The Viennese pediatrician Clemens von Pirquet discovered the word "allergy" in 1906. He called this phenomenon "allergy", from the Greek words allos meaning "other" and ergon meaning "work."
The immune system of a person with an allergy tries to combat allergens. It’s a part of everyday life - house dust, pollen, animal dander, and mold. It’s important for people to educate themselves on how allergies work and what causes them because it’s the only way to find the solution to the problem.
Did you know that allergies are a very common disorder and more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergic diseases. Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic disease in the United States. In fact, 60% of people with allergies are said to develop asthma as well.
Allergens are classified in four categories based on where they have come from. By knowing these four classifications of allergens, a person could identify where and what he or she is allergic too.
The classifications of allergens are: physical, biological, mental, and chemical. All four resources trigger even the slightest allergy in the human body. There are some people that react to these allergens while others do not even realize they are having an allergic reaction.
Physical.
Allergens can come from technological devices such as infrared, microwaves and radio, atomic radiation, visible light, X-rays, ultraviolet light, etc. These allergens can bring on an allergic reaction to an individual whenever they get in contact with any of these devices.
Biological sources.
Allergens can come from infections, food and beverages, plant and animal proteins, etc. Biological sources are the main resource of allergens. The known culprits are the animal proteins in the animal dander or flakes of dead skin, urine, or saliva of the animal. These proteins are usually spread throughout the house wherever a pet roams. A person who is allergic to these kinds of allergens will have an allergic attack because of the remains of the animal’s proteins even if there is no animal present in the room.
Metal sources.
This usually happens when the allergens are too excessive that it devastates the immune system. The immune system is having difficulty coping with its normal function. This is why excessive emotions can also trigger an asthma attack, a known disease caused by allergies.
Chemical resources.
These are people who are allergic to some types of medications. It is extremely important to test the product first before administering it to the patient to avoid more serious problems that might even cause death.
It’s definitely important to know these causes of allergies to avoid further problems. The first step is to figure out what the allergic reaction is caused by. After this has been figured out, stay away from the allergen as much as possible.
There are people who are not yet aware of what causes their allergies and this can cause serious trouble. There are also people who do not know that they have allergens already in there home and do not know how to combat them. For this reason, it is important for a person to submit to an allergy test, especially those who are showing visible signs of allergic reaction. This is when an allergy test can yield much useful information. Normally, if a person is having persistent allergic symptoms, has worked with his or her doctor but can’t isolate the allergen. It is a good idea to see an allergist, getting tested, and find out what the allergens are.
Having an allergy test is simple. Its skin testing, that is scratching or pricking the skin in order for the allergen to be introduced under the skins surface. The skin is observed closely for signs of a reaction, usually swelling and redness of the site. Results are usually obtained within about 20 minutes, and several suspected allergens can be tested at the same time.
A similar method involves injection of a small amount of allergen under the surface of the skin and watching for a reaction at the site. Skin tests are most useful for respiratory allergies, penicillin allergy, insect bite allergies, and food testing.
For testing food allergies -- suspected foods are eliminated from the diet for several weeks and then gradually re-introduced one at a time while the person is observed for signs of an allergic reaction.
While this is useful for mild allergic reactions, it must be undertaken carefully in individuals with suspected severe reactions to foods. Blood tests are a safer approach. Of note, skin testing is almost never performed to detect food allergies for the same reason of the higher risk of causing a severe allergic reaction.
It is essential that you not take antihistamines prior to the test. This may lead to a false-negative result, falsely reassuring you that a substance is unlikely to cause a severe allergic reaction. Your doctor will tell you which medicines to avoid and when to stop taking them before the test.
