history of allergies is an important diagnostic clue. The allergist will also ask the patient about his or her symptoms as well as his or her living and working environment. For instance, if a patient notices a coughing, sneezing, and a stuffy nose whenever he or she is in a room with carpeting, the allergist will want to know that. Carpeting often harbors many different allergens that can make sensitive people sick. If the patient is experiencing digestive problems, the doctor will ask about his or her diet. If a patient is having skin reactions, the doctor will want to know about items the patient comes into contact with.

Next, depending on the patient's symptoms, the doctor may do a skin test. In this test, the patient bares his or her back or forearm and is exposed to a number of different well known allergens through a slight pin prick on the skin. The doctor observes any skin reactions the patient has and makes a note of them as well as the severity of the reaction. The doctor may also draw blood for further testing and, perhaps, have a chest x-ray taken. Natural Remedies for Colds

Another way of finding out about potential sensitivities, particularly when a food allergy is suspected, is avoidance testing. The doctor may prescribe a very strict diet, gradually adding in new foods until the patient has a reaction. If, for example, the patient is allergic to milk, he or she would have a reaction after ingesting something with milk in it. That reaction would tell the patient that he or she should not ingest milk products.

Of course, sometimes allergies are diagnosed during an emergency. Allergic attacks happen when the body's immune system overreacts to an ordinarily harmless substance and sometimes the overreaction can be life threatening. For instance, a small child might have a severe allergic attack after being exposed to peanuts or being stung by a bee. He or she might have had less intense reactions in the past, but the immune system "remembers" past attacks and prepares for them. The next attack might be much more severe, causing an anaphylaxis, which is a reaction that involves two or more body systems. The child would hopefully be rushed to a hospital, where a doctor would diagnose him or her with an allergy. light and dark corn syrup

There are so many different types of allergens and many of them can affect people in different ways. While some allergies just cause seasonal misery, others can be deadly. A visit to an allergist can literally be a lifesaver for those who are exceptionally sensitive to certain substances. But help from an allergist can also be a figurative lifesaver for those who just need help dealing with occasional mild allergies, too.