An allergy doctor near Birmingham, AL can treat allergies and other immune disorders, and they can treat chronic respiratory conditions like asthma. They help both children and adults.
How Are Allergies Diagnosed?
The
doctor can administer a variety of tests to determine a patient’s
allergies. Such tests include blood tests, patch tests, intradermal
tests, challenge tests, and skin or prick tests.
The skin or
prick test is the most common, and the allergy doctor will usually
try it first. The doctor will use a device called a Multitest that
looks like a plastic toothpick and has a small amount of allergen on
it. The doctor will use the Multitest on the patient’s back and
press hard enough to puncture the patient’s skin. If the patient is
allergic, they will develop a bump like a mosquito welt within 20
minutes.
An intradermal test is similar to the skin test, only
the doctor will use a needle to inject an allergen just under the
patient’s skin. Again, they will wait 20 minutes for signs of a
reaction.
In patch testing, the doctor will tape patches
coated with allergens to the patient’s upper back. The doctor will
examine the patches two days later.
What
Is Challenge Testing?
Challenge
testing is a diagnostic technique that is usually used if the patient
is allergic to medications or food. The patient will ingest or inhale
small amounts of the allergen. If they show no signs of a reaction,
the doctor will give them larger doses.
What
Is AllergyCare 365?
AllergyCare 365 is a needle-free form of immunotherapy in which the patient will place allergy drops under their tongue. The patient will thus not need injections and they will make fewer visits to the doctor. The allergy drops and their dosage are customized for each patient.
Contact Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center to schedule an appointment with an allergy doctor near Birmingham AL.
