Allergies are very common and rapidly increasing in Australia, they affect around 1 in 3 people at some time in their lives.

There are many causes and symptoms of allergens, which can range from mild to life threatening.

Allergy symptoms occur when your immune system overreacts to an allergen something that usually is harmless, such as plant pollen, dust mites, moulds, insect stings or food. If you have an allergy, your immune system acts as if the allergen were dangerous, releasing IgE antibodies to fight off the allergen by mistake even though the allergen is normally harmless.

These are the antibodies that are measured in an IgE allergy test. An IgE allergy test is a type of blood test used to diagnose allergic reactions. The test exposes a sample of your blood to a range of suspected allergens and measures the amount of antibodies which may be triggering your allergic reaction. The blood test measures the actual quantity of IgE antibodies you have for each specific allergen. One allergy blood test can check for dozens of different allergens at one time.

See the information at the end of this section for the IgE allergy tests that we offer.

 

Allergy symptoms will vary depending on the type of allergen.

Some common triggers to allergies are:-

1. Food
2. Skin
3. Dust mite and cockroaches
4. Pets
5. Moulds
6. Insect sting
7. Drugs
8. Latex
9. Hay fever

Some details on each of these triggers follows below…..
 

1. Food Allergy Symptoms

Symptoms of an allergic reaction may involve the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, the cardiovascular system and the respiratory tract. They can surface in one or more of the following ways:

Vomiting and/or stomach cramps
Hives
Shortness of breath
Wheezing
Repetitive cough
Shock or circulatory collapse
Tight, hoarse throat; trouble swallowing
Swelling of the tongue, affecting the ability to talk or breathe
Weak pulse
Pale or blue coloring of skin
Dizziness or feeling faint
Anaphylaxis seek urgent medical attention

 

2. Skin Allergy Symptoms
Your skin may become dry, red, irritated, itchy. Sometimes, especially when infected, your skin may have small, fluid-filled bumps that ooze a clear or yellowish liquid
red bumps or welts
rash, blisters, itching and burning
 

3. Dust Mite Allergy Symptoms

Sneezing
Runny or stuffy nose
Red, itchy or teary eyes
Wheezing, coughing, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath
Itching

 

4. Pet Allergy Symptoms

Sneezing
Runny or stuffy nose
Facial pain (from nasal congestion)
Coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and wheezing
Watery, red or itchy eyes

 

5. Insect Sting Symptoms

Pain
Redness
Swelling (in area of sting and sometimes beyond)
Flushing
Hives
Itching
Anaphylaxis seek urgent medical attention

 

6. Drug Allergy Symptoms

Skin rash
Hives
Itching
Wheezing or other breathing problems
Swelling
Anaphylaxis seek urgent medical attention

 

7. Mold Allergy Symptoms

Sneezing;
Runny or stuffy nose;
Itchy throat or inside of ears;
Hives;
Swollen eyelids and itchy eyes
Coughing
Wheezing
Trouble breathing

 

8. Hayfever Allergy Symptoms – (allergic rhinitis)
Allergic rhinitis takes two different forms:
 
Seasonal:

Symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis can occur in spring, summer and early fall. They are usually caused by allergic sensitivity to airborne mold spores or to pollens from grass, trees and weeds.

 
Perennial:

People with perennial allergic rhinitis experience symptoms year-round. It is generally caused by dust mites, pet hair or dander, cockroaches or mold. Underlying or hidden food allergies rarely cause perennial nasal symptoms

 

Some people may experience both types of rhinitis, with perennial symptoms getting worse during specific pollen seasons. There are also nonallergic causes for rhinitis

9. Hay Fever Symptoms

Runny nose
Itchy eyes, mouth or skin
Sneezing
Stuffy nose due to blockage or congestion
Fatigue (often reported due to poor quality sleep as a result of nasal obstruction)

 

How can we help ?

 
Our approach at Centro Health is a conservative one. Dealing with allergies is like a voyage of discovery – firstly we suggest testing to see or confirm what might be causing your allergic reaction. Once known then we can suggest strategies to minimise future incidences.

To commence this process we offer a comprehensive range of IgE laboratory tests for up to 200 common allergens.
 

Testing Options:

Fast Simple Testing for up to 200 Common Allergies

If you suspect that you have an allergy, an IgE allergy test can quickly identify precisely what is triggering your allergic reaction and causing your symptoms.

An allergy is an over-reaction of the immune system, your body’s natural defence system. True allergy occurs when your body responds as though it’s under attack, releasing IgE antibodies to ‘fight off’ the allergen by mistake, even though the allergen is normally harmless. These are the antibodies that are measured in an IgE allergy test.

Allergic reactions are often triggered by food like peanuts, shellfish and milk, and inhaled allergens such as dust, pollen and pet dander.

Allergy symptoms typically appear within minutes to two hours after you have been exposed to the allergen. This is one of the differences between fast-onset allergies and food intolerances, which tend to have a delayed onset.

What Is An IgE Allergy Test?

An IgE allergy test is a type of blood test used to diagnose allergic reactions. The test exposes a sample of your blood to a range of suspected allergens and measures the amount of antibodies which may be triggering your allergic reaction.

The blood test measures the actual quantity of IgE antibodies you have for each specific allergen.

One allergy blood test can check for dozens of different allergens at one time.

How Is An Allergy Test Performed?

You give a small blood sample.
The blood sample is analysed by subjecting it to tests for a range of suspected allergens.
The results indicate how sensitive you are to each allergen on a 0 (negative) to 6 (extremely high sensitivity) scale.

What Allergen Types Can You Be Tested For ?

Many clients opt for testing in one of four standard testing panels. Panels allow you to test for up to 20 allergens in one simple test. Please discuss with us which allergens would be most appropriate in your case.

(For information on testing particular allergens, also please contact us.)