Allergies affect millions of Americans. In fact, they’re the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the country, with a wide range of mild to life-threatening symptoms. Michael Akpeke, MD, at Delta Internal Medicine Center in Downtown Orlando, Florida, offers men and women comprehensive allergy testing to find out which environmental and dietary factors provoke reactions. Find out what your allergies are. Get in touch with the office today by phone or through the online booking tool.
407-985-1940Allergy Testing Q & A
What are the most common allergies?
Allergies refer to the strong reaction of your immune system to a certain substance, otherwise called an allergen. Your body’s reaction to these allergens depends on how intolerant it is of it. There are multiple types of allergies. The most common ones include:
- Airborne allergens
- Contact allergens
- Food allergies
- Insect stings
- Medication
Dr. Akpeke runs diagnostics to determine which one affects you.
What symptoms occur during an allergic reaction?
In most cases, an allergic reaction exhibits the following symptoms:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Congested nose
- Watery eyes
- Itchy eyes, nose, or mouth
- Skin rashes
- Hives
- Diarrhea
- Wheezing and dizziness
If you’re going into anaphylactic shock, you’ll most likely experience swelling in your tongue, lips, and throat. You should seek immediate medical attention.
What is allergy testing?
Allergy testing is integral to identifying the substances to which you’re allergic. Dr. Akpeke uses two main types of allergy tests: skin prick tests and blood tests.
Skin prick test
During the test, Dr. Akpekes administers a small number of allergens on your skin, most often on your arm or back. If your skin starts to react to the allergen, it means that you’re allergic.
Even though skin prick tests are generally safe for both children and adults, Dr. Akpeke might opt for a different kind of test if you:
- Take medication that can affect the results of the test
- Have ever had anaphylactic reactions to allergens
- Have pre-existing skin conditions
Blood test
Blood tests allow your doctor to determine the levels of antibodies your immune system produces to protect itself from up to 10 common allergens. Dr. Akpeke might also use an allergy blood test to track the number of white blood cells in your system, which typically increases during an allergic reaction.
How do you treat allergies?
If you suffer from a food allergy, stay away from the food you know is causing the allergic reaction. Dr. Akpeke might give you an epinephrine pen if you come in contact with the food allergen and have a severe reaction.
Dr. Akpeke might also recommend antihistamines, decongestants, and topical corticosteroids to treat mild allergies and alleviate your symptoms.
He might also suggest immunotherapy to relieve and eliminate your allergic reaction through regular allergen injections. Immunotherapy is designed to increase your tolerance to allergens.
Whether they’re mild or severe, allergies can take over your life. Contact the office today by phone or online to learn more about allergy testing and treatment.